Windows 10: problem upgrading dell vostro 1000 laptop

If you have a 7 Pro key then the current 10586 build (of 10 Pro) will accept it for a clean install. I've done this and it definitely works. The links in this tutorial will get you the current build without having to go to some unofficial site Windows 10 ISO Download - Windows 10 Forums. I'd recommend the Tech Bench version from option 1 in the Tutorial. It is a little (~500MB) bigger but more useful later if you want to run repairs.

You can install 32 or 64 bit as you prefer as long as it is Pro and the current build.

 

OK, first the good news, I just finished this whole process with Dell Vostro 100 with the same GPU (Dell part: 320-5631 : Integrated ATI Radeon X1150 Graphics, for Vostro 1000) as you so it is possible.

Now as you know, you can't do the 'in-place' upgrade using the upgrade icon in your system tray since you get the error regarding the GPU. I got the same error. As you will see below, I DID NOT get the GPU error when I did the upgrade via USB stick.

To be comprehensive, there are two general ways to go:

1. The OLD 'PRE-November' 'TWO STEP' process which involves doing the upgrade first (via USB in your case) and then an optional clean install after windows 10 is validated. This process was a two step process since the OLD 'fresh install' Windows 10 installer would not accept Windows 7 keys and would not validate unless window 10 had been previously installed.

2. The NEW 'November update' 'ONE STEP' process in which MS says with the new installer you can do a clean install and enter the windows 7 key and windows 10 will accept it.

Now, I did the FIRST (OLD) one so I can say it works (option two SHOULD work as well, but I didn't do it myself so I can't vouch 100% for it.)

Here's exactly what I did (the old way) on my Vostro 1000:
1. I had a license for windows 7 Home Premium
2. I used that license to install and validate the 32 bit version of windows 7 Home Premium
3. I tried to upgrade via the tray icon and could not due to the GPU error
4. I downloaded the Windows 10 Home 32 bit version using the MS Media Creation tool and installed it on a USB.
5. I booted in to Windows 7 and navigated to the USB and ran the setup application from there (UPGRADE approach)
6. The windows 10 upgrade process started and ran WITHOUT the GPU error
7. When it asked me for the key, I selected skip
8. When the install completed I checked the System page and it told me windows 10 was activated (since it must have found my valid 7 license)
(I could have stopped there with a 'upgraded' installation but I wanted a CLEAN install, so...
9. I then BOOTED from the USB stick, deleted all the existing partitions, and installed CLEAN (fresh.)
10. When it asked me for the key I choose skip
11. When the clean install was complete I checked the system page and windows 10 was activated (since windows 10 had been successfully installed via the preceding upgrade process.)

Now, as I see it you have three options for install:

1. Old way #1 - Do it exactly like I did (32bit all the way) except you would use the 32 bit PRO download to match your license
2. Old way #2 - Don't reinstall windows 7, (64 bit all the way) start at step 4 above. Just download and use the 64 bit Windows 10 Pro version to MATCH your existing Windows 7 Pro 64 bit install.
3. New way - Download the 64 bit Windows 10 Pro installer (to MATCH your license) and BOOT from the USB (fresh install.) When you get to the key entry DO enter your key since MS says the new installer will accept it.

The easiest way is obviously #3 and I would probably go that way and hope that MS is right and the new installer will accept your windows 7 key. If that does not work you'll have to reinstall windows 7 and do it the 'old' way as in options 1 or 2.

To summarize regarding the GPU issue: for whatever reason the GPU error does not stop the installation as long as one is upgrading or fresh installing from a USB stick. I know that makes no sense, but that's the way it is. Others have reported the same thing with regards to the Vostro 1000.

All the rest is just how to install windows 10 stuff.

I know the above is a lot of detail but I wanted to be precise, let me know if you have any questions.

 

You are supposed to be able to now use the Windows 7 product key to install Windows 10.

If you boot the computer from the Windows 10 USB pen you will not be doing an upgrade, you will be doing a clean install. If you just insert the USB pen with Windows 7 running, then you will be doing an in-place upgrade. Doing an upgrade from the downloaded Windows 10 on a USB pen has proven, historically, to be less problematic than Windows Update upgrades. Don't know why but more than one person has been able to upgrade from a downloaded USB after Windows Update has failed.

Build 10586 is now the Windows 10 version that is available from Microsoft to the general public - no need to go to an unofficial source for it. Good luck!

 

One last issue, the Windows 7 pro products key I have is for a Windows 7 upgrade as the vostro was upgraded from vista to 7
not sure if it will accept this key, we will see

thanks StoweUser for all your help

the ISO from Tech Bench do not actually say they are build 10586

the site I downloaded from was I believe an MS site, or so I thought......unless unofficial meant it looked like an MS site but wasnt
lookd everywhere for build 10586, either it doesn't say what build it is..e.g. Windows 10 ISO

or it usually turns out to be what looks like an MS site but isn't...

 

seems like Microsoft have removed all links to Windows 10 build 10586, the media creator downloads which did include the November update, have bpnow been reverted to the previous build and MS want us to do the 10586 build update via Windows update.

the two I downloaded are build 10586 but are insider previews, guess that's why they were called unofficial, so have burnt USB pens with these ISO images and will try the vostro install with Windows 7 key........don't know how to get a full Windows 10 pro build 10586 ISO now....

 

Both the Media creation tool and Techbench versions are 10586. They both say "Technical Preview" but they are the official versions.

you can check it by mounting the iso (double click on it) then from elevated command line enter dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:L:\sources\install.wim /index:1 replacing the L with whatever drive letter it got when you mounted it. Code: C:\WINDOWS\system32>dism /get-wiminfo /wimfile:l:\sources\install.wim /index:1 Deployment Image Servicing and Management tool Version: 10.0.10586.0 Details for image : l:\sources\install.wim Index : 1 Name : Windows 10 Pro Technical Preview Description : Windows 10 Pro Technical Preview Size : 13,905,900,578 bytes WIM Bootable : No Architecture : x64 Hal : <undefined> Version : 10.0.10586 ServicePack Build : 0 ServicePack Level : 0 Edition : Professional Installation : Client ProductType : WinNT ProductSuite : Terminal Server System Root : WINDOWS Directories : 19312 Files : 98317 Created : 10/30/2015 - 10:27:01 AM Modified : 10/30/2015 - 10:27:37 AM Languages : en-US (Default) The operation completed successfully. C:\WINDOWS\system32>[/quote]

 

that's good news at least....will keep these safe...as no longer available

thanks

 

Double clicking to mount the ISO only works in 8 and 10, not in 7.

 

I hope to do my vostro upgrade soon.....so hopefully an end to my problem......MS obviously decided against releasing build 10568 as ISO downloads even the media creator downloads have been rolled back to post 10568....

 

What makes you say that? They were for one weekend just after they were released about a month ago but have been back on 10586 since then. I've downloaded 10586 from both Tech Bench and MCt and they are 10586...

 

Good point. @reddwarf4ever has a 10 Pro system though so can easily check the iso he/she has downloaded.

 

got my info from here..
The Windows 10 Media Creation Tool no longer has the November build 10586 files [Update] | Windows Central

but just managed to get
Windows 10 ISO
to work again....each time I tried earlier the ISO at the end of the URL kept getting stripped out as it was navigating to the page and pointed me somewhere different......

thanks

 

According to the ATI AMD website

The following is a list of graphics products that do not have driver support Windows® 10:

• ATI Radeon™ X1### Series/ATI Mobility Radeon™ X1### Series Graphics

shows how little they know LOL

 

Dont understand why when i go to
Windows 10 ISO

I keep getting
Windows 10

The ISO page worked earlier now it doesnt, maybe its my browser
tried edge and chrome same problem, strange that when I open in safari on my iPad I still get the ISO page, so it's still there, how do I force it to go to this page in chrome or edge ?

 

Both links lead to the MCT.
You can either follow the instructions to create an ISO or download the ISO from Tech Bench
If you choose TechBench make sure you get the correct ISO