This post is more than 5 years old
2 Posts
3
77598
April 11th, 2015 07:00
Upgrade Studio 540 to windows 8.1
Hi,
Advice would be welcome.
I'm fed up going round in circles trying to work out if my Studio 540 can be upgraded to windows 8.1.
The Dell support site does not list the Studio models at all.
Kind regards,
Ocky
No Events found!
RoHe
12 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
•
172.6K Points
0
April 11th, 2015 12:00
Read this about checking for issues you might have installing Win 8.1.
Here's the Studio D540, if that's what you meant.
Keep in mind you'll have to buy a license for Win 8 (8.1). You can download the iso file to install it and probably use it for 30 days, but then you'll need a license (product key) to activate it.
Ocky
2 Posts
1
April 12th, 2015 06:00
Thanks for the info, I have a Studio 540 with 32 bit Windows 7.
I've run the MS upgrade assistant and this has thrown up the stumbling block of the 540 not supporting Secure Boot to be able to run 8.1. I understand the boot should be UEFI v2.3.1 Errata B compatible.
I've updated the Bios to the latest version but cannot see how to resolve this problem.
Bearing in mind the Secure Boot problem, will this also be a requirement of Windows 10...
Kind regards,
Ocky
Philip_Yip
11 Legend
•
16.1K Posts
•
65.9K Points
0
April 11th, 2015 07:00
The Studio 540 will run Windows 7, 8.1 and 10 64 Bit without any problems.
However all Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 systems will be upgraded to Windows 10 in Late Summer for free. Therefore it is not economic to upgrade from Windows 7 to 8.1 at the moment, you are paying full price for only a few months use because realistically it'll be obsolete in summer.
Philip_Yip
11 Legend
•
16.1K Posts
•
65.9K Points
0
April 12th, 2015 08:00
UEFI and SecureBoot are not a system requirement for Windows 8.1 64 Bit and Windows 10 64 Bit. They are newer technologies which supersede the legacy BIOS. They allow the GPT partition scheme which supports >3 TB HDDs, more than 4 partitions (up to 128 per drive) and is more robust. SecureBoot is a newer security technology which prevents malware from booting up before Windows (greatly increasing system security).
If these features are applicable then they should be enabled for best performance and security however where they are unavailable installing Windows 8.1 or 10 using the legacy MBR partition scheme and the legacy BIOS.