Precision 3550 Re-imaging guide for Microsoft Windows Computer Model: Precision 3550
Notes, cautions, and warnings NOTE: A NOTE indicates important information that helps you make better use of your product. CAUTION: A CAUTION indicates either potential damage to hardware or loss of data and tells you how to avoid the problem. WARNING: A WARNING indicates a potential for property damage, personal injury, or death. Copyright © 2020 Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries. All rights reserved. Dell, EMC, and other trademarks are trademarks of Dell Inc. or its subsidiaries.
Contents Installation overview .......................................................... 5 Introduction ....................................................................... 6 Order of reinstallation ........................................................ 7 Updating or Resetting the BIOS .......................................... 9 Flashing the BIOS ............................................................................................ 9 Clearing CMOS settings ......................................
Downloading and installing the Dell graphics driver……………………………...17 7 Dell ControlVault3 Driver and Firmware……………………………………………….17 Downloading and installing Dell ControlVault3……………………………………..17 8 Dell Power Manager Service (DPM)......................................................... 18 Downloading and installing the DPM ....................................................... 18 9 Wireless Local Network (WLAN) drivers and applications ...................... 19 Downloading and installing the Wi-Fi driver...
Installation overview NOTE: Dell recommends that you download and install the device drivers from the Dell Drivers & Downloads website. Installing device drivers from a non-Dell website can cause system performance issues, corrupt operating system files, blue screen errors, unexpected shutdown, or infect your computer with malicious software. NOTE: With the introduction of Windows 10, Microsoft has prioritized driver installations via Universal Windows Platform (UWP) from the Microsoft Store.
Introduction Re-imaging is the process of removing all software on the computer and reinstalling the removed software. Re-imaging is required when software in the computer is corrupted or damaged and can also be used as a means of removing harmful and malicious software in your computer. This re-imaging guide provides the steps required for reimaging your computer. CAUTION: This re-imaging guide is designed for system administrators.
Order of reinstallation NOTE: Some drivers and application installation steps may not be applicable, depending on the configuration of the computer you have ordered. To achieve optimal performance, install the drivers and applications in the following sequence: 1 BIOS: Allows the operating system to be loaded into the memory and enables the initial startup process on your computer.
10 Dell applications, which includes: – 11 12 Dell Power Manager (DPM) Networking and Communication, which includes: – Wireless Local Area Network Adapters (WLAN): Enables and enhances the wireless adapter – Bluetooth: Enables and enhances the Bluetooth adapter Dell Client Command Suite NOTE: Dell Client Command Suite is the new name of our industry leading Client Systems Management tools. These tools make Dell commercial client systems the world's most manageable client devices.
Updating or Resetting the BIOS Flashing the BIOS It is recommended to flash BIOS when an update is available or when you replace the system board. To flash the BIOS: 1 Turn on your computer. 2 Go to www.dell.com/support. 3 Click Product support, enter the Service Tag of your computer, and then click Search. NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature or manually browse for your computer model.
2 Press F2 when the Dell logo is displayed on the screen to enter the BIOS setup program. The BIOS setup program is displayed. 3 On the left pane, select Security → TPM Security → Clear TPM. 4 Select or clear any of the following options to enable or disable it, respectively: 5 – Enabled (Default): The BIOS enables the TPM during POST and it can be accessed by the operating system. – Disabled: The BIOS will not enable the TPM during POST and it cannot be accessed by the operating system.
Reinstalling the operating system The 64-bit Microsoft Windows 10 operating system is validated for use on this computer. You can reset or reinstall the operating system under different scenarios. For more information about reinstalling the operating system, see the knowledge base article SLN297920 at www.dell.com/support. Before attempting a reinstall of your operating system, Dell recommends that you backup all data as described in the Microsoft knowledge base article located here.
Reinstalling drivers and Applications Drivers and applications are software that enables Windows (or another operating system) to communicate with the hardware devices and software in your computer. Devices such as video and sound cards require drivers to function correctly within Windows, and require applications to enable users to adjust hardware settings. The Windows reinstallation includes drivers for most devices, but device-specific drivers may have to be downloaded and installed separately.
Reinstallation sequence for drivers and applications Driver installation is critical if you have reinstalled the Windows operating system on your Dell computer. Install the drivers in the correct sequence for your computer to function correctly. In some scenarios, you may have to reinstall or update the device driver if you are encountering any issues with a specific device. For more information, see the Dell knowledge-base article SLN148687 at www.dell.com/support.com.
NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature or manually browse for your computer model. 4 Click Drivers & downloads 5 Scroll down the page and select Chipset in Category 6 Click Download to download chipset drivers for your computer. 7 After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the chipset driver files. 8 Double-click the chipset driver files icon and follow the instructions on the screen.
NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature or manually browse for your computer model. 4 Click Drivers & downloads 5 Scroll down the page and select Chipset in Category. 6 Click Download to download the media-card reader driver for your computer. 7 After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the card reader driver file. 8 Double-click the card reader driver file icon and follow the instructions on the screen.
4 Click Drivers & downloads. 5 Scroll down the page and select Serial ATA in Category. 6 Click Download to download the IRST driver for your computer. 7 After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the IRST driver file. 8 Double-click the driver file icon and follow the instructions on the screen. 5 Audio The Windows operating system does not include the audio driver recommended by Dell. Install the HD audio driver that is available for download on the Dell support site.
Downloading and installing the Dell graphics driver 1 Turn on your computer. 2 Go to www.dell.com/support. 3 Click Product support, enter the Service Tag of your computer, and then click Search. NOTE: If you do not have the Service Tag, use the auto-detect feature or manually browse for your computer model. 4 Click Drivers & downloads 5 Scroll down the page and select Video in Category. 6 Click Download to download the graphics driver for your computer.
8 Double-click the file icon and follow the instructions on the screen. 8 Dell Power Manager Service (DPM) DPM is a Dell-developed application providing simplified and efficient power management capabilities for Dell computers. The key features are as follows: • Battery information: Display battery health information, adjust battery settings or create a custom-battery setting. • Advanced charge mode: Control battery charging to prolong battery life.
6 Click Download to download the DPM application for your computer. 7 After the download is complete, navigate to the folder where you saved the DPM file. 8 Double-click the DPM file icon and follow the instructions on the screen. 9 Wireless Local Network (WLAN) drivers and applications Windows operating systems do not provide native device driver support for WLAN controllers on Dell computers. To obtain wireless network functionality, install the relevant WLAN drivers from the Dell support site.
10 Dell docking station WD15/WD19/WD19DC The Dell Docking Station WD15/WD19/WD19DC is a device that links all your electronic devices to your computer using a USB Type-C cable interface. Connecting the computer to the docking station enables you to access all peripherals (mouse, keyboard, stereo speakers, external hard drive, and large-screen displays) without having to plug each device into the computer.
.NET Framework The .NET Framework is a software framework from Microsoft, which is bundled with Windows operating systems. The .NET Framework is intended to be used by most applications created for the Microsoft Windows platform.
Getting help and contacting Dell Self-help resources You can get information and help on Dell products and services using these self-help resources: Table 1. Self-help resources Information about Dell products and services www.dell.com Dell Help & Support app Tips Contact Support In Windows search, type Help and Support, and press Enter. Online help for operating system www.dell.com/support/windows www.dell.
• • • • • Setting up and using your product Data backup Troubleshooting and diagnostics Factory and system restore BIOS information Contacting Dell your product, identify your product through one of the following: • • Select Detect Product. Locate your product through the drop-down menu under View Products. • Enter the Service Tag number or Product ID in the search bar. To contact Dell for sales, technical support, or customer service issues, see www.dell.com/contactdell.
