Win7 Clean Install on new E6410

I recently bought a new e6410, and since I had a Win7 Pro 64 bit license from MS, I ordered Win7 home 32 bit version. I'm thinking of formatting the hard drive & installing the Win7 Pro 64 bit. I plan to use the Dell utilities, software, how easy will it be to install these if I format my hard drive? Should I take a back of the hard drive before I do this? I do not have any Dell recovery DVD with me, only the Dell Utilities dvd.

Also if there is a tutorial, would appreciate if someone can point me to it. I did search the forum, but did not find anything that answered my questions.

Thanks

 

See the links in GK Design's signature. There's also the Dell re-imaging guide under the System Utilities section of the E6410 downloads.

John

 

You'll need your OS DVD and will need to download all relevant device drivers for your system and OS version from dell.com. May also want to update the BIOS and any firmware... and switch the BIOS SATA to AHCI. Reference your existing Device Manager as you prepare what you need to re-image the system. And see my sig note below for a summary outline.

GK

 

Also be wary of the SATA mode in your BIOS. Mine came in RAID mode from Dell, and switching to AHCI mode caused me headaches to diagnose why my E6410 had random freezing/BSOD.

 

IRRT mode (RAID mode) includes AHCI mode functionality and enables IRRT, Intel Rapid Restore Technology. If you do not intend to use IRRT, you can turn it off by setting SATA to AHCI mode BEFORE installing the OS.

GK

 

Thanks everyone, that is very useful. All the above links seem to indicate using a Dell Win7 DVD, I wanted to confirm I can use a Retail Win7 & download the drivers, utilities from Dell.com site.

 

You could but the Dell Windows 7 discs pre-activate Windows when it sees the correct BIOS tattoo unlike a vanilla disc which forces you to punch in the COA on the bottom (alot of times they get worn off).

And yes, if you go to support.dell.com and punch in your service tag, you will find all the driver downloads there or use the Dell driver disc that came with it BUT be forewarned that those drivers are usually very old and alot of times the Dell site will update drivers.

 

Use any OS disc you want. Use the Dell.com drivers for that OS when the system is of relatively recent design or when you want to assume a Dell-sanctioned re-image (hoping for less issues). Consider using select drivers from other OEM sites like Intel or nVidia etc. later on when you are trying to solve a particular issue or when the system is getting old and Dell has stopped maintaining their downloads. That's my general approach.

GK

 

I just did this and it worked well.

Some of the missing devices are a bit obscure. The free fall sensor and fingerprint is one. My E6410 wanted a Broadcom USH driver that I traced to a fingerprint module, even though my laptop did not have it. I just disabled it.

Definately grab the Intel INF updater over dells. Nvidia can be tricky. I think someone said a geforce driver is the quickest. I myself use the current Quadro driver off Nvidia. For intel video I would definately grab it from Intel.

IDT has taken to providing no support for thier products to end consumers, only thru dell. So no audio drivers direct from them.

 

Does anyone have a link to the Intel Inf drivers?

Thanks!