Can the Dell XPS 8700 be upgraded to Windows 10?

NavyLCDR said:

If it is a Windows 7 system, the "license" embedded in the BIOS is not the actual Windows 7 product key like it would be for Windows 8 or 10. It is only a SLIC key that cannot activate Windows by itself. It requires a specific OEM Windows 7 disc with the matching activation key in the image to activate.
However, computers that came with Windows 7 preloaded from the factory also had a COA sticker attached with a product key that could be used to activate Windows.

There is no COA sticker anywhere on the PC and Dell support confirmed that only "recovery media" specific to the system would work to reload an activated copy of Windows 7. They also said that media is no longer available. Apparently there used to be an option to download an image from Dell to create your own recovery media, but that's no longer available either.

A clean install of windows 8.1 or windows 10 - should pick up the Embedded Windows 8 Home Product Key... And activate....

At least it does for me....

Windows Update Finds all the required drivers

At least for me...

Bree said:

The question is, after spending so much effort configuring an un-activated Windows 7 install can that be upgraded to Windows 10 and activated? Or is a clean install the OP's only option?

Yes, it would be nice to know in advance if the upgrade will work, but I think I made a bit too much about the work we've put into the current install. It will be OK if we need to clean install - it just needs to work!

If you make an image backup before you attempt the upgrade, and make sure you have a rescue disk (I'm thinking Macrium Reflect all the way here), you can always revert to the "old image" if something goes wrong along the way. Based on what I've read in the thread so far, sounds like the odds in your favor are pretty good. If you take adequate precautions to restore the status quo in event of problems or issues along the way, sounds like "try it and see what happens" is actually a pretty good strategy.
Just my $0.02 worth on this topic anyway.
HTH,
--Ed--

Upgrading Win 7 to 10 will not access the embedded key, but inputting the key ("Change product key" option in settings) after retrieving it with ShowKeyPlus should do the job - just make sure the correct edition is installed for that key.

I wanted to let folks know that I was able to successfully do a clean install of Windows 10. The upgrade from Windows 7 didn't work, but we were just happy to get the system working. Thanks to everyone for your supportive and informative posts

Victek said:

I wanted to let folks know that I was able to successfully do a clean install of Windows 10. The upgrade from Windows 7 didn't work, but we were just happy to get the system working. Thanks to everyone for your supportive and informative posts

How did the upgrade fail?