Driver, Utility and Application Installation Order Guide

The purpose of this document is to outline the general software and driver installation order for your Dell computer. Note: This document assumes that the user has successfully installed the Operating System using the Dell Recovery Media provided with the system.

Installing Operating System Updates

1. Operating System Service Packs 2. Notebook System Software or Desktop System Software After installing the Operating System (OS) it is recommended the latest available Service Pack (SP) be installed. If the Operating System was installed from the Dell Recovery Media provided with the system it will already include the latest Service Pack. After installing the Operating System and Service Pack the most important component to install is the Dell Notebook / Desktop System Software (NSS / DSS). The Notebook / Desktop System Software executable is a collection of essential software that provides critical updates for correct Operating System functionality. This software package is designed to automatically detect and install the appropriate files and/or updates, depending on the Operating System and Service Pack present. Depending on the system model, the Notebook / Desktop System Software installation files may be found on either the Utilities or Drivers page of the Resource CD.

Installing Component Drivers

Driver installation files on the Resource CD may be located using the following methods:

Click the Drivers link at the top of the page. Choose Drivers from the Topic drop-down menu on the left-hand side of the screen.

Choosing the appropriate system model from the System Model drop-down list on the left-hand side of the screen will display only those drivers applicable for your system. 3. Controller Driver Install the appropriate Chipset driver for the system.

and Software Depending on the system model, the chipset installation software may be found under either the 'Controller Drivers' heading or the 'System Drivers' heading on the Drivers page. 4. Video Drivers Install the appropriate video driver for the system. If you are unsure which driver to choose refer to your system documentation and order information to identify the video card installed in the system. 5. Communication Drivers Install the appropriate communication driver(s) for the system. Depending on the system model and configuration you may need to install a Network (NIC) Driver. If you are unsure which driver(s) to choose, refer to your system documentation and order information to identify the communication controllers installed in the system. Modem drivers are located on a separate installation CD. 6. Input Drivers Install the appropriate input driver(s) for the system. If you are unsure which driver(s) to choose, refer to your system documentation and order information to identify the input device(s) used by the system. 7. Audio Drivers Install the appropriate audio driver for your system (this step is optional as some system models may not include an audio controller). If you are unsure which driver to choose refer to your system documentation and order information to identify the audio controller installed in the system. 8. Miscellaneous Drivers The system's Resource CD may include a 'Miscellaneous Drivers' heading on the Drivers page. This section includes various drivers and utilities that may need to be installed your system model. If you are unsure which driver to install, refer to your system documentation or Dell's support web site (http://support.dell.com) for more information. 9. Patches, Utilities and Applications Your system's Resource CD may include a Patches link at the top of the page. Click the link to access applicable patches for your system model.

Your system's Resource CD may include a Utilities link at the top of the page. Click the link to access applicable software utilities for your system model. Your system's Resource CD may include an Applications link at the top of the page. Click the link to access applicable applications for your system model. If you are unsure which patches, utilities or applications to install, refer to your system documentation or Dell's support web site (http://support.dell.com) for more information. The latest revision of all Dell system documents, drivers and BIOS files can be found on Dell's support web site - http://support.dell.com.