Suggestions on re-installing drivers/software for 9300

Hello!!!

My new 9300 will be delivered tomorrow,yay!!
I of course will re-format the HD, after I check to make sure the 9300 works. My questions is what are the important drivers I need. I have an idea, but wanted to know the more important ones if i forget:

http://support.dell.com/support/dow...n&s=dhs&SystemID=INSPIRON 9300&os=WW1&osl=EN#

1. Intel Pro/Wireless 2295 driver. (should I download the latest from intel website?)

2. ATI Mobile Radeon X300.(I usually update from the ATI website, but what is the Bios update for on the dell website?)

3. Is there a driver for the Touchpad?

For some reason I cant think of the other important ones, that's why i decided to post hear.

Thank you!!

 

1. you can dl from Intel direct if you want, but the Dell ones are pretty much the Intel ones anyways, cept they've been tested by Dell and guaranteed by them to work on your 9300. I would see no reason why the Intel ones wouldn't work though, they might have a newer driver release than the one offered by Dell.

2. Upgrading you Bios is almost never a bad idea. I would assume the Bios you have on the x300 will be the same one seen on the Dell site since your computer is new and the Bios they released on the site is from 06/14/2005.

3. Under Input Device Drivers->Alps. This is a driver and utility software. With the utility you'll gain some nice features like being able to run your finger up or down the right side the touch pad to make it act like a scroll wheel. Also, you'll gain some other advanced features, but that's the one I use most often. You can access the feature I mentioned from Control Panel->Mouse. Then you goto the gestures tab and click on ise scroll function.

Personally, I'd upgrade pretty much anything on the Dell page that is applicable to your system hardware-wise. The only application I'd consider installing would be Dell's Quickset as it provides a pretty convenient way to adjust your laptops power settings and some other options.

 

Also another suggestion is to download these drivers and save them. Then you can burn them to a cd. If nothing else, make sure to download your intel driver so that you will have access to the net.

*On dell's website, I would also suggest to download everything that is applicable to your hardware. The only categories that are optional are:
applications
diagnostic utilities
display devices
printer drivers

*under system and configuration utilities:
download notebook system software. This will run one time only and will correct some hardware conflicts.

*ide and eide might not apply to you if you ordered a 7200rpm drive instead of a 5400.

If you want Cyberlink Powerdvd or Sonic MyRecord, you'll need to contact dell and request them.

SG

 

Thank you for your replies.

SouthernGirl, should i run the notebook system software after I have installed all the drivers or before?

 

I believe you are suppose to run it before you install the drivers, but I haven't seen any definite proof that it really matters.

 

I just have one quick question, I know I am posting on alot of these posts, but Southerngirl has a wealth of knowledge...is the disk you order from Dell the OEM version of the OS?? So when I get my comp and want to take all of the extra software that dell has on the machine off, I want to reinstall windows, will this disc just be the Windows disk or does it contain all of Dells extra programs like the restore disc found for most comps?

 

The backup disk that you order thru dell is an OEM version, so it will give you a clean install. Any extra software like Cyberlink PowerDVD which is the default dvd decoder can be ordered thru dell's tech support. All you have to do is tell them that you are reformatting, and would like a copy of the software cds. Then you can choose what software you would like to install.

Hope this helps,
SG

 

Thanks for the info, this is my first comp that I didn't build myself, so I didn't know. Thanks again for all the help.

 

Your welcome . I'll warn you now, there will be a ton of junkware when you first start the 9300. Also there is a restore partition located on the HDD that takes up about 6-10gb. When you are doing the reformat, it would be best to delete this partition because it becomes invalid when you reformat your computer.

Just a tip: if you haven't ordered your laptop yet, be sure to order the Backup CD located on the 3rd page of options. This way you can avoid calling dell for the OS cd and having to deal with them.

SG

 

I have ordered it already, last Friday and I am hoping to receive it by this Friday (Wishful thinking, but it is in Boxing stage and has been since Saturday). I will do that. I guess I will have to wait and see what kind of "junk" software I want to get rid of and what to keep.

 

Thanks for the reply SouthernGirl.

I'm glad to see this has helped other people too.

I had another question, what driver or software controls the media buttons on the front of the 9300 laptop??


Thanks!

 

well if you want to use play to start your dvd's, you have to have dell media experience (located on dell's website). Outside of that, the media keys will work with Cyberlink Powerdvd and windows media player automatically. If you want to use with winamp, you'll have to enable hot keys in your winamp options. I haven't found a configuration for itunes yet.

I haven't seen a specific driver that address the media keys. I would probably guess it would be the keyboard or possibly even BIOS, but there are no options or configuration options for the media keys. I'm not really sure. When I reformatted and didn't have my drivers, the media keys still worked, so I can't really tell you. Sorry

SG

 

I had another question, how do i enable my Fn-Key to work. It controls the sound and volume, but doest work on the Standby, Hibernate and battery. I havent tried the other buttons yet.

 

For some odd reason, you have to have Dell's quickset. Its a feature of that program, which can be download off of dell's website.

SG

 

Oh, I did download it, but couldnt see any use to the program and deleted it. Woops!!

 

Um, is there a download for the Ethernet controller for my 9300. I downloaded the drivers for the wireless 2915abg, but I dont see any for it?

 

the ethernet driver is the broadcom 440x driver listed under network drivers. I haven't figured out why dell hasn't put ethernet somewhere in the title, but that is the driver.