Nvidia GeForce Go 7300 in Dell Inspiron 6400 - unable upgrade to W10

I have Windows 7 Professional running perfectly in a Dell Inspiron 6400 with a Samsung SSD. I was accepted by Microsoft for a free upgrade to Windows 10 but I now have a message from Microsoft telling me that I will be unable to upgrade due the OEM Nvidia GeForce Go 7300 being incompatible with Windows Ten. I have the latest driver dated March 2009 for that device. Can anyone offer advice on how or where I can make my laptop pass the Windows 10 installation criteria?

with grateful thanks

Irish Wolfhound said:

I have Windows 7 Professional running perfectly in a Dell Inspiron 6400 with a Samsung SSD. I was accepted by Microsoft for a free upgrade to Windows 10 but I now have a message from Microsoft telling me that I will be unable to upgrade due the OEM Nvidia GeForce Go 7300 being incompatible with Windows Ten. I have the latest driver dated March 2009 for that device. Can anyone offer advice on how or where I can make my laptop pass the Windows 10 installation criteria?

with grateful thanks

I have the exact same laptop (minus the SSD) and ran into the same issue.

It has been a great laptop for 10 years so I would love to be able to move from Windows 8.1 to 10 so that all my pcs will be on the same OS for networking purposes.

I don't understand how a video driver that was not certified for 8.1 but ran okay (much better than the original Vista driver!!) is now blocking the install of Windows 10. :-(

Schiefy said:

I have the exact same laptop (minus the SSD) and ran into the same issue.

It has been a great laptop for 10 years so I would love to be able to move from Windows 8.1 to 10 so that all my pcs will be on the same OS for networking purposes.

I don't understand how a video driver that was not certified for 8.1 but ran okay (much better than the original Vista driver!!) is now blocking the install of Windows 10. :-(

I suspect there will be quite a few similar moans. FYI I had a look at upgrading (changing) the graphics card for something more up to date but my early investigations led me to believe that the Geforce Go 7300 is the best in its class. My hope is therefore that someone might know a work around which might involve a new (possibly made by a third party) driver. Like you I have been happy with the old workhorse and I very much would like to keep it alive and current.

Boozad said:

There is a 2011 update for that driver, the one linked below is from the UK support page for the Inspiron 6400. If you do want to try it make sure you create a Restore Point and/or a System Image before doing so. The driver is from the official Dell support page as I've said, but I don't want to be responsible for screwing someone's system up. Maybe an updated version may allow the upgrade?



Download

Thank you for your advice and a copy of the 2006 update. I agree that it does say updated in 2011 but I can't find that particular update. Could you please point me in the right direction to be able to find the later update? Thank you

Boozad said:

The release date is 2006 but it states the last update was 2011. Whether that was to bring the driver into line with Windows 7 I have no idea, I just saw that the last update provided was dated later than the driver you have installed. I could well be wrong of course.

I am grateful for your help but somehow I think this may be a clerical update which didn't change the actual driver. That is just a guess and unless someone can find it I don't think there is a driver dated 2011. The driver I have (I think) is dated 2009 so I think I have the latest driver for this graphics card - unless of course someone knows better. Failing that I may have to accept that I will not be able to install Windows 10 on my Dell.

Boozad said:

This is why I suggested making Restore Points and Images, while the info states one thing there's no way of confirming it's correct as I have no way of testing it. Sorry it didn't work out

Thank you again - even though it didn't work I do appreciate your time and help. By the way I did create a restore point - just in case - but it wasn't needed. I think I must now stay with W7 and look to buy a new laptop when the price is right. Thank you again.

Irish Wolfhound said:

I have Windows 7 Professional running perfectly in a Dell Inspiron 6400 with a Samsung SSD. I was accepted by Microsoft for a free upgrade to Windows 10 but I now have a message from Microsoft telling me that I will be unable to upgrade due the OEM Nvidia GeForce Go 7300 being incompatible with Windows Ten. I have the latest driver dated March 2009 for that device. Can anyone offer advice on how or where I can make my laptop pass the Windows 10 installation criteria?

with grateful thanks

Okay, here is what I ended up doing that worked for me (so far):

1)I went to Microsoft and downloaded their Media Creation Tool for Windows 10 and installed Windows 10 with this (there is an option to create the USB/DVD or else just install it on the current PC).

2)I chose to wipe all items on the laptop (I just recently bought a new one which updated immediately out of the box to Windows 10). I don't know what it will do if you choose one of the other two options (keep files and apps or just files) but after install (which went rather smoothly) it used a generic driver for the display (and obviously did not utilize the full range of resolutions of the Geforce Go 7300 card).

3)I then went to NVIDIA and downloaded their latest driver for the card (Windows 7 version I think is the last one).

4)The laptop is now running Windows 10 and doing just fine with it (again, so far).

According to an email that linked to a FAQ page by Microsoft the Media Creation Tool is the same as using the Windows update/Get Windows 10 download--it will properly activate the Windows installed. I am guessing they are trying to head off glitches by only allowing PCs that cleared some certification by all parties for the hardware to go ahead and install Windows 10 with the download.

I have an HP Windows 8 laptop (for use with our HOA) and my Dell Windows 7 Pro desktop that have yet to notify me that Windows 10 is ready to install so I may just go ahead and use the Tool to do the same on those PCs.

Here is the Microsoft FAQ page link: Windows 10 FAQ Tips - Microsoft

or for the Media Creation Tool: Windows 10

Hope that helps everyone get Windows 10 who want to give it a try on the older pcs not able to use the roll out program--just remember your old hardware may not REALLY be able to run Windows 10 so be sure BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP anything you don't want to lose forever.