The Free Windows 10 Will Support Unlimited Clean Installs

This looks like the right place to ask this question, so I don't waste a bunch of time, effort, and DVD's.

Bought a new Dell 3847 (i7 monster!) to replace an old Dell 560.

Was running OEM win 7 Ultimate on 560.

Have Dell OEM DVD's for re-installation, came with old box.

Tried to install to new Dell 3847 using OEM DVD's from old 560.

Got a "Signature not valid" error when trying to boot DVD.
Turned UEFI secure boot off.
Tried to boot DVD and system went bonkers with something about grufus? Got what looked like a "grufus" cmd prompt. Have no idea what that was, and could not take screen shot.

Hauled out handy-dandy Macrium rescue DVD and put humpty-dumpty back together again. All's fine now.

Is this the classic "can't get there from here" syndrome? Did I just hit what MS calls "life of the device" wall?

I suspect so, but would like second opinions before laying Win 7 to rest.

The whole reason for trying to do this was to be able to use the Win 7 license to get Win 10 on 7/29. And keep my Win 8.1.

Opinions? Answers? Commiserations? Thanks, Dick...... :)

f14tomcat said:

This looks like the right place to ask this question, so I don't waste a bunch of time, effort, and DVD's.

Bought a new Dell 3847 (i7 monster!) to replace an old Dell 560.

Was running OEM win 7 Ultimate on 560.

Have Dell OEM DVD's for re-installation, came with old box.

Tried to install to new Dell 3847 using OEM DVD's from old 560.

Got a "Signature not valid" error when trying to boot DVD.
Turned UEFI secure boot off.
Tried to boot DVD and system went bonkers with something about grufus? Got what looked like a "grufus" cmd prompt. Have no idea what that was, and could not take screen shot.

Hauled out handy-dandy Macrium rescue DVD and put humpty-dumpty back together again. All's fine now.

Is this the classic "can't get there from here" syndrome? Did I just hit what MS calls "life of the device" wall?

I suspect so, but would like second opinions before laying Win 7 to rest.

The whole reason for trying to do this was to be able to use the Win 7 license to get Win 10 on 7/29. And keep my Win 8.1.

Opinions? Answers? Commiserations? Thanks, Dick...... :)

Not legal in the first place. The new Dell is not licensed for a Windows 7 OEM install. That's why you got a signature not valid message. The Dell OEM SLP Windows 7 will not work on that PC and that's how the Dell install disk is coded. The new Dell does not have the required SLIC table in the BIOS that matches that custom install media. It's coded for the other Dell PC. There may be other issues too if the disk is also modified with custom drivers and other OEM code. The simple fact is that disk is not meant to be used on any other PC than the one it was made for and came with.

alphanumeric said:

Not legal in the first place. The new Dell is not licensed for a Windows 7 OEM install. That's why you got a signature not valid message. The Dell OEM SLP Windows 7 will not work on that PC and that's how the Dell install disk is coded. The new Dell does not have the required SLIC table in the BIOS that matches that custom install media. It's coded for the other Dell PC. There may be other issues too if the disk is also modified with custom drivers and other OEM code. The simple fact is that disk is not meant to be used on any other PC than the one it was made for and came with.

I appreciate your confirmation of what I already suspected. Thanks, really! I wasn't trying anything shady/illegal, I just did not understand what I was getting. Thanks, again. :)

f14tomcat said:

I appreciate your confirmation of what I already suspected. Thanks, really! I wasn't trying anything shady/illegal, I just did not understand what I was getting. Thanks, again. :)

That's fine, I'm cool with that. I just didn't want you pulling your hair out trying to figure out why it wouldn't work. It seems plausible right, Dell PC, Dell Disk, but that's not how it works. Its coded the way on purpose so people can't do what your trying to do.

Wynona said:

Tomcat, didn't the new Dell come with a preinstalled operating system?

I'm not understanding why you tried that in the first place.

Yes Windows 8.1. He was trying to install Windows 7 on that PC with a Dell disk for another Dell PC. That way, if he did have to give up a license for the free upgrade to 10, it wouldn't have been the Windows 8.1 that was originally installed.

Wynona said:

Tomcat, didn't the new Dell come with a preinstalled operating system?

I'm not understanding why you tried that in the first place.

Sure it did, 8.1 Pro. From previous post #41... The whole reason for trying to do this was to be able to use the Win 7 license to get Win 10 on 7/29. And keep my Win 8.1.

But, oh well, can't get there from here. It's ok, I'm just a pack-rat and like to keep old stuff (like 7).

f14tomcat You could clean install Windows 8.1 with this install media, http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...-refresh-media. It will read and use your OEM embedded product key automatically. Just so you know in case your image doesn't work at some point.

alphanumeric said:

f14tomcat You could clean install Windows 8.1 with this install media, http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...-refresh-media. It will read and use your OEM embedded product key automatically. Just so you know in case your image doesn't work at some point.

Funny you should mention that. I already have done that. See post #2995 on
Last One To Post Wins [6] - Page 300 - Windows 10 Forums

Still have the DVD. Think it will install dual-boot after 10 upgrade? HHmmmhhhh.....

??????