Clean install Vista x64

I just received my 64 bit cd from dell today and am pretty anxious to get it up and running. Just checking in to see if there are any important things to note before I start.

I am doing a clean install coming from windows XP. I have the 128 gig SSD if that makes any difference...

 

None at all...do any backup of any info you might want to keep and then install...

 

I just got this machine a few days ago from the Dell outlet, so nothing to really back up.

Will I have access to the internet right with stock vista drivers, or should i download the dell drivers now?

 

Just need to install critical drivers in the proper order before installing other device drivers. Most important are the System Software 1st and then the chipset drivers.

 

What I do is either go to the manufacturers page and locate the driver and download them beforehand, or just get the network one either for wireless or ethernet and then let windows update look for most of them. If you see that there is one missing, then look them on the webpage.

I always use the first step, get them all beforehand, and then install one by one. Also as MIB mentioned, look out for the order, is good to do it cleanly.

 

I usually let Windows Update grab them... and then if there are a few it missed, I'll download and install them manually. That worked fine on my D630 (and I could access the network fine with the built-in ethernet driver). BUT... I recommend at least downloading the network drivers before the reinstall... just in case you're unable to access the network. You may not need them though... the built-in drivers may work well enough and Windows Update may download and install them for you.

 

Hope this helped you in some way...come back as soon as you are done and let us know how it went...

 

Be sure to follow the right order for installing your drivers...this will help avoiding strange issues later on.