M4400 Installing my own OS - Dell Software Download Questions!

I should have my new M4400 tomorrow, I DO NOT plan on using any CD/DVD that comes with it; (at least the bundled stuff) and am going to install my own version of Vista/Windows7/Server 2008. I am going to do bootable virtual disks for the later two.

I am curious to get a list of the software I will want to download in order to use the hardware correctly. Understanding I may want to update the video drivers from Nvidia but what about any other software I may need?

I read a few posts but am not certain what I can and need to download. I did get mine with a card reader and web cam. Here are the specs, can anyone help me work out a list of Dell software I can download after my own install of Vista?

Here are my specs:
Precision M4400, Intel Core 2 Duo T9550, 2.66GHz, 1066MHz 6M L2 Cache, Dual Core
1.0GB, DDR2-800 SDRAM, 1 DIMM for Dell Mobile Precision
Internal Backlit English Keyboard for Mobile Precision
Documentation (English) Latitude E-Family/Mobile Precision
512MB NVIDIA Quadro FX 770M Precision M4400
80GB Hard Drive 9.5MM, 5400RPMfor Mobile Precision MX400
UPEK Swipe Fingerprint Reader for Mobile Precision M4400
Black Wide Screen WUXGA RGB-LED LCD for Latitude M4400
Windows XP 64 SP2 with WindowsVista Business 64 Edition License, Dell Mobile PrecisionEnglish, Factory Install
No Modem for Mobile PrecisionMX400
130W 3-Pin, AC Adapter for Mobile Precision
US - 6 FT, 3-Pin Flat Power Cord for Mobile Precision
8X DVD+/-RW for Mobile Precision
Roxio Creator Dell Edition,9.0Dell Latitude/Mobile Precision
Cyberlink Power DVD 8.2,with Media, Dell Relationship LOB
Integrated webcam with microphone for Mobile Precision 4400
Intel WiMax/WiFi Link 5150 802.16e and (802.11a/g/n 1X2) 1/2 MiniCard for VPRO LatitudeE/Mobile Precision
No Intel vPro Technologys advanced management features for Latitude, Mobile Precision
Resource DVD with Diagnostics and Drivers for Vista Precision M4400 Notebook
6-Cell/54-WHr Battery for Latitude E/Mobile Precision
15.4 inch Wide Screen WUXGA RGBLED LCD for Mobile Precision M4400
Integrated 0.3MP VGA web cam w/ microphone for WUXGA LCD Mobile Precision M4400
Dell Webcam Central Software for Dell Latitude/Mobile Precision
Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Initial Year
Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response 2 Year Extended
Basic Support: Next Business Day Parts and Labor Onsite Response Initial Year
Dell Hardware Limited Warranty Plus Onsite Service Extended Year(s)
Extended Battery Service for Years 2 and 3 of System Life
Standard On-Site Installation Declined
Intel Centrino 2 Core Duo Processor
Vista Premium Downgrade Relationship Notebook
Info SKU-Software and Peripherals products and solutions catalog included in system boxes

 

anyone have any suggestions? I assume a fresh install of vista won't take care of some of the items I have in bold?

 

You'll only know for sure after you install Win7....then you'll see what you're missing and just go to the Dell site and download the appropriate drivers. If a driver installer won't run try going to the properties of the installer and set it to run in compatibility mode for Vista SP1 and set it to run as administrator.

Don't really know what kind of list you're looking for, there probably won't be one.

 

And you'll probably want to download the latest Win7 NVIDIA drivers directly from the NVIDIA website...

 

Hi sixty4

I did a clean install on my new M4400 and Windows 7 x64 picks up most of the drivers. However, here's what I installed myself (in this order):

1. Dell System Software A02
2. Intel Chipset Drivers A00 (I tried the ones on Intel's website, but they didn't install correctly)
3. Intel Matrix Storage (from Intel's website)
4. nVidia Display Drivers (186.03 from nVidia's website)
5. Gigabit Ethernet Drivers A01
6. Audio Drivers A08
7. Wifi Drivers (from Intel's website)
8. Touchpad Drivers A09
9. Webcam Drivers A06
10. Ricoh Multicard Reader Drivers A00

Please note this excludes Dell's security drivers (for the fingerprint and smartcard reader) since these only work with Dell's software. Of course you can install this if you need it. You may also need some other drivers depending on your configuration and needs.

Kind regards,

Jonty

P.S. Check out this support page on the correct order for installing the drivers without creating any incompatibilities: http://support.dell.com/support/top...river_install_order?c=us&l=en&s=gen&~lt=print

 

I am experimenting with Windows 7 Enterprise 90 days trial, before buying Windows 7 on October 22nd.

To keep my current Vista on primary HDD - I had added a second HDD in modular bay (replaced my DVD drive, using HDD caddy from newmodeUS.com, btw great service and caddy fits M4400 perfectly!) and installed Windows 7 on Second HDD (using USB copy of Windows DVD, hard to find and easy to use instructions of how to burn ISO of Windows 7 DVD to USB could be found here: http://www.maximumpc.com/article/howtos/how_to_install_windows_7_beta_a_usb_key ).

Windows 7 works just fine on M4400. Installation was really fast. So far I only added NVIDIA driver from Dell Support Site and Mouse Driver (I have Razer DeathAdder).

I skipped on installing/configuring Network, Audio (everything worked) and other drivers, but might take a look at them later. Definitely not going to install any Dell Proprietary System Software.

The only downside is that instead of configuring bootloader to select operating system at boot, I have to select HDD in BIOS: Primary (for Vista) or secondary (for Win 7) when I start PC. Inconvenient, but not a big deal since I am going to do a clean Windows 7 install on primary HDD once official Win 7 will become available, and keep secondary HDD (in DVD bay) as storage.