XPS 8500 Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant problems

Question

I have a Dell XPS 8500 PC which I bought from Dell Spain in October 12. It’s currently running Windows 7 Home Premium Service Pack 1. I’m planning to upgrade it to Windows 8 but on running Microsoft’s Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant, within the Compatibility Details, “For you to review” section it displays following issues:

Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant Report

Operating system: Microsoft Windows 7 Home Premium
Manufacturer:         Dell Inc.
Model:                        XPS 8500
CPU:                          Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-3450 CPU @ 3.10GHz
Memory:                    8.1

For you to review

Secure Boot isn't compatible with your PC
Your PC's firmware doesn't support Secure Boot so you won't be able to use it in Windows 8. More info
Atheros Bluetooth Suite (64) Atheros, Version 7.4.0.115 Go to the app website for help
Dell WLAN and Bluetooth Client Installation Dell Inc., Version 9.0 Go to the app website for help
Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver Intel Corporation, Version 1.0.3.214 Not compatible
AMD Catalyst Install ManagerAdvanced Micro Devices, Inc., Version 3.0.851.0 Reinstall it in Windows 8
ATI Catalyst Control Center Reinstall it in Windows 8

In the two instances where it has a link saying Go to the app website for help

the page it links to offers no help at all (it's just the Qualcom contact page!). And what about the Intel USB 3.0 Host Controller driver just saying "Not compatible"? Where can I download a version that is compatible?

This is not at all helpful and I am really confused and concerned as to how I should actually proceed. I've been to the Dell Drivers page for my XPS 8500 and downloaded and installed all driver updates it recommended for my PC yesterday (a long list!). Most installed OK but a couple failed. I've since tried running the Windows 8 Upgrade assistant again, but it still reports the same issues as above.

Can someone please offer me some specific guidance as to what I should now do in order to ensure a problem-free upgrade of my PC from Windows 7 to Windows 8?

DELL-Manshu S · Answer

Hi,

Welcome to the Community.

Did you update the BIOS of the computer?

In case you did not, I would suggest you to update the BIOS and Chipset Driver of the computer. Please click the link below which will take you to the drivers website:

http://dell.to/XyrgGq

Enter the Service Tag of the computer and update the latest version of BIOS available.

Once the drivers are updated please run Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant.

Please keep me posted with the results.

Thanks & Regards
Manshu S
#iworkfordell

Raczo · Answer

About the Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver: I think this is not a problem. Windows 8 has built-in support for USB 3.0. You just uninstall this driver before upgrading and Windows 8 will install its own.

guitareth · Answer

Thanks for you response but I had already visited that page previously. On the list for my PC it does not show any BIOS update available/required for my PC. FYI the existing version of my BIOS is A09 09/05/2012. In meantime I found the following thread where another XPS 8500 owner recently reported almost exact same issues:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/4677/p/19474028/20220837.aspx#20220837

In that thread DELL-Appu S said to update to BIOS version to A09, so unless there is a later version now available it appears I already have the latest version.

Furthermore, on that other thread DELL-Appu S also listed a bunch of driver and software updates to download and install. I have today done all of that, but could not complete update of following three only:

DW 1703 WLAN + BT Win 8 (DW1703_W84_A00_Setup-C2YWP_ZPE.exe). My system reported that thiscould not be installed on my current system. I note it stated it's for Windows 8 (64 bit) so I perhaps I must try again after upgrading to Win 8?
Intel IME update (ME_Intel_W84_A00_Setup-CR1H4_ZPE.exe) popped up message that my system already has newer version of these files. I therefore cancelled download. Again, I note it says it’s for Windows 8 (64 bit) so perhaps I need to try again after upgrading to Windows 8?
Dell Digital Delivery (DellDigitalDelivery.2.2.2000.0_Install_ZPE.exe) again popped up message that my system already has newer version of this program. I therefore cancelled download. Again, I note it says it’s for Windows 8 (64 bit) so perhaps I need to try again after upgrading to Windows 8?

Anyway, after doing all those updates I ran the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant again and it's still returning the same list of items to review.

Have you any other suggestions/advice?

AJSkene · Answer

I like definitive answers so . . .

Regarding the Intel(R) USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver:

The Intel support website notes:

Issue:
Microsoft Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant* reports Intel® USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver version 1.0.5.235 or earlier, is not compatible.

Solution:
Uninstall Intel® USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver before installing Windows 8* upgrade.

Note

Windows 7* system with Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller Driver 1.0.6.245 does not have this issue.
Windows 8 has native in-box USB 3.0 driver. Intel is not releasing a specific Intel USB 3.0 eXtensible Host Controller driver for Windows 8.

http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/usb3/sb/CS-033870.htm

Philip_Yip · Answer

The system will work on Windows 8, please review my wiki Windows Reinstallation Guide/Upgrading to Windows 8:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/software-os/f/3524/t/19480753.aspx

Follow this guide and perform the upgrade via a clean install for best results. P.S. Secure Boot should work on this model but you will need to change the settings in the BIOS to enable it. See page 369 and 372.

Jon853 · Answer

I have the same issue with regard to the Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant Report. I have already upgraded to Windows 8 and have installed all the latest drivers available on the Drivers and Downloads page. The upgrade assistant still reports Dell WLAN and Bluetooth Client Installation and Qualcomm Atheros Bluetooth Suite (64) incompatible. The UA also reports Secure Boot isn't compatible with my PC.

My system is XPS 8500, came with Windows 7 (64) installed. I followed the Dell instructions before upgrading to Windows 8 which included upgrading the BIOS to A09.

With regard to BIOS settings: Boot mode is set to Legacy; Secure Boot Off. The UA reports "Your PC's firmware doesn't support Secure Boot so you won't be able to use it in Windows 8".

Windows General

XPS 8500 Windows 8 Upgrade Assistant problems

Was this post helpful?