Dell 14R Drivers Install DVD Not functional

[johntkucz]

Hi,

This is more about Dell 14R Inspiron. I wiped the hard drive completely. the only thing I have to work with for system is my own copy of Win7 Home Prem, the Dell Drivers DVD, and some linux distros.

When I install my own copy of Win7 Home Prem. Things work okay but it doesn't activate and many drivers are missing.

There does not seem to be a system install disk provided by dell?????????? Is that the situation?? Fail dell fail!! Is that?? I can't believe how pathetically problematic and unresourceful that is. I thought the Restore Dell DVD would have system on it but it doesn't seem to.

Finally the drivers. I can download drivers from dell's site but it's a bit trial-and-error. This is additionally vexing because the Dell Driver DVD has all the drivers I need but it won't install/expand the drivers.

Does anyone have any ideas on

• Getting the Drivers to Install from the DVD?
• Dealing with the version of Windows 7 Home Prem Activation?
• Verifying that Dell didn't include a system disk (how is that anything but unresourceful and stupid?)?

What I'll likely end up doing is getting my own Home Prem win 7 sys install to work and downloading and installing drivers manually.

Thanks!

 

[mgp1964]

What OS was on the machine to begin with?

Dell just like most all the other makers no longer send a separate restore disk and usually the restore files are located on a hidden partition on the HD.

When you wiped the disk did you delete all partitions and then consolidated them all into one partition or did you just delete the OS partition?

If you did not delete the restore partition then you can boot up and press F12 and from there you can choose the restore partition to reinstall the OS and software that was on it when it was new.

Dell does offer Windows 7 drivers for this machine so that should not be a problem as you say you can access Dells site. If you can access Dells site you can let Dell read your machine and then it will pop up a list of drivers for it or you can manually enter the service tag here: Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

 

[johntkucz]

What OS was on the machine to begin with?

Win 7 Home (but dell's pre-installed version of that)

Dell just like most all the other makers no longer send a separate restore disk and usually the restore files are located on a hidden partition on the HD.

yeah well pfft that's kind of gone.

This is all irrelevant and thanks for the respnose though. I have all apps and the sys installed with the HD partitioned into 4 useful partitions. Took a day. Lots of installing but after doing so many installs and re-installs over time, went smoothly.

When you wiped the disk did you delete all partitions and then consolidated them all into one partition or did you just delete the OS partition?

Everything was wiped and repartitioned (2-3 times now).

If you did not delete the restore partition then you can boot up and press F12 and from there you can choose the restore partition to reinstall the OS and software that was on it when it was new.

Thanks, the restore partition was too clunky and obnoxious. It's gone. I don't like being tethered to a manufacturer's OS setup (in this case dell's).

Dell does offer Windows 7 drivers for this machine so that should not be a problem as you say you can access Dells site. If you can access Dells site you can let Dell read your machine and then it will pop up a list of drivers for it or you can manually enter the service tag here: Drivers and Downloads | Dell [United States]

Yep, I manually downloaded all drivers. Found the ones that work and have those all saved on my inst (install) partition of one my externals. If/when I reinstall (which won't be for a LONG time but if I do) I can just re-access all those drivers. Took a bit of troubleshooting downloading random drivers to see which will work but
trackpad
wireless
periph drivers
ethernet
all work.

Thanks for response. I solved this on own but as usual posting when frustrating helped create solution momentum or something haha. thanks again.