Re-imaging Guide for Dell OptiPlex Small Form Factor Plus 7020

Quick guide from the manual

This guide is intended for system administrators. It outlines the necessary steps to re-image the Dell OptiPlex Small Form Factor Plus 7020, including BIOS updates, OS reinstallation, and the correct sequence for installing drivers. Important: This guide is only applicable to computers with Windows 11 installed. Always back up your data before attempting to re-image the system.

Order of reinstallation

To achieve optimal performance, install drivers and applications in the following sequence:

1. BIOS: Enables the operating system to load and initial setup.
2. Windows operating system: The base for all software.
3. Intel chipset driver: Allows Windows to communicate with system board components.
4. Networking and communication drivers: WLAN, Bluetooth, and Onboard LAN.
5. Latest updates and drivers: Use Dell Command Updates (DCU) for commercial computers.
6. Critical Microsoft Knowledge Base (KB) updates: Fixes and optimizations for the OS.
7. Media-card reader driver: Enables the media-card reader.
8. Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST): Enables high-performance SATA and RAID capabilities.
9. Graphics driver: Optimizes video performance and power management.
10. Audio driver: Enables the audio controller.
11. Security drivers: Includes Goodix Fingerprint Sensor.
12. Dell applications: Dell Update, Dell Power Manager, Dell On-Screen Display, and Dell Optimizer.

Updating or resetting the BIOS

It is recommended to update the BIOS when an update is available or after replacing the system board. You can update the BIOS via the Dell support website by entering your Service Tag or Model. If the computer fails to boot after a BIOS update, you may need to clear the CMOS settings to reset the BIOS to factory defaults.

Trusted Platform Module (TPM) security

To enable and configure TPM:

• Turn on or restart your computer.
• Press F2 when the Dell logo appears to enter the BIOS setup program.
• Navigate to the Security pane.
• Configure the TPM state (Enabled/Disabled) and TPM 2.0 security settings as required.
• Save the settings and exit.

Reinstalling the operating system

Before attempting a reinstall, ensure you have backed up all data. The Windows operating system is validated for this computer. For specific instructions on installing Windows on Intel 12th Generation computers using ISO images, refer to the Dell knowledge base articles available on the support website.

Getting help

For further assistance, visit the Dell support website. You can identify your computer using the Service Tag or Express Service Code to access specific drivers, manuals, and diagnostic tools. For technical support or customer service issues, visit the Dell contact page.