Trying to upgrade Windows 10

Ztruker said:

Nothing says love like sharing

The Ethernet connection on the new Dell, keeps going back and forth from Not Connected to Connected, I've tried several different Ethernet Cables.

Update: I found an update on the Dell site to update the Ethernet driver which I of course. The connection has now been stable for a while. Something a bit strange - I downloaded & installed the Dell Support Assistant, then I tried to use it to determine what additional driver were required, I ran the system check and got a message that I needed to install the Dell Support Assistant, which I tried to do again only to get another message that it is already installed. So, I ended up selecting each of the available drivers manually.

So, now I have all of the updates finally installed. Putting in additional ram looks to be a real pain - no little "door" on the bottom of the laptop - access is by taking a few things apart.

Ztruker said:

From the manual, it looks like you need to remove the keyboard and the bottom cover. Poor design.

Code:

Prerequisites
Remove the battery.
Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 3 in “Removing the optical drive”.
Remove the keyboard.
Follow the procedure from step 1 to step 7 in “Removing the base cover”.

Well, here's a real bomber - the tray for the optical drive has a crack in it. I called Micro Computer and I've arranged to bring it back tomorrow and exchange it - I might just have the tech dept install an upgrade ram in the exchange unit.

Ztruker said:

Great idea. Ask if you can watch while he does it so if in the future you ever have to replace a defective ram or want to upgrade again you'll know how.

Good luck,

Something a bit strange - I downloaded & installed the Dell Support Assistant, then I tried to use it to determine what additional driver were required, I ran the system check and got a message that I needed to install the Dell Support Assistant, which I tried to do again only to get another message that it is already installed. So, I ended up selecting each of the available drivers manually.

Any idea about the above?

Ztruker said:

No way for me to test as I have a Lenovo.

Check in the Dell support forums.

- I did, not much info.

Excellent support from the Techs at Micro Computer, I called them this morning and asked them to install a 4GB ram in the replacement Dell, so it would be ready for us to pick up - it was completed in an hour.

We also found out that this having to take apart the laptop to install additional ram, is a deliberate attempt by the manufaturer to get the consumer to purchase a more expensive laptop that comes with higher ram. The manufacturer, really does not want the consumer do be able to install any ram - they want the consumer to have an authorized tech. do an install at cost with
the idea that if the consumer is going to have to pay installation costs, they would just purchase a higher priced unit that comes with more ram.

This, is all pretty lousy of the manufacturer and Dell is not the only one - HP, for one, also has several laptops the same way.

My wife & I will once again go through the entire set-up & install process tomorrow.

Berton said:

Don't leave Apple out of the loop, does the same in "requiring" going to a service shop. I used to have a mid-2010 MacBook Pro and upgraded the 4GB to Crucial 8GB without issues, just had to take the back/bottom cover off to do it. After more than 7 years the hard drive controller on the motherboard failed. The 8GB [2x4] are living happily in a Windows Notebook.

Our Desktop (main unit) is a mid-2010 Mac Mini, the last of the Mini's to have an optical drive - and the last of which to come with any install software. I'm sure you know that for the past few years everything from Apple is available via download only.
The Micro Center also told us of the similar problems between Apple & Microsoft. Funny, two competitors, offering the same problems!