Installing W7 on Sager 5792.

Alright so I am getting Windows 7.

I am going to do a clean install - but heres my question.

When I had a dell, and I did a clean install/reformat - I dinstictly remember having to install some sort of Hard Drive driver DURING the installation of the O.S. I think it was the Intel Matrix Drivers or something, but can't remember for sure.

So my question is, DO I need to do this with a SAGER as well? DO I need to install some sort of Hard Drive Intel Driver etc. during the installation of the O.S. - e.g. when it prompts for drivers etc. IDK - put the SAGER driver utility disk in and find the intel drivers and install? Or is this not nessacary and can I do it after the O.S. is installed etc.

Thanks.

 

With win7, you do not need to use the matrix drivers during install, just make sure your HDD is in AHCI mode (in the BIOS), install win7, then install your chipset drivers, then intel MSM.

 

Are chipset drivers on the driver disk (what are they called)? What is intel MSM, and is it on the sager driver disk? I can install these after W7 is installed correct, just like installing a video driver etc?

Should I install the matrix drivers at all or just forget about them?

 

You can get the chipset drvers from here

Intel MSM is Matrix Storage Manager, get it here, and yes, install both of these after W& just like any other driver

 

Most new systems use the AHCI style disk controller interface by default. This is basically "native SATA", in that it no longer pretends to be an IDE controller and is instead a true SATA interface with SATA functionalities such as hot plug and some extra efficiencies. Unfortunately this mode is not natively supported by XP, since XP being from 2001 does not have the necessary drivers included (AHCI came into style a while after XP came out). The extra drivers you had to use for XP are AHCI drivers.

Windows 7 (and Vista) includes generic AHCI drivers for standard desktop and laptop chipsets. I know Intel recently released an updated chipset utility with some updates over the Windows 7 included ones.

Also, the Sager has an option in the BIOS for this. I know on my 5793 it's where the "Robson" setting is. Enabling the Robson (cache RAM thing) automatically puts the disk controller in AHCI mode. Disabling the Robson disables AHCI and leaves the controller in "legacy" IDE mode.

 

but the one included in windows 7 should be enough right? So I shouldnt have to worry or do anything really?

Still wondering if MSM is really nessacary or just a little bonus? Worth it yes or no?? Thanks.

 

Intel MSM is definitely worth it, it should increase performance, and definitely lowers temperatures.

 

Another question, when clean installing from the upgrade disk (vista currently installed)

Do I have to do the dual install method to get activated?
I heard theres a way to install just once and use SLMGR command to enter your product key and just activate that way.... can someone explain that to me? does it work?

Thanks.