Has anyone updated a Dell Studio 540 from Windows 7 to 10?


  1. Posts : 92
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 10240 Multiprocessor Free
       #1

    Has anyone updated a Dell Studio 540 from Windows 7 to 10?


    My daughter has a Dell Studio 540 running Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit and she's been asking me if it's OK to upgrade to Windows 10. Since I live several hundred miles from her I didn't want to tell her to go ahead until I had a chance to check things out and now I'm wondering myself what to do.

    I fired up some Dell utility for drivers and updates and it came back with a message that said the Studio 540 had not been tested for compatibility with Windows 10 and if an upgrade was attempted things might not work. Of course that doesn't really mean they won't it only means that Dell hasn't tested anything and they're covering themselves just in case. Now The Windows Upgrade Icon is in her system tray and it says that the machine was tested and found to be compatible with no issues found so drivers might exist from Microsoft.

    So, has anyone upgraded a Dell Studio 540? If so, what if any problems did you encounter?
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 463
    Windows 10 Home and Pro
       #2

    Microsoft is often provided with drivers not designed specifically for the computer, which means updating is risky. It probably will work, but you always run the risk of crashing, or small problems like it having a hard time coming out of sleep mode, etc.

    If she really wants it, she can try it out, and revert back if it doesn't work in month provided to revert.

    To remove the tray icon, do this: Get Windows 10 Icon - Remove from Taskbar in Windows 7 and 8.1 - Windows 10 Forums
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #3

    From the Dell web site:

    Product not tested for Windows 10 upgrade

    Dell is not testing or developing Windows 10 drivers for this product. If you choose to upgrade, some features, applications, and connected devices may not work as expected.
    See a list of tested products
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 4,453
    Win 11 Pro 22000.708
       #4

    Since Dell doesn't support the machine for Windows 10, that means that you (and your daughter) are on your own.

    That means finding drivers for all of the components in the PC. The Windows 10 installer may have most or all of them, but you can't count on that. In particular, it may give you the Microsoft Basic drivers for the graphics device, which will run but with poor performance.

    I can't really recommend the upgrade. If the machine was running Windows 8, I'd suggest it. (I really disliked the Win 8 interface.)

    If she decides to go for it, I strongly recommend that she image the existing Windows 7 installation, if she wants (or needs) to go back. The Win 10 upgrade has means to revert, but I don't trust them.
      My Computers


  5. Posts : 92
    Microsoft Windows 10 Pro 64-bit 10240 Multiprocessor Free
    Thread Starter
       #5

    bobkn said:
    I can't really recommend the upgrade. If the machine was running Windows 8, I'd suggest it. (I really disliked the Win 8 interface.).
    I went to Dell's driver support page and found that Dell didn't even provide driver support for Windows 8.x so to me that pretty much seals the deal on the upgrade being a big fat NO. If it were me and I had the original Windows 7 restore CD from Dell or Acronis TrueImage and an external backup source I might try it but she doesn't know where anything is and I only have another couple of days to fool with this before I return home to Florida so I'm thinking that the best course of action is to find the instructions on disabling the Windows 10 nag and let her stay on Windows 7.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 7
    Windows 10
       #6

    Dell Studio xps 7100 upgarde from Win 7 to Win 10


    My experience so far is daily BSOD crashes from an errant AMD driver. As with your Dell 540, my system is not supported by Dell for Win 10 issues. I will likely go back to Win 7. Just need to figure out how after several months on Win 10.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 1
    Win 10
       #7

    Dell 540 - Windows 10


    CastAway said:
    My experience so far is daily BSOD crashes from an errant AMD driver. As with your Dell 540, my system is not supported by Dell for Win 10 issues. I will likely go back to Win 7. Just need to figure out how after several months on Win 10.
    I upgraded my wife's Dell 540 to windows 10 and had no errors. She is very happy with it.

    Walt
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 436
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #8

    If the PC has the option to upgrade it will be fine. This is just Dell trying to sell more computers.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 66
    Windows 10 Pro 1809 x64
       #9

    I have one of these, and it smoothly upgraded to Windows 10 x64. It is using the Intel onboard graphics and sports 4gb of memory and a 250gb 850 EVO SSD. There have been no issues.

    The 540 is based on regular components, and Windows 10 drivers are available for all of them. It is end-of-life where Dell is concerned, so Dell no longer supports it for upgrades, but that doesn't mean drivers from the respective component hardware vendors and Microsoft won't work.
      My Computer


 

  Related Discussions
Our Sites
Site Links
About Us
Windows 10 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 10" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.

© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 10:25.
Find Us




Windows 10 Forums