Just picked up a Dell laptop...Can I install Win7?

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 12:15 pm

Dell Laptop Inspiron 1525
Vista SP1
Intel Core Duo T5750
2GHz
3GB RAM
266GB HD

Fast enough to install Win7? Looks plenty good but just wanted to verify.

Upgrade or Full version?

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:02 pm

Windows 7 is generally faster and less demanding on laptops than Vista is, so yeah it can run W7.

Duper · Post by **Duper** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:55 pm

From what I've \"heard\", full is better than upgrade. I'm far from an expert though.

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 1:57 pm

Yeah, Full OEM version, barely costs more than an upgrade and cleans out the mess.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 2:06 pm

Think you answered all my questions and in a timely manner as always.

Thanks.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 2:10 pm

I noticed that the Dell has a \"reinstall\" partition on it.

What do I do about the drivers if I install Win7?

Will I need to go to Dell's site? That would be a pain, eyh?

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 8:05 pm

Should I start a new thread about the drivers?

Heretic · Post by **Heretic** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 8:09 pm

You could just download the drivers you need from dell. I would at the least get the LAN driver. W7 should do most of the rest for you.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Thu Jun 17, 2010 8:23 pm

Thanks

BUBBALOU · Post by **BUBBALOU** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 11:49 am

you should only download from dell

Chipset *
Audio *
Modem
LAN
Wireless
Video

Install in that order, even if Win7 installed Generics for you

* Real Important **** you install at least these 2 first and in order Chipset then Audio

captain_twinkie · Post by **captain_twinkie** » Fri Jun 18, 2010 2:29 pm

Don't forget the notebook system software, and you can remove the the recovery partition, since your installing a different OS then what came on that machine, that part is useless to you and you might as well us it for some more space.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sat Jun 19, 2010 10:24 am

Lots of good info. Helps a lot. Keep it coming.

And again I say thanks.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:13 am

Go'n shopp'n for Win7.

Costco has Win7 Home Premium for $149 (says nothing about Upgrade version.) and Fry's has Win7 Home Premium FULL for $199.

Is Costco just cheaper or is the \"full\" version different than hat Costco is selling.

http://www.frys.com/catreq/6326
http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.as ... opnav=&s=1

Krom · Post by **Krom** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:30 am

OEM versions cost less than the full retail, but those are still pretty bad prices.

Here are the OEM prices from Newegg and Amazon.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116754

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6832116758

Heretic · Post by **Heretic** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 8:57 am

OEM is the only way to go but you have to provide your own support for Windows.

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 11:49 am

Wow Krom! I'm usually anxious to get started on a project so run down to one of my local stores but I think I've learned the errors of my ways.

Heretic, What do you mean your own support? You mean as far as calling a tech?

Another question: Are there Service packs I will have to download for the cheaper version.

What's the diff regarding standard or full versions?

Heretic · Post by **Heretic** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:26 pm

OEM is a full version the difference is if you have a problem with Windows itself with a Full version you can call Microsoft and they will help you with the problem. With OEM you are the tech support you have to provide all end user support for Windows.

7. End User Support. You must provide end user support for the Software or Hardware. You must provide support under terms at
least as favorable to the end user as the terms that you provide to support any Customer System. At a minimum, you will provide
commercially reasonable telephone support.

http://oem.microsoft.com/public/sblicen ... nglish.pdf

thewolfe · Post by **thewolfe** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 12:58 pm

Gotcha ya, thanks.

Spidey · Post by **Spidey** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 2:05 pm

And just to be clear, you can use Windows update to keep the OS up to date, with an OEM version.

Thenior · Post by **Thenior** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 2:49 pm

Just to echo what everyone said, don't use an upgrade, always start over with a clean install if you can. Grab all the drivers for your laptop from dell.com/support and install them, whether they are working or not (e.g. if your video is working, download drivers from dell anyway). READ: Don't download every utility, just download every driver.

Heretic · Post by **Heretic** » Sun Jun 27, 2010 3:46 pm

You got it man

Just picked up a Dell laptop...Can I install Win7?

Just picked up a Dell laptop...Can I install Win7?

Drivers and stuff.