Windows 10: Problems upgrading CPU and Graphic card on 7 year old Dell Vostro

GhastBoyGamer1 · Aug 10, 2021

HiI'm using Dell Vostro 14-5480 - a seven years old laptop. I try to upgrade RAM, SSD, it improved my laptop a lot. But then I came to upgrade the CPU and the Graphic Card, I realized that this laptop didn't support replacing CPU or Graphic Card. But I want to surprise my friends with my laptop. And I have some questions:So how can I change the Intel HD Graphic icon?If I use Resource Hacker to change these icons, are there any problems that can cause my laptop to boot or something like that?* Original title: Please help me

:)

reddwarf4ever · Aug 10, 2021

problem upgrading dell vostro 1000 laptop

OK, first the good news, I just finished this whole process with Dell Vostro 100 with the same GPU (Dell part: L: 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.
Click to expand...

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

reddwarf4ever · Aug 10, 2021

problem upgrading dell vostro 1000 laptop

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
Click to expand...

Ok trying now to upgrade vostro 1000, tried running setup from within Windows and told this PC cannot be upgraded to Windows 10.... so now booting from USB pen and chose custom install.....assume this is a clean install.....it accepted my Windows 7 product key, which is good news.....fingers crossed

UPDATE *really*Wink*092 well it works, now have a dell vostro laptop with a clean install Windows 10.. I triied booting from the USB pen and chose upgrade it told me to restart the 'pc' and run setup from the install file...but that doesn't work, so chose custom and did a clean install, went flawlessly, even used the Windows 7 product key.....thank you everyone for your help and support and occaisonly steering me in the right direction LOL *Rolleyes.....it's working very well so from XP to vista to Windows 7 and now to Windows 10....quite a journey...

SOFTLINECREATIONS · Aug 10, 2021

nVidia 330M video card in dell vostro 3700 is not showing in window 10 64bit

I have Dell Vostro 3700 with Vostro 3700 - nVidia 330M video card discrete card. Previously i am using window 7 the card is workding fine. But when i install window 10, neither the card is showing in driver list nor
it is installing. I have to just use the intel dedicated graphic. Please help to short out this problem as my card is 2 gb and it will help me alot in working.

Windows 10: Problems upgrading CPU and Graphic card on 7 year old Dell Vostro

Problems upgrading CPU and Graphic card on 7 year old Dell Vostro

Problems upgrading CPU and Graphic card on 7 year old Dell Vostro

Problems upgrading CPU and Graphic card on 7 year old Dell Vostro

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