System Upgrades
Service Manual
Ensure you reference your service manual before carrying out upgrades:
The most recommended upgrade for this system is a Solid State Drive, here is my affiliate link to Crucial here. If purchasing a SSD or Memory Upgrade please use these links as I will get a tiny bit of commission which will help fund my guides.
SSD Drive Upgrade
Memory Upgrade:
This system supports 8 GB of RAM (2×4 GB Modules) however 8 GB of DDR2 RAM is more expensive than it is worth and the 32 Bit OS maxes out at 4 GB RAM. This can also be purchased using the affiliate link above.
Media Direct
Media Direct should be installed before the Operating System in order for the Media Direct Button to function correctly.
Operating System
It is recommended to install Windows 10 on this system see Windows OEM FAQs and Downloads. The Windows Vista OEM or Windows XP Product Key won't be compatible with Windows 10 Installation Media however you can run Windows 10 Unlicensed. Windows 10 will have most of the system drivers required inbuilt however you can install the Windows 7 Drivers if you have any unknown Devices in the Device Manager.
Drivers and Downloads for Windows 7
Legacy BIOS
System Utilities (Windows 7 Only)
Chipset (Windows 7)
Serial ATA
Card Reader
Video (Windows 7 Only)
Communications (Windows 7 Only)
Not all systems have a modem. If the Driver fails to install, there is no need to try and install the rest in this category.
Thanks a lot !!
Dell doesn't continue support on SEVEN for this Laptop.
Is there a readme file for installing properly by importance or "install first this file before…"??
Are those file up to date?
Sorry for my english, I'm french.
Best Regards from France.
Philippe
Unlike Dell, I list the drivers in the recommend install order. Install exactly in the order I list for best results. Also have a look at A Clean Install of Windows 7:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/a-clean-install-of-windows-7/