Vista to Win 10

Windows 10 Specifications & Systems Requirements

www.microsoft.com/.../windows-10-specifications

There's no direct upgrade from Vista to Win 10, so you'll have to back up all your personal files and then wipe the hard drive to do a clean install. Dell isn't supporting this model for Win 10, but that doesn't mean it won't work. You will probably have to search for Win 10 hardware drivers since Dell won't be offering them.

Suggest you Google for "E520 Windows 10" (without the quotes) and you'll see lots of threads about this upgrade which might help you decide if it's worth the effort vs a new PC with Win 10.

Can anyone tell me whether this would be suitable for a (paid for) upgrade to Win 10?

If you can get ahold of a retail or upgrade copy of Windows 7 (you can buy one on eBay), you can upgrade to Windows 7 and then download the appropriate Windows 10 upgrade (Home or Pro) from Microsoft. The Windows 7 product key might still work to activate Windows 10. The E520 is definitely compatible with Windows 10 32-bit, although I'm uncertain about 64-bit compatibility.

There is no need to wipe the disk before installing Windows 10; if you do not in-place upgrade via Windows 7, your old Vista folders will be archived and you will be able to access the files they contain.

With regards to drivers, as the E520 is an old product, all needed drivers (apart from video) will be present in the Windows 10 installer. It is likely that you will need a newer video card.

According to www.dell.com/.../dimension-e520 , there is no support for either Windows 7, 8, or 10. In my opinion, it would be a waste of time and effort to try such an upgrade.

The E520 is end of life as far as Dell is concerned, but not Microsoft. Old machines like the E520 work quite nicely with Windows 10, provided the video card is upgraded and memory (4gb for 64-bit) is adequate.

It is not just the video card that is an issue, but the chipset drivers, the network drivers, and audio drivers. Microsoft didn't even offer an upgrade from Vista to Windows 10. Windows 7 is at end of life as far as Microsoft is concerned; they are not even providing Windows 7 updates for the latest Intel processors. On an old machine like this one there is no advantage to upgrading to make it worthwhile.

The chipset drivers, network driver and audio driver are all bundled with the installer. I know, because I have updated older Dells like the GX620 and E310. That includes Windows 7, 8, 8.1 and 10.

The point of buying a Windows 7 upgrade is that it can be used to in-place upgrade the Vista installation and in turn it can be upgraded to Windows 10 with a free download.

Thank you all for your answers.  Looks like a 'simple' path is to upgrade to Win 7 - at least I will be on a supported OS, and think about Win10 later.  The only System reqt I need to check on the E520 for Win10 is the video card.  

I don't need to keep anything on the PC so a full, clean install seems to be the way to go?

Intrigued about the comment in last answer re "can be upgraded to Windows 10 with a free download.".  Have I missed something - I though the free upgrade is long past.

Thanks again, seem such a shame to scrap a reliable Dell PC (as all mine have been for the last 20 years!!). Win7 will be fine for a basic internet PC for grandchildren to use.

Pam

Vista Requires SP1 then SP2 then WIN7 UPGRADE Version in that order.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/22882/windows-vista-end-of-support

Because Vista is EOL EOS like XP you may not be able to get the stand alone service packs anymore very soon.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=30

Version:948465
File Name:Windows6.0-KB948465-X86.exe
Date Published:5/25/2009
File Size:348.3 MB

https://www.amazon.com/windows-7-home-upgrade/s?ie=UTF8&page=1&rh=i%3Aaps%2Ck%3Awindows%207%20home%20upgrade

The only System reqt I need to check on the E520 for Win10 is the video card.

My suggestion is the Sapphire 6450. I have bought several of these for older Dells, always with excellent results.

Have I missed something - I though the free upgrade is long past.

The downloaded installer Microsoft offers is still activating with Windows 7 keys.

Vista Requires SP1 then SP2 then WIN7 UPGRADE Version in that order.

Thanks again, seem such a shame to scrap a reliable Dell PC (as all mine have been for the last 20 years!!).

It still has plenty of life, as it will run Windows 10, which will be supported for years to come.

Here is a Windows 7 Professional Upgrade, $53.

A clean install of Windows 10 should work pretty well on this system. Many folk reported a successful install on this model by using the Insider Build 10130 as a stepping stone for a free upgrade (this upgrade path has now expired). 64 Bit will work if you have enough RAM.

What you can do is download the .iso from Microsoft's website. Create a Bootable USB using Rufus (for a Legacy BIOS) and then clean install Windows 10 Home without a Product Key. This will allow you to evaluate Windows 10 Home on your model and if you like it you can buy a Windows 7, 8.x or 10 key to activate it.

VISTA REQUIRES SP1 then SP2 in that order.
https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/968279

Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor will require the VISTA SP1 then SP2.

WIN7 REQUIRES Vista SP2 to UPGRADE to windows 7 vs clean install.
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20

WIN7 REQUIRES Vista SP2 to UPGRADE to windows 7 vs clean install. https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20

And yet I upgraded several 32-bit XP installs to 10 without installing Vista SP1, SP2, or even the chipset drivers.

Thank you for helping out this not very-techie person!!

Just fyi, I have now got the E520 running Windows 7.  There were nearly 150 updates to apply after loading from an W7 ISO (I think that was what it was).

All went very smoothly, but VERY slowly.

I'll see how it works for me, I may not need to think about W10.

Thanks again,  Pam

XP to 10 is not an upgrade its a clean install.  There are also no conversions from 32 to 64 or the other way round only CLEAN INSTALL.   You cannot keep settings or applications.:emotion-3:

Supported upgrade paths

Windows 7 and Windows 8.1

To perform an in-place upgrade, user computers must be running the latest version of either Windows 7 SP1 or Windows 8.1. After you enable Windows telemetry, Upgrade Readiness performs a full inventory of computers so that you can see which version of Windows is installed on each computer.

The compatibility update KB that sends telemetry data from user computers to Microsoft data centers works with Windows 7 SP1 and Windows 8.1 only. Upgrade cannot be done on Windows XP or Windows Vista.  Only a clean install.

For Vista to 10 you MUST Do VISTA SP1 then SP2 then upgrade to 7 SP1  32 or 7 64.  Then you can do 10 UPGRADE vs CLEAN INSTALL.

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/help/12435/windows-10-upgrade-faq

This is off-topic (not to mention going in circles), but I have affirmed from personal experience that XP 32-bit can be upgraded to Vista 32-bit and then directly to 7. No Vista service packs are required.

I am pleased that the OP was able to upgrade to 7. For anyone seeking to do the same, note that Microsoft offers a cumulative update which can be downloaded and contains hundreds of updates that can be installed in a single pass.