DellWindowsReinstallationGuide is written and maintained by Philip Yip.

Cheers in advance for leaving whatever donations Philip.


This guide was for an older build of Windows x and is at present obsolete. For the latest build see Windows OEM FAQs and Downloads.

Contents

  • Introduction
  • Arrangement Prechecks
  • Downloading a Windows x .iso
  • Extracting a Windows x .iso (Windows vii but)
  • Upgrade Install from Windows ten Installation Media

Introduction

This volition have yous through an in identify upgrade install retaining your Apps and Files from Windows 7, Windows eight.x or an earlier build of Windows 10 to the latest build Windows 10.

Note: A Clean Installation always yields superior performance simply Microsoft have made vast improvements in reducing operation losses with Windows 10 Upgrade Installs.

The Complimentary Upgrade

Windows x was released on the 29th of July 2015. Microsoft fabricated it known that Windows 10 would be a Free Upgrade for those who took advantage of the Free Upgrade within the first yr of release.

Theoretically the Free Upgrade should have ended on the 29th of July 2016 which has long passed. However all activation mechanisms work with the latest Windows 10 Version 1803 build. The Upgrade Install has been tested on hardware with a Windows 7 OEM License (which has never previously had Windows 10 Activated) on the 02/011/2018. This date is after Microsoft Removed the Accessibility Upgrade Installer and all Activation Mechanisms are Still Reported to Work.

The English Language Issue

For Windows 7, English (U.Thousand.) and English (U.S.) were the same language. All Windows 7 English installs were actually Windows 7 English (U.S.) installs with optional Windows seven English (U.K.) customisations. For Windows viii and 10, Microsoft split English language (U.South.) and English (U.Thousand.) into different installation .isos and they are treated as different languages. For this reason, Microsoft assume all Windows 7 English OEM Installs with U.K. customisations are Windows seven English (U.S.) OEM Installs.

If Upgrade this PC at present is selected you will have the misfortune of installing English (U.S.) instead of English (U.K.):

The English (U.M.) fourth dimension & date/regional and keyboard settings may be lost:

In order for the right English Language to be selected, this guide launching the upgrade install from installation media.

Recommendations

Information technology is advised to Create a Macrium Reflect Windows Image of your One-time Windows Installation earlier carrying out this guide. For more details run across Backing up your Windows Installation using Macrium Reverberate.

System Prechecks

Before you even begin the Windows x Download you lot should know some details about your system. This is best done by looking at system data.

Press [Windows] and [ r ] to bring upwards the run command:

msinfo32

In the run box type in

msinfo32

Then printing ok.

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OS Name and Version

Take a note of the Os Name and Version.

Technically Microsoft list the build number hither and not what they call the version which is typically in the form yymm where yy is the year and mm is the month:

  • Build 17763/Version 1809 – Windows ten RS5
  • Build 17134/Version 1803 – Windows 10 RS4
  • Build 16299/Version 1709 – Windows 10 RS3 "Fall Creators Update"
  • Build 15063/Version 1703 – Windows 10 RS2 "Creators Update"
  • Build 14093/Version 1607 – Windows ten RS1 "Ceremony Update"
  • Build 10586/Version 1511 – Windows 10 TH2
  • Build 10240/Version 1507 – Windows ten TH1
  • Build 9600/Version 1310 – Windows 8.one
  • Build 9200/Version 1207 – Windows viii
  • Build 7601/Version 1102 – Windows vii SP1
  • Build 7600/Version 0907 – Windows 7

If the OS Proper noun contains the words Enterprise then this guide is not applicative.

SMBIOS Version

Take a note of the SMBIOS revision if information technology is ii.vii or later y'all should ensure that y'all Enable a UEFI Boot and Secure Boot afterwards your Upgrade Install. I will leave specific instructions to these near the End of this Guide.

Boot Mode and Secure Kicking State

For systems with Windows viii or Later installed you will have BIOS Fashion and SecureBoot Land shown. These technologies should be enabled where supported by the hardware.

This information doesn't show if you lot are currently running Windows 7. For a Windows 7 install in all cases SecureBoot will be disabled (as its unsupported past Windows seven) and the UEFI Boot may also be disabled even on hardware which support these technologies (this will be rectified at the End of the Windows 7 to Windows 10 Upgrade Install).

BIOS Version

Yous have the System Manufacturer, System Model and BIOS Version/Date. You should compare this with the version offered by your Reckoner Manufacturer eastward.g. Dell, HP and Lenovo and Update.

Without the Latest UEFI BIOS Version – Installation of Windows 10 may Fail!!!

See my dedicated guide on the UEFI BIOS which gives more detailed instructions on updating the UEFI BIOS to the latest version.

Downloading a Windows 10 .iso

You must have either a Windows 10 .iso or Bootable USB to continue. If you exercise not have one run across Windows OEM FAQs and Downloads for more details.

The Windows ten .iso can be mounted and and then used to initiate the in identify upgrade.

Note however that only Windows 8 and all builds of Windows 10 accept the choice to natively mount .isos past right clicking and selecting mountain yet Windows 7 does not and while third party utilities tin can exist used they don't work subsequently a restart and the upgrade install volition fail due to the loss of installation media.

To overcome the disability to Mount the Installation .iso natively in Windows vii, 1 can either launch the setup from a Bootable USB or the .iso can be extracted and the setup can be launched from the extracted files.

To excerpt the .iso download and install 7zip which matches your architecture of Windows in my case 64 Flake:

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Save the installer and run the setup:

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Accept the User Account Control Prompt:

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Select Install:

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So select close:

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Right click the .iso and and so select vii-zip and Extract to "":

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You volition at present have an extracted .iso on your Desktop. Select Shut:

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The setup.exe is in the root of this folder:

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Beginning the Windows 10 Upgrade from the USB or Extracted .iso

Insert the Windows 10 Version Bootable USB or Mount the .iso. Open the Bulldoze from within Windows Explorer or alternatively open the Extracted Windows x Folder on the Desktop:

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Double click the setup:

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Select yes at the User Account Control prompt:

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The Windows setup will load and prepare:

You will meet Windows:

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It volition and so set up:

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It'll ask you if you want to check for updates. Select next:

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Accept the license agreement:

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Windows 10 assumes all English Windows vii installs are English language (U.South.) and then y'all may become this error message if y'all opt to Upgrade to English UK. Select OK:

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And then make certain your PC has enough space for the in identify Upgrade Install:

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Here you lot tin can decide what to continue. I'll proceed my personal files and apps and so I'll just select Install:

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Windows x will at present install and your calculator volition restart three times:

Windows7to10RS1

You will be prompted to select your user business relationship and login:

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If y'all are stuck on this screen and the Next Push does nothing you likely accept an incompatible Wireless/Bluetooth commuter. This tin can be resolved see Stuck on Windows 10 Screen Due to Incompatible Wireless/Bluetooth Commuter.

Side by side you'll be given the privacy options improve these in accordance to your own preferences then select Take:

Select Adjacent:

Yous will enter the last few screens of the Windows 10 install:

Windows7to10RS1b

Finally you will exist on the Windows 10 Desktop. You should leave your organization idle for 30 minutes or so and then check whether your system is activated.

Correct click the start push and select settings

There should exist no Activation watermark on this screen. Select Update & Security:

Select Activation:

It should say "Windows is Activated with a Digital License":

You should await to come across if Windows 10 Drivers are available from your OEM. See Microsoft Windows OEM FAQs and Downloads for more than data about OEM Driver Update Utilities.