How do I set the UEFI to boot sequence to a USB stick?

cheaterslick · 21 Jan 2023

Bree said:

Do you intend to upgrade your Windows 8.1 to Windows 10?

Yes

If you upgrade from 8.1 to 10 you can do that offline, but you'd need to go online to get activation. The upgrade will take your existing W8.1 activation as proof of entitlement and create a digital license for Windows 10 on Microsoft's activation servers, your Windows will not be activated until it has done so. This digital license is linked to the hardware ID of your PC and allows you to do a clean install (if you ever need to) without providing a key.

That's fine, but I want to install all the latest drivers from Dell, first. And I hope to skip giving them a Microsoft account since I don't already have one for the current Windows 8.1

What OS was this Dell Latitude E5570 originally supplied with by Dell? If it was built for and supplied with Windows 8/8.1 then there will be an OEM W8/8.1 key embedded in its firmware. In a clean install Setup can read this key and use it to activate Windows 10. Again, after the install is complete it needs to contact the Microsoft's activation servers to complete this and create the digital license for your PC. You can check for a key in the firmware using ShowKeyPlus

Yes, I have ShowKeyPlus. I will also store that key number for future use.

Basically I had a choice when I bought the machine to either have Windows 8.1 or Windows 10 on it. I chose Windows 8.1 because at that time I still wanted full control of updates.

If ShowKeyPlus says there is no OEM key for W8/8.1, or that it has a Windows 7 OEM marker in the firmware, then a clean install won't be able to activate. You either need to upgrade from 8 to 10 first to get a digital license for the PC then clean install, or use this tutorial to capture the activation state of your W8.1 and use that to activate Windows.

That's good to know, thanks.

I also have Office 2016 on it so I hope that's not affected by doing an upgrade install.

Berton · 22 Jan 2023

cheaterslick said:

That's fine, but I want to install all the latest drivers from Dell, first. And I hope to skip giving them a Microsoft account since I don't already have one for the current Windows 8.1

I've installed/Upgraded Win11 3 times with Local Account only. I unplugged the Desktops' Ethernet cable from the Wireless Router first to do it [a Dell and HP] and unplugged the PoE Wireless DSL Modem when doing the Dell Notebook. The only downside I've experienced is accessing a few things on the Microsoft Store that needed an account log-in.

As for drivers, just be sure the computer is up to date for the current version. Using the code on the Dell machine's sticker or in its BIOS go to support.dell.com and download/save any drivers that may be needed, I've found most for WIn10 will work with Win11. And some will auto-update when next connected to the Internet.

cheaterslick · 24 Jan 2023

Btw, for this kind of an Win 10 upgrade, should I leave my laptop plugged into the internet or not?

Berton · 24 Jan 2023

It really depends upon whether you want a Microsoft Account or Local Account, I went with the latter. For a Notebook/Laptop, especially those without a conveniently-removed battery, the Wireless/Wi-Fi may be picked up and prompt for the Microsoft thing which is why I unplugged my PoE Modem.