New 17r SE owner...need some advice

Hola,

So I should receive my Inspiron 17R SE sometime tomorrow . Getting it as a replacement for a Vostro 3700 that had to be repaired countless times. The machine I will be getting will have the following specs:

3rd Generation Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3210M processor (3M Cache, up to 3.1 GHz)
17.3" FHD WLED Anti-Glare (1920x1080)
6GB (1 x 2GB + 1 x 4GB) 2 DIMM DDR3 1600Mhz
1TB 5400RPM SATA Hard Drive
NVIDIA GeForce GT 650M GDDR5 2GB

I have a spare OCZ Vertex 4 128GB SSD lying on which I intend to install the OS.

Now here is the tricky part (in my mind)

Should I install Windows 7 or Windows 8?

I have my disc and key of Windows 7 so that isn't a problem. I tried to read some of the topics but haven't really understood the install procedure from a USB drive on this system. In the Vstro I just had to select the USB as the boot option and it would do the rest. Does this apply to this laptop too?

If not, is Windows 8 easy to install using the USB or are workarounds required.

It will be used as an all-purpose machine with compatibility and speed with Adobe CS6 being more important than gaming. The only games that I will play are RTS and the occasional game of FIFA.

Also any other tips and tricks I should keep in mind? Do I need to worry about over-heating? Will be used with a Coolermaster Notepal U3


Thanks in advance:thumbsup:

 

It's up to you which OS you want to install. Some are happy to stick with Win7 others, including myself prefer Win8.
Installing from usb isn't hard, just need to set to boot from it in UEFI and configure secure boot.
I don't have issues with overheating - max temps around 80 celsius.

 

Use windows 7 SP1...... Win 8 is messy & made for touchscreens, (IT still suffers of bugs & flaws....... Guess Why Microsoft speeding to get BLUE finished. ( which is a heavily optimized version). Win 7 is tested long time a runs flawless.

Heat is no issue with 7720.....even now during summer i have Good gaming temps ( i even not use a laptop cooler)... .... I do have fresh new applied Artic silver which is way better then stock paste.

 

Thanks... I think what I'm gonna do is install Windows 7 on the SSD. Leave Windows 8 on the HDD and use that for storage.

 

Ok another quick question. The Disc that I have is a Dell OEM disc. (Came with my Vostro) Windows 7 Pro. Will this work? Do I need to change anything in the BIOS apart from UEFI and Secure Boot?

 

The OEM license you have from your old laptop won't activate on the new one.

 

And it's here...


I'm at a limb here.

Been trying to get it to boot from USB to Install Win 7 but it just doen't happen. The USB was formatted using Rufus.

What settings do I need to put in the BIOS for it to boot from USB?

 

Should I just try installing Windows using Legacy boot instead of UEFI?

 

First of all you need to "convert" your usb stick to a " bootable" usb stick.
You have freeware on internet who fix that
Ex this
http://www.wintobootic.com/
Or
http://unetbootin.sourceforge.net/

Then you have your usb in bootable FAT32 partition.
Then choose reboot with usb/flash drive inside F12 meny

 

So the USB method didn't work. I gave up on UEFI and enabled Legacy Boot. Also. had to do the install with a DVD with just the SSD in the computer.

 

Change the bios. Put the windows 7 disk in and away you go. And DELL OEM windows 7 will work. And this laptop doesn't have a heat issue either. And with GEN 3 cpu mandates 130 watts charger min. Go on ebay find the seller name dell dude and buy 150 watt charger for about 24.00. I have been running 130 watts on my duo 2 core, and 150 watt with my studio since 2009. Some of dell laptops have been throttling back since 2009. I own two of Dell 17r se i7, with 150 watt chargers. Keyboard can get little messy with the cursor moving around .