Just registered so bear with me ^_^.
Before getting started, my planned setup:
- D54250WYKH
- Intel 730 240GB SSD
- Intel Dual Band Wireless AC 7260 card
- 16GB DDR3L RAM
- Windows 7 x64 Pro (a USB install from an .iso download from Digital River)
- A 1080p display via the miniHDMI port
- (no mSATA SSD planned at this stage)
I purchased a D54250WYK to replace an ATX-sized Pentium 4 from back in 2004 (yeah, been living off Windows XP for eons). Whilst I have experience building, (extensively) using, and providing relatively moderate-to-advanced support for Windows 7 systems, this is my very first (and own) new computer since 2004.
Now, I'm waiting for the RAM I ordered to get here (purchased everything seperately) so haven't had the chance to power this new puppy up. Been researching about all the possibilites a recent-era machine (a NUC specifically) can offer, and had some questions which I was hoping to get answered.
1). UEFI and Legacy BIOS. I know what the differences are in a basic sense. The former for example is more recent, allows for faster booting, looks more pretty, and is used in Windows 8, among others. But I'm planning on installing Windows 7 x64 Pro on the NUC. And as far as I understand it, Windows 7 doesn't natively support UEFI unless the setup is modded in a particular way. Can anyone confirm? Is there a significant added benefit in going down the UEFI install route vs. a legacy install? A quick squizz on Intel's OS Installation Guide shows a Legacy Mode Install is recommended for Windows 7, but was still curious.
2). Trudging online, a Windows 7 install via USB is just a matter of running the DVD install tool from Microsoft (to prepare the USB drive with the setup files) and booting off the USB on the NUC? I read some issues with the NTFS format not being liked by the NUC (as a work-around some people make the NTFS USB, and copy all the files to a FAT32 USB apparently?)
3). Wireless card driver. I recall reading that there are two drivers for this? One for the bluetooth, the other for the Wifi? But looking at the Download Drivers page here I only see Intel® PROSet/Wireless Software and Drivers (v17.0.2). So this is all I need? Or am I missing something?
4). Considering I haven't yet powered this thing up yet, I don't know what firmware the BIOS is running. Though I see that the latest version is 0025. The NUC packaging states a packaging date of February so I can assume it's shipped with a now out-dated firmware version. Should I upgrade the BIOS before the OS install (via the BIOS menu option)?
Yeah. Basically everything I can think of asking so far.
I've used Windows 7 machines at university since early 2009 (actually, through the MSDNAA programme when I was studying, so, since a few weeks before the mainstream launch). But never on a personal computer. And at the risk of getting booed, never EVER used a computer with a SSD so I'm not too sure what to expect... Heck, my Pentium 4 (Northwood) rocked a 160GB HDD with 2GB of DDR1 RAM so I daresay I'm all tingly with excitement. Once the RAM arrives that is.
Many thanks in advance for the help regarding the questions above. I am relatively literate with computers so go nuts if you want to go technical.