How to upgrade my W7 PC to SSD & W10

techquest

Chino wrote: »

When you copied these instructions from this post, did you forget to copy the step "Copy nomad88's A07.ROM to C:\Dell_BIOS" following the step you numbered "5"?

By the way, the link to the A07 BIOS extracted by the user "nomad88" appears to be dead:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=2AA11557C910E63F!120&authkey=!APAWrGIjalc_C68

No, wasn't there on spice, though I had come across the nomad88 link on dell. Once again your link is on redirect by moneysavingexpert but looking at the link I see dell in there so assume your referring to a link you found on there. But as said there are countless users with the same XPS 8300 reporting using A07, on dells or other sites on the web, also graphics cards not supported on A06 but are A07 for the same XPS 8300 product.

EveryWhere

Chino wrote: »

When you copied these instructions from this post, did you forget to copy the step "Copy nomad88's A07.ROM to C:\Dell_BIOS" following the step you numbered "5"?

By the way, the link to the A07 BIOS extracted by the user "nomad88" appears to be dead:
https://skydrive.live.com/redir?resid=2AA11557C910E63F!120&authkey=!APAWrGIjalc_C68

Actually he didn't copy them from there. The instructions are different. They are only to extract the ROM.

They come from here; https://www.dell.com/community/Windows-General/XPS-8300-BIOS-A06-or-A07/m-p/4012362/highlight/true#M355225

Unfortunately he skimmed over how to actually Flash the ROM. It's not a matter of 'running the file'.

In addition to this, even if you Flash the BIOS, UEFI is not configurable.

Also, to answer a previous question, UEFI is not configurable within the A07 BIOS. The BIOS screens/options appear identical to the A06 BIOS.

He does need to be careful with that kind of post.

BIOS A10 is actually for the XPS 8700.

EveryWhere

techquest wrote: »

No, wasn't there on spice, though I had come across the nomad88 link on dell. Once again your link is on redirect by moneysavingexpert but looking at the link I see dell in there so assume your referring to a link you found on there. But as said there are countless users with the same XPS 8300 reporting using A07, on dells or other sites on the web, also graphics cards not supported on A06 but are A07 for the same XPS 8300 product.

The were likely two iterations of the XPS 8300. Upgrading from A06 to A07 won't get you UEFI.
Possibly later iterations or people who got their Motherboard replaced at some point were supplied with another iteration that supported UEFI and had A07 installed.

So this is causing yours and others confusion.

So Flashing A07 won't likely enable UEFI.

Best to forget about it.

getmore4less

DoaM wrote: »

The problem is long links - MSE is putting a space in productcode and changing it to produc tcode. Easily resolved by making it this link.

This is a long standing known issue with pasted links on MSE

Use insert link from the tool bar(or contruct them).

AnotherJoe

mac.d wrote: »

At some point this year I plan to upgrade my Dell W7 PC to W10 and at the same time do it as a clean install on a new SSD drive. For some reason my PC wasn't eligible to get the free W10 upgrade (not sure why as it was a new system bought from Dell), so I figure I should buy a W10 licence (ebay?) in case I again hit problems with my W7 licence.

I have used the downloaded tool to install W10 from USB, so I just need to buy the SSD drive & mounting kit & W10 licence and I'm good to go right? Is there anything I need to do when installing the new SSD to make it the main drive, like should I swap it with the HDD, or just slot it in the empty bay? Should I unplug the HDD when installing W10 just to make sure, or is it sufficient just to point the installation to the SSD drive?

Also, will I need to back up my docs, photos and music from my HDD and then format it, or can I uninstall W7 from it and still keep the files?

Thanks!

You should always back up your data even if you dont plan to wipe it and reuse it in teh same location. At least twice to different media for example a USB stick and Cloud, or another drive and a stick.

Is it not already backed up?

mac.d

Yes I already have my data backed up, this will just give me another opportunity to update my most recent backup (no I don't automate it and yes I have more than one back up).

techquest, thanks for the info on using the more modern GPT... but I think I will take the easier option of just leaving it as it is!

Golactico

AndyPix wrote: »

1. Get a usb drive or whatever to backup your docs and do that
2. go here https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10
and choose "download tool now" - do that and run it ..
(you will need a blank USB stick with 8GB free for next step)
3. Accept the terms, and then choose "create installation media" and click next
4. Either change the requirements or dont (best options should be there as default) and click next
5 choose USB flash drive and then click the drive letter of the blank USB stick you have in
6 Wait
7 once its done, eject it and turn off computer, remove HDD and install SSD
8 Plug in USB stick and turn on computer and mash the F12 key
9 choose to boot from the USB stick and W10 will be installed
10 Copy your documents back from wherever you backed them up


Chances are it wont ask for a license key, but if it does just give it your W7 key - it will work fine


If you cant get it done by following that then maybe this isnt for you

Have I understood this correctly: If I omit stage 7 (I don't wish to install a SSD), will following these instructions upgrade my Windows 7 PC to Windows 10 for free and legally?

EveryWhere

Golactico wrote: »

Have I understood this correctly: If I omit stage 7 (I don't wish to install a SSD), will following these instructions upgrade my Windows 7 PC to Windows 10 for free and legally?

Yes, but use the gatherosstate method to have a secondary method of activation.....and think about fitting an SSD anyway. They make a world of difference.

mac.d

Thanks for the advice given on this thread, that's it all done far quicker and easier than I expected. Minor blip with windows activation but sorted now. I haven't touched my old HDD and I presume that there is no harm in just leaving it as is (with W7) and just continuing to use it as storage for photos, music etc?