Inspiron 1705 XP OS Upgrade?

Going to a 64 bit OS may not give you more usable RAM because the 64 bit OSs use more memory for the Windows system. Win 7 Pro yr should work on the E1705. I went 32 bit with my 1705 because I didn't want to add memory.Some 1705s can not use 4GB.

Win 7 includes a lot of drivers. You might want to consider Win 8 which supplies a huge number of drivers, and would cover more newer add-ons. 

With  8, you can not do an upgrade from XP. However, you do not have to do a "clean" installation. Just do not reformat the hard drive and do not let the installation do it. You will then replace XP, but not lose all the system drivers. It is much easier than the clean install. You will still lose all your programs and data.

The 64 Bit compatibility depends on the processor. Some processors with this model were 64 Bit capable and others weren't.

Run the Intel Processor Identification Utility to give us details about your processor:

http://www.intel.com/p/en_US/support/highlights/processors/toolspiu

If the CPU is 64 Bit capable you can install Windows 7 and 8.1 64 Bit however there is little to no advantage of going for the 64 Bit version of Windows 7 or 8.1 on this model because the Chipset limits the RAM to 3.25 GB thus no additional memory is addressed by a 64 Bit OS on this model.

You may follow Windows Reinstallation Guide/A Clean Install of Windows 7:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/

For system drivers Dell don't provide them for Windows 7 but I have listed a set here for both architectures:

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/driver-sets/inspiron-laptops-windows-7/inspiron-9400-windows-7-64-bit/

http://dellwindowsreinstallationguide.com/driver-sets/inspiron-laptops-windows-7/inspiron-9400-windows-7-32-bit/

Note the Inspiron E1705 is identical to the Inspiron 6400 just two different names.

You will find Windows 8.1 more readily available than Windows 7 as retail sales of 7 have stopped but theres system builder OEM license of 7 still being sold.

I advise you to follow the Windows Reinstallation Guide using the Enterprize of Windows 8.1 for a 90 day trial so you can see how well it works yourself before upgrading. The guide explains how to get the trial.

Hi Kirkd,

Thanks for a great reply. I think the E1705 that cannot give more memory under the 64-bit OS were the ones that shared video RAM with the system CPU RAM. Mine has an Nvida video with 256 of onboard RAM so no system RAM is used for video. Granted a 64-bit OS may still not give me more CPU RAM as there could be hardware memory mapping that the 64-bit OS would not play with.

Basically the only drivers I need are the ones, if any, that are unique to the E1705 architecture.

It am expecting to have to reinstall all my apps and restore all my data.

Thanks again -Dennis

My post here was precipitated by upgrading Kaspersky KIS 2013 to KIS 2014 and ending up in a state where it booted up to the logon screen but there was no keyboard available. So running a program on it will require an XP repair.

I can tell you what the CPU was when it was built and it is an Intel Core 2 Duo T7200. This is off original packing slip and I have seen that T7200 in other programs, like CPUID.

This link seems to indicate my CPU is Intel 64 capable and should run the 64-bit OS:

http://ark.intel.com/products/27255/

Is the chipset "limit" of 3.25 GB independent of the video chip used? I have the Nvidia card in mine. It may also be possible that the hardware supports more than 3.25 GB but the software programs the chipset with a maximum upper limit and without a hack you can't get beyond the 3.25 GB.

Thanks for these links!!! Simply awesome!!!

I have Win 7 on my desktop, that's what I am on now, and prefer to have the same OS on both systems so I lean toward Win 7

Thanks! -Dennis

[quote user="Dennis4SB"] My post here was precipitated by upgrading Kaspersky KIS 2013 to KIS 2014 and ending up in a state where it booted up to the logon screen but there was no keyboard available. So running a program on it will require an XP repair. I can tell you what the CPU was when it was built and it is an Intel Core 2 Duo T7200. This is off original packing slip and I have seen that T7200 in other programs, like CPUID. This link seems to indicate my CPU is Intel 64 capable and should run the 64-bit OS: http://ark.intel.com/products/27255/ Is the chipset "limit" of 3.25 GB independent of the video chip used? I have the Nvidia card in mine. It may also be possible that the hardware supports more than 3.25 GB but the software programs the chipset with a maximum upper limit and without a hack you can't get beyond the 3.25 GB. Thanks for these links!!! Simply awesome!!! I have Win 7 on my desktop, that's what I am on now, and prefer to have the same OS on both systems so I lean toward Win 7 Thanks! -Dennis

The T7200 will handle the 64 Bit version without problem.

The upper limit of memory usage should be independent of the video card.

From here on the same model:

http://www.notebookforums.com/t/217507/3-25-gb-limit-even-with-64-bit-os-why

To address the "full" 4 GB, chipsets usually remap the reserved space to above the 4 GB space, so if the chipset can't do the mapping, it won't be able to access the "full" memory space

Essentially the chipset can't handle more memory so you won't get the full 4 GB or more. You might get up to 3.5 GB with the NVidia card opposed to 3.25 GB with the shared Intel one but I'm not sure.

[/quote]

Thanks! I think it is case closed on this and doubt one can ever get more than the 3.25 GB. The chipset will not address more than 4 GB because it was designed for a 32 bit CPU. Dell sold the laptop with an advertised max of 2 GB and there is no reason to have any hardware or software go beyond the 3.25 that will work.

I am further investigating Win 7 vs Win 8.1 but that is a different issue than this thread.

I greatly appreciate your help on this and those links.!

-Dennis

I am further investigating Win 7 vs Win 8.1 but that is a different issue than this thread.

The Windows Reinstallation Guide documents how to trial Windows 7 for 30 Days and 8.1 for 90 days.  You can evaluate both of them.