Installing 64-bit W7 & Drivers

[jimlau]

i have a gateway computer that i want to load windows 7 pro 64-bit on. i want to do a clean install. will my computer DSL be able to connect on-line so i can download 64-bit drivers? also will my monitor work before i can download drivers for it too?

i'm not sure if things will work before drivers can be installed.

thanks.

 

[Brink]

Hello Jimlau, and welcome to Seven Forums.

Maybe, maybe not. It would be best to have all of your drivers installation files downloaded and saved somewhere (ex: USB flash drive) first in case you do need them to be installed to be able to connect to the network/internet.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[jimlau]

thanks.

also the only 64-bit drivers for my computer are for 64-bit vista. will they work for w7 64-bit?

 

[Brink]

You might be able to find Windows 7 driver versions of the individual devices at the devices manufacturer's website instead of at Gateway.

If not, then you could try using compatibiliy mode with Vista SP2 selected for the driver to see if that may help, but there's no guarantee since they are not Windows 7 drivers.

 

[DeaconFrost]

As a suggestion, you'll want to have those drivers first, as Brink said. The last thing you want to do is find out you can't get online to get drivers because your NIC wasn't detected. I can't suggest this enough!

By doing some searching, and posting components you can't find drivers for...you could be completely ready to start the clean install, knowing you'll be fully set up afterwards.

 

[gregrocker]

Nine times out of ten when you're plugged into an ethernet cable the new installation will start up connected to the internet. If you have a wireless LAN then I'd put the drivers on a stick so you can get online quickly to get newer drivers via optional Windows Updates, find any misssing drivers then on the Support Downloads webpage for your model.

Tips for getting a perfect reinstall: Reinstalling Windows 7

 

[seavixen32]

Try running the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor first, which should flag up any hardware issues.

http://windows.microsoft.com/upgradeadvisor

You should also be able to download any drivers you need from Gateway Support.

http://support.gateway.com/us/en/support/default.aspx