question before clean install..

Based on my laptop configuration, what drivers do I need to download after the clean install to get it working again. I know sound, video, fingerprint reader, webcam (youcam), wireless, bluetooth,,,, is there any other that I dont know. Are all of these easily available to download from HP website??

I have a SP1 vista disk. Does the clean install guide given in this forum still work with vista disk containing SP1??

 

Its all in the HP website. Make sure you keep a backup of your SWsetup folder anyway

Yes Vista SP1 disk is the same thing.

 

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/softwareList?os=2093&lc=en&cc=us&dlc=en&product=3650962&lang=en

you will find all the necessary drivers at HP.

 

Which drivers/software would I need under 'Network' and 'Tools' on the above link??

Also, Do I need to install these after clean install:
- Intel Chipset Installation Utility for ICH8
- Intel Matrix Storage Manager
- HP Update and HP Software Update

 

Everest says my current BIOS version is F.45 and HP lists a newer version F.53 available. I am planning on doing clean install but wanted to ask if its worth it to move to newer BIOS before I do it?? Is there any benefits of doing it before clean install and what can I expect to be different with this version??

 

No there wont be a difference. I suggest you do it before though.

 

Would the express remote control still work after the clean install and automatically be compatible with WMP and QP and WMC??? I dont seem to find its drivers anywhere on HP site and SWSetup??

 

Its coupled with the QLB drivers

 

Thanks flipfire for your constant help. After clean install, do we still have any use of HP active support library and HP help and support for vista. Some ppl say it includes some useful tools.

Also is HP update of any importance afterwards?? Since the hardware is from HP, I think it should be useful, but again, i dont know if they do or not, but I wont want these softwares to bring bloatware and extra processes while the system starts.

 

I never installed any of the HP programs again...ever. They are all useless.

The only one maybe worth keeping is HP wireless assistant because it is able to disable wireless/bluetooth seperately, but you can do this through the device manager anyway.

HP update can be skipped, you can just check your driver page and download it from there. Less processes.

You can always install them later on if you think you need them. I never found them to be compulsary or useful. Youll be fine without them.

 

Again from the HP page for drivers download, do I need:

-Intel Chipset Installation Utility for ICH8
-AuthenTec Inc. AES2501 Fingerprint Driver
-Essential System Updates for Microsoft Windows Vista (dated 10/07 - Do I still need it?)

Do these drivers/update have any importance?? What is authentec for??

 

Intel - yes definately
Autentec FP driver - as it says.. FP driver
Essential updates - No, just download SP1

 

i recommend not to install the matrix storage driver for you notebook config,. This driver is usefull if you have 2 or more hdd in raid config. I learned this in a hardway. installed this intel matrix storage manager and got BSOD whenever i run the hp health check. Once you installed this driver you can never uninstall this unless you do another clean install. You also don't need this hp update and hp software update. better to do it manually. but definitely you need this intel chipset installation utility for ICH8.
When you do windows update i suggest not to selet those "optional updates " which are mostly for the drivers. Always update you drivers from hp or manufacturer's website. Had updated my HDMI driver from windows update then after i reboot my computer my HDMI functionality was all messed up. So did clean install again.

Good luck

 

Thanks flipfire and bulik. Wanted to know where to get the webcam drivers after clean install???

 

I read somewhere that after clean install the recovery partition becomes useless, and although I have made the recovery disks, still wanted to know if there is a workaround and I could still keep the recovery partition if I ever had to do a recovery later from HDD.
and where to get the webcam drivers after clean install??