Taking The Plunge!! Installing Windows 7

1st time trying to install a new OS. Going to do a clean install on my HP (Vista) OEM computer. Installing Windows 7 32 bit Home Premium.

Questions; What happens when you delete all partitions? Does Windows 7 automatically recreate new partitions?

Does the program automatically check drivers and attempt to install them during the installation? What happens if it can't find a driver?

Sorry for the dumb questions but like I said, this is the 1st time I've tried installing an OS.

Any tips before I take the plunge?

You will have options to choose which partitions or create them within the installation process. Windows will attempt to install your drivers. With the drivers that fail many of them are correctly installed through Windows update.

As far as any drivers that are not correctly installed and updated through your install or windows update. The only drivers you will need before you install is the ones needed to get online( modem/network adaptor drivers ). Once online you can work on fixing the remainder of the problems.

Uh Oh...you just threw me a curve ball. Haha
I need a DRIVER for my DSL modem?? I don't have a router, just a DSL modem. Don't need a driver for that do I ?

No that is for those that connect through dialup

Your DSL modem is external and does not require Windows drivers.

Thanks Clifford. Guess that means I'm ready to pull the trigger. (I hope) LOL

Good luck DallasDad - I'll be pulling for you -

Take a stop by your OEM Computer Manufacturers website and have a look for your specific computer (many of the OEM's have a Model Number of some sort). Then have a look at the drivers they may have for download. Check for Motherboard/Soundcard/Internet drivers, especially if they have any that are listed for Windows 7. Download them and burn to a CD/DVD or put on a flash drive. Then when you do the install, if you need drivers, you already have them.

Made it!
So far so good. I guess we'll find out more tomorrow, but meantime it appears I made it on the first try! LOL.

Haven't tried to hook up the printer yet, gotta go find a driver for that. Oh well we'll get that tomorrow.


Hey draceena, I'll look into that. If I could put drivers on a flash drive, that could be useful.

WTG DallasDad Congrats

Well, found a problem though.

It only shows 1 partition of 465 Gig which is where the OS is at. Problem is, the computer has 1000 Gig.

That was the listed size of one of the original partitions. It just deleted the original contents and kept the 465 G size and set the new OS on it, but no indication about the rest of the unallocated space.