A Clean Install question

I'm getting a new DELL XPS 17 pretty soon. It comes with Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit. I got an Ultimate version from somewhere and would like to install that instead. From what I understand, that will be considered a clean install.

My question is: after I format the drive and install the Ultimate version instead, are there any other steps I need to do before I can use my laptop?

The reason why I'm asking is because I'm a bit confused by post like this. The poster said he encountered some problem while installing drivers after a clean install of the OS. Why would he need to install drivers? Shouldn't the drivers still be there?

Hoping for some explanation.

Thank you for reading and helping out.

 

Drivers will not be there. The OS will use generic drivers. To get the best performance out of your laptop, you must install the drivers.

 

Thanks for answering my questions again.

So I should write down the model of all the drivers I have, and after a clean install, go to the respective driver site and download the newest version available?

Or would my computer automatically picks up whatever drivers I have and can download the drivers?

One more question. If for some reason my clean install didn't work as supposed to. Can I just format the drive, and use recovery disc to get the factory setting with all drivers installed?

 

It would be better if you look for the drivers on the manufacturer website, and install them manually by yourself.
Some of the drivers normally are installed automatically by windows, like the Intel integrated graphic chipset or the integrated webcam, but if you can update them manually is better, its the best way to make sure that you will install the latest driver version.

If the recovery disk contains the preloaded OS with the drivers, yes.

 

Thanks for the response. Now I'm all set for my new laptop.

 

If you plan on using Ultimate, you'll also have to pay about $200 in license fees. You can use the 'Ultimate' disk to install Home Premium, though.

 

Do yourself a big favor DO NOT go to one of the sites that offers to update your drivers for you. Most claim to have all the needed drivers for any computer, just let us scan your computer to determine what you need. What you will get is more than you barganed for like spyware, spam and malware.

As posted above by others each of the hardware items has a driver that makes it work with the OS as it is designed to do. Start with the laptop manufacturers site, look up your model number and download and install the drivers for your version of the OS like Win 7 Ultimate 32 or 64 bit. If this is too complicated then get help even if you have to pay for it and then pay attention so next time you can do it. Use Google and YouTube, look up and read, it is not all that complicated.

 

OP, Windows Premium 64 and Ultimate 64 use the same drivers. Look at your system restore partition Dell puts on your hard drive. You should see a FOLDER named Dell, that's where your drivers should be. Use a USB drive and copy that folder.

It would be a good idea to create a Dell System Backup in the event you plan on selling your laptop in the future.

 

Thank you for that heads up.

Question 1: how do I look up the model number for my laptop? I got my DELL XPS 17 through a deal DELL had and I don't know if it's the L702X or just the regular or whatever model.

Question 2: I purchased the laptop with Home Premium 64bit, but I plan on clean installing an Ultimate 64bit (with 6GB RAM it should be sufficient for an Ultimate). So first thing after the clean install, I'll need to go to the DELL website and find my model version, then should I install the drivers for Ultimate 64 or Home Premium 64?

Question 3: I'm reading that some DELL XPS 17 users have a problem with installing Nvidia drivers. Something to do with AIOS 14 or something like that. I'm not exactly clear about the issue. Should I wait until that problem is solved officially to do my clean install?

I'm not planning on reselling this laptop. I bought it hoping it'll last at least 3 years, possibly longer.

Nontheless, it's always a great idea to back up the system. So let's see if I get what you meant: when I receive my laptop, there should already be a partition called "system restore partition" on my laptop. I just need to perform a system back up right after I boot up my laptop. When I do the clean install, the system restore partition will not be touched and thus will have the factory setting available if I ever need it. Is that about right?

 

If you get your Ultimate from your link, you will fail. Your key will only be valid for the same version of windows.

 

Thanks for the reminder. Guess I overlooked the policy on that. Anyways, a mod beats me in deleting aforementioned post.

Also thank you for replying to my questions.

 

I think you have everything you need from the replies above.

Make restore disks and save them is very important good advice. I did a format and clean install and had trouble finding all the drivers I needed over the internet but found them on my restore disks. Worth the time, cheap insurance, and a lifesaver if you need them.