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60768
XPS 430 64kbit & windows 8.1
Hi,
Will my XPS 430 support 64kbit working and the OS Windows 8.1?
It looks as if my hard disk is on the way out and it may need replacing. I have found faulty a bit of a problem as I don't have a proper copy of my current OS, Vista, only the discs the sytem came with. I also want to upgrade some of my programs to more current versions, where 64kbit/s might be more appropriate. I currently have two hard drives, one for the OS and User data and another for my multimedia data. I have an external backup drive for data.
Also is there an easy way of creating a boot disk from the disks that were supplied with the machine? ie Drivers and Utilities, Drivers and Documentation and Operating System(Reinstallation DVD)
speedstep
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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47K Posts
1
January 19th, 2015 09:00
Core 2 Quad will work fine with 64 bit windows 8.1 and 10. Just make sure to update your bios to the latest and enable NX aka Execute Disable Bit in SECURITY on the bios.
64 bit 8.1 and up adds requirements beyond 8.0 including 64 bit LAHF SAHF and CMPXCH16
A strange Issue I find with some 64 bit windows 7 is RAM. You have to have 2 gigs but less than 4 gigs ram during install then you can add ram up to 16 gigs for Home and 128 gigs for Pro and Ultimate.
Philip_Yip
7 Technologist
7 Technologist
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16K Posts
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January 19th, 2015 18:00
Your system will work fine with Windows 8.1 64 Bit and Windows 10 64 Bit.
I advise replacement of your HDD with a 256 GB SSD for optimal performance. You will need to download Windows Installation Media; either Windows 10 or Windows 8.1. Updated system drivers are here:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/driver-sets/xps-desktops/xps-430-windows-7-64-bit/
Before doing so carry out the F12 Preboot diagnostics:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/f12-preboot-diagnostics/
Let us know the results of the diagnostics.
I personally advise Windows 10 Technical Preview over Windows 8.1 as the Windows 10 Technical Preview is free for evaluation until Windows 10 is released and importantly available as a direct .iso format. You can then take advantage of any promotional deals upon the release of Windows 10. Windows 10 is essentially a "fixed" version of Windows 8.1 because the Windows 8.1 metro UI was terrible for the Desktop user:
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/preview-iso
Alternatively to Download a Windows 8.1 .iso for a Windows Vista system you would need to download a Windows 7 .iso (available as a direct download link) and clean install with it without a product key in order to start a 30 day trial. This would allow you to use the Windows 8.1 Media Creation Tool to download a Windows 8.1 .iso. You would then need to buy Windows 8.1. Alternatively you can buy a retail package with a DVD. However Windows 8.1 will likely be obsolete when Windows 10 is fully released. i.e. likely you would need to buy Windows twice:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/windows-7-sp1-iso-download/
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-microsoft-windows-and-office/download-microsoft-windows/download-windows-8-1-retail-and-oem-iso/
For more details in installation once you have installation media and a new SSD see my A Clean Install of Windows:
http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/a-clean-install-of-windows/
speedstep
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
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47K Posts
1
January 15th, 2015 07:00
8.1 64 bit requires at least a 900 series pentium D. If you have a core2 Duo or better it has no issues with 8.1. The Drivers disk is not a reinstall media.
Sorrybut
4 Posts
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January 15th, 2015 09:00
Thanks for your input, Speedstep!
The processor is a Core 2 Quad Q6600 2.4GHz.
In the instruction sets listing, using CPU-Z, it includes EM64T - so I hoped there might be some support for 64kbit working.
Would I be able to get it working 64kbit with windows 7 or is 64kbit a straight non starter.
(I've come on leaps and bounds in my diagnostics since my post - looks as if my hard drive is on the edge, but I've managed to get a reasonable backup this afternoon.)
I am on the limit of my technical knowledge with this stuff.
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
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43.4K Posts
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January 16th, 2015 14:00
You can run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, free from Microsoft to see if it finds any issues...
Sorrybut
4 Posts
0
January 18th, 2015 03:00
Thank you for your suggestion. Since my original post I found a windows upgrade advisor - which effectively seems to suggest 'maybe'.
I shall mull on the problem awhile. Some Seagate diagnostics have covered up the original problem for me - though it's clear my hard disk is .... dodgy.. as it's failing one of the tests.
I believe windows 10 is not so far away, maybe I can limp that far before commiting to remedial path.
Tthanks.
Sorrybut
4 Posts
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January 28th, 2015 07:00
Thanks for this advice, (apologies for not acknowleding before now!)
Since your post MS have come out and confirmed foc upgrades for 7 and 8 to 10 so this will impact on my decision.
Replacement of hard drive and subsequent new load of 'new' OS is little compared with the subsequent reload of my old MS Office and Adobe CS software - further decision points there!
Cheers
Mr Digital
1 Message
0
September 2nd, 2015 23:00
Hi,
I have dell xps 430. Installed new windows 8.1 from vista, then upgraded to windows 10 but no sound. Please help me???
I will go back to windows 8.1 and see if that works.
Is it really possible to get souncard working or do i have to buy windows 7?