Reinstalling Vista

How to re-install Vista and Media Direct: 

1)First,load your media direct cd in the drive>re-boot,and hit f12 at boot screen>now select "boot from disk".This will start add the partition table to the drive with media direct.(Do not worry about formatting drive,as this step will erase the drive and set partition tables.

2)Load Vista disk in the drive>select re-start system>hit f12 at boot screen,and select"boot from disk".At this point Vista will install it takes about 15-20 minutes,make sure you select option#2 to install the OS on C: and the rest for D:(DO NOT choose to install OS on Entire C: drive).When it finishes and vista loads,sign on and set your password and user account,don't log off.

3)This step is why i said do not log off,load the media direct disk again,while logged onto vista.This will install the media direct program.

4)Now load your Dell utility disk and install all drivers needed for your system,as follows (Or download the latest revisions using another computer from the dell website).

#1-Notebook System Software-Then Re-boot

#2-Chipset-Then Re-Boot

Make sure you install the top 2 drivers first in the order listed.Now load rest of drivers.

#3-Video-Re-Boot

#4-Audio>Sigma Tel Stac 92XX C-Major (Sigmatel Driver can sometimes be problematic with service pack 1). If your audio works fine before installing the driver, then I would say not to install it - its up to you).

#5-Wireless card

#6-Bluetooth Card

#7-Synaptics Touchpad,or Alps Touchpad(which ever version you have)

#8-Quickset(Controls wireless and bluetooth radios)

#9-Ricoh(for 4-in-1 and 5-in-1 media card readers)

#10-Broadcom driver-and Broadcom Utility(both listed under networking tab)

#11-Conexant>listed under communication tab

#12-Any other apps. you might have like,Roxio,Sonic,Dell Support Center(listed under application tab)

All drivers listed above are on Dell Utility Disk,but it is a good idea to go to Dells download and driver page to install updated drivers.As the drivers on Utility disk might be out dated from Dell site.

5)Now that all the above is completed,install ALL Windows updates,except for Vista SP1,save this update for last because 3 other updates have to be installed before this can be installed.There are 83 updates so this will take a while,be patient.The Vista SP1 update alone takes about 1 1/2 hours to complete.

There is also the standalone version of service pack 1. 32-bit: http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=B0C7136D-5EBB-413B-89C9-CB3D06D12674&displaylang=en

64-bit

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=874A414B-32B2-41CC-BD8B-D71EDA5EC07C&displaylang=en

This can be downloaded on another computer, copied over on a usb flash stick for example and the operating system can be updated to service pack 1 before installing all the drivers. (It will restart 3 to 4 times). I also recommend downloading all the necessary drivers off the Dell Website and copying them to your usb flash stick and then transferring them to your computer along with the service pack.

6)Now that the updates are done,load all programs and other apps. you had.

7)Up and running now Enjoy.