I used the Microsoft Windows 10 DVD (created with Microsoft's Win 10 media creation tool) and installed Win 10. I took an older dell machine, tried installing Dell from the Windows 10 recovery media, but it couldn't even find a drive. I don't know if this means that I can only do a destructive upgrade from Win 7. Dell installs win 7 using 'legacy' boot and 'MBR' partitions. On this machine I didn't want to loose files so I didn't try the option to replace everything.ĭell installs Win 10 using UEFI boot and I think GPT partitions.
I tried doing a 'reset' with keep files on a laptop, and it saw my existing Win 7 image as a target, but something failed and it quit before making any changes. You can boot from the Dell DVD or USB, select troubleshoot, and then 'reset my PC.' Reset my PC gives you the options to preserve your data files (but not applications) or wipe everything. Unlike with Win 7 media from Dell, or a Windows 10 DVD from Microsoft, the Dell recovery only gives you a repair option, not a clean install option. (You can also download the ISO from Dell as well as as tool to create a Win 10 Recover bootable USB key.)
with downgrade rights.) Dell will provide a Windows 10 Pro recovery DVD.
My company has purchased several desktops and laptops from Dell with Windows 10 Pro licensed but Windows 7 Pro installed by Dell (i.e.
