How to prepare for a Win7 install?

JohnJSal

JohnJSal

Active Member
Well, I ordered 2 gigs of RAM and Windows 7 today! So now I'm just thinking about the process of having to reformat and reinstall. :(

Oh well, a fresh start will be nice. But I want to make sure I'm not forgetting anything. I know I need to get the 64-bit drivers for my graphics card and sound card...anything else I need to do before installing? (Do I need mobo or monitor drivers? I can't remember!)

Also, what's the process of formatting/installing like when you insert the disc? Similar to installing XP?

Thanks.
 
keep all your drivers just in case. wouldn't know what installing 7 is like, but it can't be that much different.
 
JohnJSal said:
Keep all my current drivers for XP, you mean?
Click to expand...

Keep your drivers on a disk that you used for the last install and if non of them work on the re-install of windows 7 i suggest going to the manufacture website to look for updates but dont do it until you know that they DO NOT work! :)
 
With win 7 its super easy. With my new build I never had to use the driver disks or even manually download drivers. On first bootup just setup Windows Update and search for updates. All drivers/driver updates should show up in the update list.
 
FairDoos said:
Keep your drivers on a disk that you used for the last install and if non of them work on the re-install of windows 7 i suggest going to the manufacture website to look for updates but dont do it until you know that they DO NOT work! :)
Click to expand...

But aren't those drivers for the 32-bit version of XP? Why would they work for the 64-bit version of Windows 7?
 
I believe Win 7 has better support for hardware out of the box. You dont have to look for drivers for it to function but I imagine it would be safer to have the drivers directly from the company.

Installing (the RC) was easier to install than XP. It is more user friendly (GUI) and lots of pretty colors etc.
 
I have installed it on 18 computers now and have never had to download drivers. You should be good straight out of install.
 
Ya theyre all right. Just go to windows update first thing after installing it, and just check off all the boxes to download and install everything...pretty easy no worries
 
G25r8cer said:
With win 7 its super easy. With my new build I never had to use the driver disks or even manually download drivers. On first bootup just setup Windows Update and search for updates. All drivers/driver updates should show up in the update list.
Click to expand...

+1, that happened for me too. I installed my 4870 driver for Vista and on boot-up, Windows Update started, a couple of minutes later, the screen flashed and it said that the driver for the 4800 series or something installed successfully.
 
Windows 7 is great to install. It has a ton of drivers built in and if by chance it doesn't have a driver for your device Windows update includes a crap ton more. Just be sure you have a network connection. I've installed Windows 7 on 7 differnt computer of all makes and models including custom built and have yet to find a device it wasn't able to install.
 
The Windows 7 discs do not "include" any drivers, nor are the drivers it uses "generic".

As long as you have an internet connection, after install, Windows 7 scans your computer hardware and downloads the most recent drivers specifically for that hardware from their archives.
 
Bodaggit23 said:
The Windows 7 discs do not "include" any drivers, nor are the drivers it uses "generic".

As long as you have an internet connection, after install, Windows 7 scans your computer hardware and downloads the most recent drivers specifically for that hardware from their archives.
Click to expand...

Thanks for clarifying!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top