Optiplex 3040, Windows 10 installation

Welcome to the Dell Community  @MarcusSilva 

Reinstall Windows or Linux using the Dell OS Recovery Image

Best regards,

U2

windows 7 media will NOT BE ABLE to remove a windows 10 partition.

OEM's are not obligated to provide media for downgrades. Microsoft OEM System Builder License. End users can use one legal version of the downgrade media for multiple installations. They don't need to have one set of media for each PC they are downgrading, because they have acquired legitimate full operating system licenses for the most recent version, which gave them the right to downgrade. In the event the end user opts to downgrade, neither Microsoft nor the PC manufacturer is obligated to provide customer product support or media for systems on which downgraded software is installed.

https://devicepartner.microsoft.com/en-us/communications/comm-understanding-downgrade-rights

ALL OEMS are now forbidden from providing WIN7 media because its END OF LIFE.  Microsoft also deleted the WIN7 iso files from digital river so that method is also now moot.

You will need to use WINDOWS PE and DISKPART to clean the drive.

USB2 MEDIA is required regardless of whether or not it is installed from FLASH DRIVE or DVD.

Making SKYLAKE windows 7 media is not trivial.  I use USB 2.0 DVD drive and SKYLAKE specific DELL WINDOWS 7 PRO DVD. 

There is no such thing as DOWNGRADE for windows 7 home or starter.

Legacy booting is not happening unless secure boot is OFF and CSM is ON. Windows 10 install dvd's can be had for a reasonable price.

https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-64-bit-installation-recovery-disc-only-no-license-key-included/p/N82E16832350237

Does not matter which disk you use because the media is IDENTICAL for home or Pro.  You install on a win7 box with the I do not have a key option then put the coa key in after getting online to activate.  WIN8 and 10 systems will just install and not ask you for anything.

OptiPlex 3050 support for PCIe M.2 SSD hard drives

Frequently asked questions regarding NVMe Solid State Drives (SSDs)

Requirements to Install Windows 7 on Optiplex systems with USB3 and Skylake

There is a specific Drive I use for ALL dell models to install 7 or 8 or 10 using DELL skylake or WIN10 OEM System Builder DVD's

https://www.bestbuy.com/site/lg-8x-external-usb-2-0-blu-ray-disc-double-layer-dvdrw-cd-rw-disc-rewriter-black/9243009.p?skuId=9243009

MUST BE USB 2.0

CANNOT BE USB 3.0 WONT WORK

Some systems will require a change in the SATA operation mode in BIOS from the default setting to AHCI

2 things happen with USB3.

IT will not find ANY drive to install on.

IT will ask you to insert a driver.

WIN7 SKYLAKE DISK

WINDOZE NO DRIVE WERKIE

Cant find drive STOP 7B

speedstep brilliant statement about  MOOT is a treasure. THANKS ( wow !) OEM licensing rules wow!

 what does this mean,?

"running Windows 7 (downgraded to Windows 7)" from what? w8 or 10  or what does this mean.

I have no ideal at all what licenses you have now. w7 to w10?, nor way saying downgrade.

my guess wild is pc was upgraded to w10 , licensed or not. nor activated or not.  nor under 30 day rule 1.

if that is true there is only one downgrade possible (easy) that is asking MS how to use the windows.old seen on C:/windows.old.

The Way to install w7 from dell supplied media is fully documented and would be erasing the HDD first.

In my case I only run MS stalls,  I like my PCs' simple and no bloatware. so I use MS media only

what you want or need , no idea me.

then erase the HDD, first.  I use killdisk.exe (free) a great 1 pass erase, that gets all things off the disk.

see near end of spec, here, creates bootable media. uSB, we use that boot stick that and erase anything.

http://killdisk.com/killdisk-home.htm

next after ERASE IS:

Then boot the w10 usb stick MS lets you build it  with the MS media  creator app to do that and make the USB, now. for w10 64bit. ok? This is w10-64bit, w7 is DEAD now.IMO.

then boot the new install w10 fresh to a HDD or better SSD.

and last why in the world in the year 2019  downgrading  any PC to w7.? offer at least one reason,

(yes there are 1000s of models of PC that will not run w10 32bit and worse 64) endless but not your PC>

please, I'd love to hear the reason.(s)

all setup.exe fresh load installers (booted) do not like seeing data on your hDD, the setup.exe does not let you wreck data, this is MS policy  there, it forces you to delete the media first if you must.
W10 if BIOS set to full UEFI will not load w10 to a MBR desk, so ease it,. only GPT formats ,
W10 has no problems on any fully erased HDD or SSD. so do that. if no data to lose, why not erase it first.

Similar to the initial post, I have a customer pc (Optiplex 3040), still under warranty even - that purchased with Win10 and downgrade rights to Win7.  Tried upgrading to Windows 10 and it says that the system is NOT COMPATIBLE.  I have done all system and windows updates to bring it current, including bios, firmware, windows, etc. but it still reports Windows 10 as NOT COMPATIBLE / SUPPORTED.

Customer downgraded it to Win7 and has a lot of important programs on it that make it a major complication to do a clean install (and when I called support they said that maybe it wasn't supported anymore, but they couldn't confirm).

Replied earlier but didn't realize that I hadn't checked the box to get notified when someone responds.

Have the same issue (Optiplex 3040 purchased with Win10 w/downgrade rights to Win7).  Customer downgraded the system to Win7, and now when we go to upgrade to to Win10 it says it's not possible / not compatible.

A clean installation of Win10 is problematic, we really need to be able to upgrade.  And it also worries me that it flatout says it is NOT POSSIBLE TO UPGRADE TO WIN10.  We have completely updated the system with all Win7 updates, patches, bios, driver and firmware updates.

Any suggestions?  The system was obviously originally compatible, because it was preloaded with Win10, and then downgraded.  Is it possible Microsoft is just not supporting some of the internal hardware anymore?

Running into the same problem. Trying to upgrade all Optiplex 3040 to Windows 10 Pro but keeps failing. Doing a fresh installation on blank hard drive, installation goes thru the whole thing (over 1 hour) but stops on sysprep when trying to finish up. Doesn't go anywhere from there 

Welcome to the Dell Community  @JCardozaTexas 

So you are trying to install W10 on a blank hard drive?

Attended an install should not take more than 30 minuets.

Did you create the media from here???

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

Best regards,

U2

@catcomputers 

Why not just erase the drive and then install W10 using the USB media tool???

Regards,

U2

No - we were trying to upgrade Windows 7 on a system that was previously downgraded from Win10 (stock Microsoft upgrade tool failed - saying it wasn't compatible).

That is absolutely false. Windows 10 is fully supported on the 3040

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

There are no more upgrades but clean install using OEM system builder DVD works fine and installs without issue.

https://www.newegg.com/microsoft-windows-10-home-64-bit-installation-recovery-disc-only-no-license-key-included/p/N82E16832350237

@catcomputers  and @JCardozaTexas 

Pulled an Optiplex 3040 from the warehouse and erased the drive using MHDD.

https://hddguru.com/software/2005.10.02-MHDD/

Started W10 install at 10:37 8/28/2019 AM

W10 installed and ready for updates at 11:04 8/28/2019

All W10 updates completed at 12:05 8/28/2019

The image is now ready for me to upload to my server for later deployment if needed.

Total time 1 hour 28 minutes no errors and no delays.

Best regards,

U2

NOTE: W7 ISO's and others are still available but not sure for how much longer.

Paul is a very wise man and has helped me many times.

I am sure he would be happy to help you if you need it.

https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Desktop-Operating-Systems-and-Recovery/Windows-7-pro-OA-instal/m-p/7063095

Windows 7, 8, and 10 with newer chipsets has other ISSUES specifically with USB3.

This is why I recommend using USB 2 optical drive and  OEM system builder media rather than using Burned media and a flash drive.  USB3 has issues as do flash media smaller than 16 gigs or larger than 32 gigs because they are now EXFAT instead of FAT32.

Required CD/DVD driver error

Windows cannot find drives or lost track of usb flash drive