Windows 7 install preparation

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I am getting ready to do a clean install of Windows 7 and read that “now is a good time to update your computer’s firmware.” What exactly is the firmware? If I go to the manufacturer’s site will something be tagged as firmware? I also read that I should uninstall as much as I can before doing the install. Is that necessary when you do a Custom/clean install? I haven’t in the past but it seems that a lot of the tips out there are suggesting it.

TIA

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A clean install will wipe the drive clean and start over.

If you do a upgrade, then one needs to run the Windows 7 adviser and remove all that is NOT compatible with Windows 7. Also it pays NOT to have to many external devices attached as the install will spend time looking for drivers. I just keep my network and printer connected.

I have yet to do any “Firmware” update for any new OS. Where did you read the information?

DaveA I am so far behind, I think I am First
Genealogy....confusing the dead and annoying the living

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A clean install will wipe the drive clean and start over.

If you do a upgrade, then one needs to run the Windows 7 adviser and remove all that is NOT compatible with Windows 7. Also it pays NOT to have to many external devices attached as the install will spend time looking for drivers. I just keep my network and printer connected.

I have yet to do any “Firmware” update for any new OS. Where did you read the information?

It was a PC World article How to upgrade to Windows 7. And I was hoping it was a personal preference kind of thing. Also, the bit about uninstalling stuff – can’t find where I read that but I sort of figured the article was referring to those folks who were upgrading rather than clean installing.

I have another issue I am researching right now where the Upgrade Advisor is saying the Intel Management Engine Interface is not compatible with Win7. Gateway’s Live Chat support could only tell me “The Intel Management Engine Interface enables communication between the host OS and the Management Engine firmware. MEI is bi-directional, and either the host or Intel AMT firmware can initiate transactions.” When I asked what that all meant he said I would have to contact Intel. I’m going to check the Intel site now. Can anyone tell me if this is important? Meaning will it prevent me from installing Win7?

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It was a PC World article How to upgrade to Windows 7. And I was hoping it was a personal preference kind of thing. Also, the bit about uninstalling stuff – can’t find where I read that but I sort of figured the article was referring to those folks who were upgrading rather than clean installing.

That article says:
“Speaking of hardware and visiting manufacturers’ Web sites, now would be a good time to update your firmware, especially if you’re not in the habit of doing this on a regular basis. Go to your system manufacturer’s site for system firmware updates. See “Firmware and You: A Comprehensive Guide to Updating Your Hardware” for details.”

They are referring to the BIOS of the PC on which you intend to install Windows 7. Sometimes there have been BIOS=firmware updates since you bought the PC, and sometimes it is worth updating it. Some manufacturers (e.g. Dell) make this process very straightforward. In “the old days” you took your life into your hands doing BIOS updates; now it’s less hairy.

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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That article says:
“Speaking of hardware and visiting manufacturers’ Web sites, now would be a good time to update your firmware, especially if you’re not in the habit of doing this on a regular basis. Go to your system manufacturer’s site for system firmware updates. See “Firmware and You: A Comprehensive Guide to Updating Your Hardware” for details.”

They are referring to the BIOS of the PC on which you intend to install Windows 7. Sometimes there have been BIOS=firmware updates since you bought the PC, and sometimes it is worth updating it. Some manufacturers (e.g. Dell) make this process very straightforward. In “the old days” you took your life into your hands doing BIOS updates; now it’s less hairy.

There is a BIOS update available. When you update the BIOS does it update anything that sits in System Devices in Device Manager? The reason I ask is the item that the Upgrade Advisor says is not compatible with Win7 (Intel Management Engine Interface) is an item in Device Manager under System Devices. Can I just double-click it in Device Manager and ask it to update driver? Or should I try the BIOS update.

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There is a BIOS update available. When you update the BIOS does it update anything that sits in System Devices in Device Manager? The reason I ask is the item that the Upgrade Advisor says is not compatible with Win7 (Intel Management Engine Interface) is an item in Device Manager under System Devices. Can I just double-click it in Device Manager and ask it to update driver? Or should I try the BIOS update.

I suspect/hope that the BIOS fiurmware is at a much lower level than anything that we mortals can see in Windows…

BATcher

Plethora means a lot to me.

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