Decided to do a fresh install of Win 7 instead of a dual boot

[eaglepi]

I have decided to do a fresh install of Win 7 instead of a dual boot. I have some specific questions so that I am ready to do this. I was under the impression that Win 7 came with most drivers so it would have the Win 7 drivers for my devices but reading the fresh install tutorial leads me to believe that isn't so.

when I ran the Windows 7 advisor everything was ok ( had green check marks ) except a few things,

NVIDIA PhysX
Not compatible
This version of the program will not work on Windows 7.
version 9.10.0224
NVIDIA Corporation


Sunbelt Personal Firewall
version 4.6.1861.0
Sunbelt Software

Not compatible
This version of the program will not work on Windows 7.

Since Sunbelt doesn't support windows 7 unless I buy their security suite. Since everyone says Win 7 firewall is very good I will just use that.

1. As far as my NVIDIA I found this download and I would appreciate if someone could tell me if this is the right Win 7 divers for my graphics card which is a MSI NVIDIA 8600 GTS, the link is below

NVIDIA DRIVERS 258.96 WHQL



2. MY hard drives are SATA, I read something in the dual boot tutorial that they would not been seen and I would have to do something or download something... If I do the fresh install and not the dual boot will I have problems with Win 7 seeing my SATA drives???

3. I read on the fresh install tutorial that I should download all device drivers and put them on a DVD, does Win 7 not have any updated drivers for devices on the install DVD ??

I'm sure I will have more questions to come. I have done fresh installs of XP for yeaqrs and after the first few I learnt what to do and what to have handy, I have to hope you guys or girls can help me out on what to do prior to doing the fresh install on Win 7.

I'm sure when I get replies they will lead me to other questions so I hope you have patience with me......lol I'm a former Private Investigator so I ask a lot of questions.....it's my nature

Ron

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Ron.





Windows 7 is pretty much driver complete, I would do the install and then look in device manager to see if anything needs updated; don't be too concerned over drivers.

You will have no issues at all with the SATA HDDs, though you may want to enable AHCI in the BIOS under the "Storage Configuration" before the Windows 7 install to get the best performance from them and Windows 7 will install the needed drivers for that also.


Advanced Host Controller Interface

 

[eaglepi]

Would you suggest I install with my current bios or update it first? I would rather not flash my bios if I really don't have to.

If I have to flash the bios I found the downlaods on Asus'd website.. There are a lot of beta's if I HAVE to flash the bios shold I use the last stable release and not the beta's?

Ron

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

If I were you I would not update the BIOS if I wasn't having an issue; if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

I would never 'mess' with the BIOS unless as a last resort for a serious issue, it's not worth the risk.

 

[eaglepi]

Thank you, I was hoping you would say that. i agree with you 110%

 

[gregrocker]

After install, check optional Windows Updates for newer drivers not in the installer. I'd put your wireless or ethernet driver on a USB flash stick or CD just in case you need it to get online quickly.

After installer and optional Updates, any driver still missing in Device Manager can be found on Support Downlloads webpage for the device.

Install programs slowly over time to gauge performance changes. Don't let any programs write themselves to msconfig>Startup except AV and gadgets as others are freeloaders on your RAM and can spy on you.

Use a lightweight free AV like MS Security Essentials with Windows Firewall for least performance drag.

Afterwards, clean and order the HD perfectly using free state-of-the-art CCleaner and Auslogics Disk and Registry defraggers monthly. Then save a Win7 backup image to another drive so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage to same or replacement HD using DVD or Repair CD.