Greetings and Salutations

[Kahseekeh]

I'm just a guy trying to find a new home for an old machine that I picked up for $39.99 in a thrift store a few days ago. The hardware seems to work terrifically. The only drawback is that you must use someone else's Windows 10 data and programs from 2016 on a Dell Inspiron 530s. No matter what I do, the processor will only load the OS from the original drive. The OS will not load from the other larger drive that I installed because it only recognizes the original configuration, and it refuses to acknowledge the existence of the new drive, even if I go back to Windows 10. No F2 key function working, no F12 function working when loading after Post testing, the machine monitor goes black, while you have one blue hard disk drive accessing light and then that too goes out. Then it just sits there, alone, patient, waiting for the next command to free it from its endless black monitor.
So now I have to figure how to get around this problem. Do I do a clean install of WinXP?
Do I reformat the sata drive with an ide adapter and reload XP after I reformat the drive?

 

[x BlueRobot]

I would perform a clean install using the product key the system came with - How to Find Windows 10 Product Key on Your Computer

You'll need to create some form of bootable media like a CD or a USB - Install Windows 10, 8.1/ 8 from a USB Stick

 

[plodr]

This was released in June 2007 and has a limit of 4GB RAM. Truthfully, I don't think it is a good candidate to run Windows 10 based on its age and low amount of RAM.
It came with XP or Vista. (That's from reading through the 222 page manual).
You can download the owner's manual from here - it will open as a pdf but there is a download button on the right
Dell Inspiron 530s

 

[xrobwx71]

This may provide some insight as well. https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_inspiron_desktop/inspiron-530s_owner's manual_en-us.pdf

Sorry @plodr same time posting.

 

[Corrine]

For what its worth, both my laptop and desktop are from that same era with 4 GB RAM and both are running Windows 10 just fine.

 

[ssherjj]

I have a Dell Dimension E510 which is pretty old and I upgraded the hardware awhile back when I put Windows 7 Pro on it and it is running Windows 10 quite well...Just my 2 cents btw...

 

[plodr]

Sorry guys, since I don't run Windows 10, I shouldn't make comments about how well or poor it will run on 4GB RAM.
Question: so a computer that came with XP or Vista can move to 7 then to 10 or directly from either to 10 with no problems?

 

[ssherjj]

Hi plodr,
I found one needs to uninstall certain programs that might be incompatible with Windows 10 or else one cannot uninstall that program after the upgrade.

I feel if you make a backup of your systems drivers that is always good to have. If you do a clean install of Windows 10 that is always the best. For example for ATI graphics driver I went to their website for an updated driver for Windows 10. It has been awhile since I have upgraded my 2 desktops from Windows 7, as now Windows 10 seems to cover a systems drivers? I was able at that time Microsoft would tell you what's incompatible before upgrading..

No need to be sorry ...all input is helpful.

Maybe Corrine can add to my findings?

 

[Corrine]

Question: so a computer that came with XP or Vista can move to 7 then to 10 or directly from either to 10 with no problems?

Both my laptop and desktop came with Windows Vista. I beta-tested Windows 7 on the desktop and upgraded both from Vista to Windows 7. On the laptop, I took advantage of the free upgrade to Windows 10 and I have been running the Windows 10 Insider Builds on the desktop since day 1 (10/1/2014).

Unlike Sherry, I didn't have any programs tagged as incompatible with Windows 10.