M17x R2 Reinstalling OS entirely, help please

I am having trouble with my hard drive so I thought I may as well do my upgrade to an SSD. I am unsure though what it all entails. I keep getting explorer errors and the like so thought I would just reinstal the entire thing. However what do I need? People keep saying drivers but what drivers? Where do I get em from? I am so worried about doing this on my own
I have heard to never use the alienware resource CD? That it is an old one and can cause serious problems?

Thank you all for the help! Oh and btw I backed up all my files and hard drive just in case

 

Hi, You can start here for the drivers: Support for Home Users | Dell UK

Using your service tag should reduce the amount of confusing drivers you are offered.

As for the resource CD, yes it will be old but will get the machine on-line and running so you can update as needed. There is one driver you need to be careful of. The OSD driver. A later one than the initial release writes to a part of the MB. If you then try to load the old one it can mess the MB badly. Just check what version you have and only use same or higher version. Safest way to be sure is to load the latest one dell recommend before re-installing and then use the same version after.

Good luck

HTH

 

This is what I see, it only shows 2 but the other shows 30, is that right? I mean do I get the 30 ones?

 

Unfortunatly that looks like it does not work properly so you are into identifying the hardware you have and matching it up to create your own list. It's not that bad as in reality windows will find working drivers for most stuff, as long as the network driver gets loaded everything else should follow.

To find out exactly what drivers you may need, open up device manager and go through the device list matching it up with the full driver list from dell. As I said you may only need the NW one, or none at all, but getting them before you start will reduce stress

 

I reinstalled yesterday(had malware on previous install)
Do as mickeyd says check device manager and install drivers from resource cd. If unsure which driver is which do a search with google the device ID in details under device manager to fine tune the exact driver required with google.
Also highly recommended install anti virus asap after install, directx, and latest amd,nvidia drivers.
Good luck.

 

I mainly use Windows Live security essentials and also Malwarebytes Anti-Malware. What do you use now?
See I am majorly over protective when installing, I always search programs before installing and try to keep my comp base programs I need.

I am curious if there is a way to backup my facial recognition software files, as in the data it saved? I ask as it has been building up for 2 years and honestly it can login me in so damn quick tis crazy.

 

Just downloaded most of the drivers I need, cross checked with Device manager and I think I got it all right. Oh man I am so nervous about reinstalling all this but hey SSD, Gonna be my wet dream!

 

You might want to try asking this question over in the R1/R2 owners lounge - unless you have already done the deed

Apart from a mega GPU upgrade an SSD is one of the biggest single improvements and you will be happy I'm sure.

Oh yeah, once windows finishes have a look in device manager for any devices marked as not working, exclamation mark next to them. These (if any) will be the drivers you need to attend to first. Good Luck!

 

Ok, I use Microsoft security essentials but interestingly I had an infection with some malware found in firefox profiles called pools.exe detected by malwarebytes which highly highly gets my vote for malware. As soon as I saw this I thought what the heck reinstall win 7 as I had some issues with format on ssd drive so I did.
Now just installed the necessary drivers from resource cd. Updated to 13.1 catalyst drivers and latest direct x and did not install the alien command centre, OSD stuff. I find those are resource memory hogs and I already tweaked the alienfx keyboard to my likening on previous install and it has not changed which is very kewl

Not sure about facial recognition don't use this software either.
Good luck

 

@tron2^, yeah re the alienfx stuff, it's that write to the MB that keeps all the settings (and can cause a brick if handled incorrectly).

O/P, I had a think about the facial recog stuff and you might get lucky with a 'windows easy transfer'. This backs up all the hidden appdata stuff so that on a reinstall the app can 'see'' your preferences. Depends heavily on how and where the data is stored, security apps often do things differently.

 

Here is a complete guide to reinstall Windows on an Alienware Machine.