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@pben31 wrote:

Optiplex 3040 a few years ago and it came with Windows10 Pro, with a downgrade to Win7 Pro. Win7 Pro was factory installed.

I'm now trying to upgrade to Windows 10 by using the Dell OS Recovery Tool.

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I guess call Dell and request support for their tool, if you want to do it this way. 

I would just do it this way:

https://www.dell.com/community/Alienware-Desktops/Aurora-R7-M-2-NVMe-bootable-options/td-p/6073037

Your Windows-10 key should be burned into Bios.

you know your problem, bad hdd, most this old are.

the cure is simple

boot to SSD 0 windows 10 64bit, (install it, fresh) make sure the CPU is VT enabled, and featured, no Celerons.

then run the other OS as virtual OS. from w10;. (they run as images, you can nave many images of other OS)

your answer is here for sure.

if using UEFI mode  , tread carefully here if used. I avoid it.

CLEAN install with OEM system builder DVD works just fine.

https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-windows-10-pro-64-bit-reinstall-recovery-disc-only-no-license-key-included/p/N82E16832350238

All of the drivers are in a single cab file that must be extracted with 7zip after moving to the my documents folder .

https://www.7-zip.org/download.html

https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/how13478/optiplex-3040-windows-10-driver-pack?lang=en

https://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER05289747M/1/3040-WIN10-A13-KW60P.CAB

once downloaded and extracted any yellow !  in device manager can be updated from my pc instead of from online and everything will install and be seen.

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@speedstep wrote:

CLEAN install with OEM system builder DVD works just fine.

I'm sure it does (as an alternative solution).

However, didn't they already pay for a Windows-10 license (the OEM one that came with the Optiplex-3040)? I say use that one.