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    Help performing a fresh install of 64 bit Vista

    Discussion in 'Dell XPS and Studio XPS' started by Good Spliff, Apr 26, 2009.

  1. Good Spliff

    Good Spliff Notebook Geek

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    Before I undergo the process of removing all bloatware and doing a fresh install of vista 64 bit, are there any tips/precautions/advice/suggestions that I need to consider before going ahead and doing it?

    I am going to follow these directions ( http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=157838)

    # Restart/Hit F12 at initial screen/One time boot/Boot Dvd;
    # Follow instructions to change your partitions. This will delete everything. (Note, I got my system to accept two partitions which are the 3Gb MediaDirect partition and the main partition but sometimes you will have no choice but to go with 3;
    # When it says, remove MD3 disk and replace with your Vista disk;
    # Restart/hit F12 at initial screen/one time boot/Boot DVD;
    # When "press any key when ready" comes up make sure you press this right away. On mine, if you dont in the first few seconds there will be no reaction;
    # Follow the instructions/select complete install and, in the select partition screen, click bottom left to install the AHCI driver, insert the driver medium and direct it to the file which will say AHCI. There may be two files identified, ensure you select the AHCI driver. Once you have completed installing the driver, select correct partition to install Vista on;
    # On completion and windows is running, reinsert MediaDirect 3;
    # Run "DellKit" and press enter to complete installation of MediaDirect;
    # Change disk to your 'Drivers and Utilities' Disk and install 'Dell Resource Application;
    # Let it open and press extract for all that are checked. Install them. (note: Dont reboot after each installation of appropriate driver or it will take forever.);
    # Look at the unchecked drivers carefully. NOTE: There are a few that may be unchecked that are on your system. For example, my fingerprint reader doesnt come up checked as well as Quikset but they are there; and
    # Go to the Dell website/support/drivers and downloads and enter your service tag. Look for drivers that arent on your disk. I am aware that there are a few such as a DVD update.

    Could someone please clarify the step in whcih I need the AHCI driver? I have no idea what that is or where to find it.

    Is this process as hard as it seems?

    Also, will this remove my 15 month trial of Norton Antivirus?
     
    Good Spliff, Apr 26, 2009
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