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    How do you reformat/reinstall Windows 7 without it auto-installing drivers?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by lzrsfa, Dec 22, 2009.

  1. lzrsfa

    lzrsfa Notebook Consultant

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    I just got a new Dell laptop and want to reformat/reinstall Win7. I noticed that some of the drivers get installed automatically without my acknowledgement or anything. I'd rather install the most recent ones from the Dell website.

    Is there a way to prevent this? Or do I just have to uninstall them and reinstall the Dell ones? If so how exactly do I do that?

    Thanks
     
    lzrsfa, Dec 22, 2009
    #1
  2. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    Windows 7 has a has a huge database of drivers and it is going to install those no matter what you do. However, during the install, there is an option to go online and check for updates. uncheck that and you will get as clean unupdated install as possible
     
    gerryf19, Dec 22, 2009
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  3. Drjones

    Drjones Notebook Consultant

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    Where is that option? I've installed Win7 about a half dozen times on a few different machines and the only option remotely relating to online anything is the option to "activate windows" when you are online.


    To the OP, you could take a look at Tiny7, which is a stripped down version of the OS and I believe that many of the drivers have been taken out. Be forewarned that because it is so stripped down, some functionality is impaired.
     
    Drjones, Dec 22, 2009
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  4. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    You know what, maybe I am thinking of something else? Was it in the beta version?
     
    gerryf19, Dec 22, 2009
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  5. newsposter

    newsposter Notebook Virtuoso

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    the 'huge database' of drivers on the current Win7 DVDs is at least 4 months out of date.

    Remember when 7100 was frozen?
     
    newsposter, Dec 22, 2009
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  6. davepermen

    davepermen Notebook Nobel Laureate

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    do you just don't want to, or is there any real problem you have, when just installing, and letting it go online on winupdate, do all the updates, and then install some possible additional drivers you might need?
     
    davepermen, Dec 22, 2009
    #6