BIOS A02

Philip;

Thank you for the detailed answer.  I have successfully updated my BIOS.  I also appreciate your tutorial on UEFI.  I was unsure as to what it was, and your tutorial explains it all.  I learned a lot, and am sure there is more to learn.  (I wish my hardware supported Secure Boot; I'm on version 2.6 of SMBIOS and upgraded from Windows 7 to 10 on a 5 year old Dell Latitude.)

dooger

Now that I've learned more about UEFI, I'm looking at my new-for-2015 Dell Inspiron Desktop.  It uses a legacy BIOS, but has version 2.7 SMBIOS.  Reading the tutorial Philip put out I'm not sure I can change from legacy to UEFI.  I might have to "add" the upgraded hdd which came with W7 and now has W10 Pro. I do have the latest bios Dell offers already.  Do you think I have a problem seeing I don't see a UEFI option in the bios now?

Upon further inspection, I *do* have UEFI option in my bios on the Inspiron 3847.  When I enable it and set up secure boot, I can't boot my hard drive (same thing happened with the Latitude E5420 laptop).  So, I think I need to manually add the HDD.  Correct?

A 2015 model should definitely have UEFI and Secure Boot. You'll likely have to clean install Windows 10 Pro as the Boot options will be setup as a Legacy Boot. Details are here:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-windows-10-oem-and-retail-iso/

However I would advise holding off for at least 2 days as we will get a new Windows 10 RS1 .iso and its best to clean install using that .iso.

No at the moment you have a Legacy Boot and you cannot simply convert a Legacy Boot to a UEFI Boot without clean installing.

You need to prepare Windows 10 Installation Media setup using the GPT partition scheme for a UEFI BIOS that is FAT32 formatted. I instruct in preparing the installation media here:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-windows-10-oem-and-retail-iso/

This will allow to change the settings from legacy to UEFI and Enable Secure Boot. However to perform a clean install right now is a waste of time as a new build of Windows 10 is out on Monday so you are better to clean install with the newer installation media.

Thanks again Philip.  Your tutorial is quite complete and detailed.

Philip; It's a new day :).  I'm a member of Insider's Program, but I don't have a link to the Pro iso file. Can you direct me to one?  I'd like to reinstall, using your suggestions.  Dooger

The Media Creation Tool has just been updated:

https://www.microsoft.com/en-gb/software-download/windows10

Thanks again Philip;

I have the download.  Now all I have to do is have the courage to rebuild a perfectly good Inspiron. In the process I'd change my bios over to UEFI and secure boot.  Decisions, decisions.

I have updated my guide to incorporate details about Windows 10 RS1:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/download-windows-10-oem-and-retail-iso/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nt8aJNxR_js (Download video - Still need to do the installation video)

It looks like Microsoft have taken a good deal of my Windows Installation Feedback into account.

Philip; Thanks again for your helpful instructions.  I thought I'd let you know that your reinstallation web site does not format correctly in Edge.  I had to install Chrome to read the page; the right side of the page is cut off in Edge. On a side note, I find my HP and Dell laptops boot up slower now after the update.  I'm contemplating doing the fresh install using the bootable USB drive.  (I also mad the DVD.)  Haven't done my Inspiron yet.

dooger

Thanks for the heads up I seen that already in Edge. It seems to work fine on Chrome and IE. I need to contact WordPress etc. to see if there's some compatibility issue with Edge.

The Windows 10 RS1 .iso still works with Windows 7/8.x OEM and Retail keys.

Philip; Wanted to let you know you were correct on all counts.  I re-installed W10 anniversary edition on my "new" Inspiron desktop.  Used UEFI bios and Safe Boot settings.  The O/S saw my W8 license and installed without asking about a license.  I had a complete backup on a Western Digital external HDD so I was able to get everything back to "normal" in a couple of hours.

doug

Philip, the generic activation code did not work on a Vista machine I upgraded (used the Vista/XP unofficial web page for guidance).  Didn't back-date the bios as I couldn't get in, which might be the problem.