Win7 support:

On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:03:05 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 12:16:19 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:24:14 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 7:24:08 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:

Just re-reading some of your earlier posts,..
and there's allot to this,.we better start from
the beginning on this and take it step by step.

Robert
Go here and get the "MediaCreationTool1903.exe".

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

There's a download button, to get the stub downloader
that fetches the DVD for you.

https://i.postimg.cc/B62cj5Sp/Media-Creation-Tool.gif

It will likely want to run as Administrator.

Since you have two machines to do, it's better to
"create media for another computer" when asked.

It will create an ISO file (worth keeping).

It will also offer to burn the disc using
the Windows IMAPI2 interface.

It will offer that option only after the download is
complete. It isn't as up-front about that as it could be.

The burning would work if you have DVD+R or DVD-R
without a problem.

The Windows burner doesn't seem to know how to
format the rewriteable media types, which is
the only problem I've had with it.

Once you have the media, then you have materials
to work with.

It might take an hour or two for the download,
maybe 15 minutes for a burn and verify. Then
on the XPS 8500, you can try entering the key
when the installer prompts for it.

*******

Both of your machines are Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64 as
far as I know.

Control Panels : System can help verify that.

The download page will ask what you want, and you
want an x64 disc. I don't think any 32 bit OSes are
involved here. And when installing, if any selection
is offered, you match the Pro part, if you have
Pro or Professional.

Win7 Home Premium = Win10 Home
Win7 Professional = Win10 Pro
Win7 Ultimate = Win10 Pro

When running the DVD on the XPS 8500 with blank Spare
drive inside, the installer will take care of the
partitions. I usually use "Custom" when doing installs
and select whatever I had in mind, but the automation
in this case would be good enough. It should present
the only disk in the computer (the blank one) as a target.

It will summarize what it is about to do, before the
actual install starts. Early on, it may prompt for a
license key. That's your opportunity to enter one.

The copy-files stage of the install could take an hour,
while the multiple-reboots phase might take 15-20 minutes
or so. The version of Windows 10 now, puts more time into
the copy-files, and less time doing the install once all
the files are on the hard drive.

Note: You can prepare the DVD on either the 8500 or 780,
doesn't matter, because it doesn't know what your plan
is when "making media for another computer". As long
as the 780 and 8500 have a working DVD burner, either
machine would do for that step.

HTH,
Paul
I tried it on the 780:

http://i65.tinypic.com/29zttud.jpg "Create install media"

http://i67.tinypic.com/27yr2uo.jpg "Language"

http://i64.tinypic.com/2pqlx0i.jpg damaged

http://i66.tinypic.com/35jxc90.jpg damaged

http://i64.tinypic.com/2a8g46t.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9fqq3c.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/2d1wtj4.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9au1ih.jpg damaged

http://i68.tinypic.com/2prv1ab.jpg damaged


At the end the tray opened and gave
me the option to close or burn. So I
closed the application and removed the
DVD-R.

So am I good to go?

Robert
I can only see the first two of your links.

The other images claim the image has been removed ?

If you got an ISO file, please give an indication
of the file size in bytes. (Do "Properties" on the
file in File Explorer.) This size is only a rough
indicator, since the ISO file contains an install.esd,
and the contents vary from one person to the next.
I made up a filename for it, so the file name won't
match the filename you used. I name them so I
can keep track of them.

Win10-64bit-mediacreation-1903-7OSes.iso

3,967,483,904 bytes

You can use Imgburn, and the top left of the
six buttons ("Write Image File to Disc"),
to burn an ISO and make bootable media
using a DVD.

HTH,
Paul
Here you go:

http://i67.tinypic.com/hv6sdj.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/10h3yuv.jpg

I noticed that on the 780 Tinypics
didn't give me the allow pop-up it
normally does and several times when
I pressed upload nothing happened and
had to click the Tinypic link to restart
it. I wonder if I messed up the 780
by getting the latest version of FF?

Maybe we can look at the 780 after this
and is if its OK?

Robert
No, those didn't work either.

Just tell me the file size, so we know
roughly whether the 1903 x64 "windows.iso" file is OK.

Paul
I don't understand why Tinypic isn't working?
Here's from PostImage. They also had issues
and I had to re-try several times. Whats going
on ?

https://i.postimg.cc/rKbrqs3L/9-chec...ation-tool.jpg "Don't do that!"
You could stop it.
https://i.postimg.cc/CRz9fPcq/9a-che...ation-tool.jpg


Used space: 4,193,091,584 bytes 3.90GB
free space: 512,983,040 bytes 489MB

Robert
I can at least see the pictures.

If you run the Setup.exe like that, it will do Win10-over-Win7.

It's OK to do that, if you clone Win7 from the original hard
drive, to the Spare hard drive, then boot the Spare hard drive,
then run the Setup.exe from the DVD.

Otherwise, running that Setup.exe could upset a "Good" hard
drive in the computer you're testing that on.

For at least one of the install attempts, I wanted to try
a Clean Install, by booting the DVD while the empty Spare HDD
is in the computer receiving the OS.

*******

The size of the downloaded Windows.iso file (or similar name)
is what I was looking for.

When you do the size the way you did, it might take into account
the details of the overlay filesystem inside the DVD contents.
(A different value.)

There's no point comparing SHA1 or SHA256 checksums of your
and my disc, because the MediaCreationTool ISO files are all different.
But at least the size should be the same, within a few bytes.
(The ISO should at least be rounded to a multiple of 2048 bytes.)

Paul

So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove
the main HD and install the spare HD and boot with
the DVD-R?

Then what happens after I boot?

After I'm finished do I format the HD or leave Win10
on it? Then put my main HD back in and remove the
blank(Win10) HD, correct?


Robert


You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

If you:

right-click Start Orb : Run : "control"

will start the Control Panels window in Windows 10, if the tutorial doesn't work.

When you install Windows 10, it should match the "SKU" of
the Windows 7 key on that machine. If the XPS 8500 is running
Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64, you install Windows 10 Pro
(32 bit or 64 bit, doesn't matter on a Clean Install).

I'm trying to keep this first one simple, by starting
with the empty Spare drive, and having you enter the
key off the COA sticker.

If the install does not work out, you clone over (or even
restore from backup), an image you normally use on Windows 7,
boot that Windows 7 image on the spare drive, and just
run Setup.exe off the DVD. That's a Win10-over-Win7
install which you would not be keeping, and you'd check
for Activation when finished.

Paul



I'm sending this to you from the 8500 Win10 HD
Just so you know that it's operational but I
have no idea how to proceed so I will be shutting
it down and switching back to my Main HD.

I wish Tinypic or Post Image worked otherwise
I would take pictures to show you.

Robert



I'm back on the 8500 with Win 7 now, in passing
during the Win10 setup it never gave me the option
of Win 10 Pro.

I didn't like Win 10 also knowing that I would have
to do massive downloads for A/V etc and have to find
some way to transfer all my bookmarks from Win 7 to
Win 10 sys.

So what now?

Robert

On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:27:46 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:03:05 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 12:16:19 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:24:14 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 7:24:08 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:

Just re-reading some of your earlier posts,..
and there's allot to this,.we better start from
the beginning on this and take it step by step.

Robert
Go here and get the "MediaCreationTool1903.exe".

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

There's a download button, to get the stub downloader
that fetches the DVD for you.

https://i.postimg.cc/B62cj5Sp/Media-Creation-Tool.gif

It will likely want to run as Administrator.

Since you have two machines to do, it's better to
"create media for another computer" when asked.

It will create an ISO file (worth keeping).

It will also offer to burn the disc using
the Windows IMAPI2 interface.

It will offer that option only after the download is
complete. It isn't as up-front about that as it could be.

The burning would work if you have DVD+R or DVD-R
without a problem.

The Windows burner doesn't seem to know how to
format the rewriteable media types, which is
the only problem I've had with it.

Once you have the media, then you have materials
to work with.

It might take an hour or two for the download,
maybe 15 minutes for a burn and verify. Then
on the XPS 8500, you can try entering the key
when the installer prompts for it.

*******

Both of your machines are Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64 as
far as I know.

Control Panels : System can help verify that.

The download page will ask what you want, and you
want an x64 disc. I don't think any 32 bit OSes are
involved here. And when installing, if any selection
is offered, you match the Pro part, if you have
Pro or Professional.

Win7 Home Premium = Win10 Home
Win7 Professional = Win10 Pro
Win7 Ultimate = Win10 Pro

When running the DVD on the XPS 8500 with blank Spare
drive inside, the installer will take care of the
partitions. I usually use "Custom" when doing installs
and select whatever I had in mind, but the automation
in this case would be good enough. It should present
the only disk in the computer (the blank one) as a target.

It will summarize what it is about to do, before the
actual install starts. Early on, it may prompt for a
license key. That's your opportunity to enter one.

The copy-files stage of the install could take an hour,
while the multiple-reboots phase might take 15-20 minutes
or so. The version of Windows 10 now, puts more time into
the copy-files, and less time doing the install once all
the files are on the hard drive.

Note: You can prepare the DVD on either the 8500 or 780,
doesn't matter, because it doesn't know what your plan
is when "making media for another computer". As long
as the 780 and 8500 have a working DVD burner, either
machine would do for that step.

HTH,
Paul
I tried it on the 780:

http://i65.tinypic.com/29zttud.jpg "Create install media"

http://i67.tinypic.com/27yr2uo.jpg "Language"

http://i64.tinypic.com/2pqlx0i.jpg damaged

http://i66.tinypic.com/35jxc90.jpg damaged

http://i64.tinypic.com/2a8g46t.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9fqq3c.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/2d1wtj4.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9au1ih.jpg damaged

http://i68.tinypic.com/2prv1ab.jpg damaged


At the end the tray opened and gave
me the option to close or burn. So I
closed the application and removed the
DVD-R.

So am I good to go?

Robert
I can only see the first two of your links.

The other images claim the image has been removed ?

If you got an ISO file, please give an indication
of the file size in bytes. (Do "Properties" on the
file in File Explorer.) This size is only a rough
indicator, since the ISO file contains an install.esd,
and the contents vary from one person to the next.
I made up a filename for it, so the file name won't
match the filename you used. I name them so I
can keep track of them.

Win10-64bit-mediacreation-1903-7OSes.iso

3,967,483,904 bytes

You can use Imgburn, and the top left of the
six buttons ("Write Image File to Disc"),
to burn an ISO and make bootable media
using a DVD.

HTH,
Paul
Here you go:

http://i67.tinypic.com/hv6sdj.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/10h3yuv.jpg

I noticed that on the 780 Tinypics
didn't give me the allow pop-up it
normally does and several times when
I pressed upload nothing happened and
had to click the Tinypic link to restart
it. I wonder if I messed up the 780
by getting the latest version of FF?

Maybe we can look at the 780 after this
and is if its OK?

Robert
No, those didn't work either.

Just tell me the file size, so we know
roughly whether the 1903 x64 "windows.iso" file is OK.

Paul
I don't understand why Tinypic isn't working?
Here's from PostImage. They also had issues
and I had to re-try several times. Whats going
on ?

https://i.postimg.cc/rKbrqs3L/9-chec...ation-tool.jpg "Don't do that!"
You could stop it.
https://i.postimg.cc/CRz9fPcq/9a-che...ation-tool.jpg


Used space: 4,193,091,584 bytes 3.90GB
free space: 512,983,040 bytes 489MB

Robert
I can at least see the pictures.

If you run the Setup.exe like that, it will do Win10-over-Win7.

It's OK to do that, if you clone Win7 from the original hard
drive, to the Spare hard drive, then boot the Spare hard drive,
then run the Setup.exe from the DVD.

Otherwise, running that Setup.exe could upset a "Good" hard
drive in the computer you're testing that on.

For at least one of the install attempts, I wanted to try
a Clean Install, by booting the DVD while the empty Spare HDD
is in the computer receiving the OS.

*******

The size of the downloaded Windows.iso file (or similar name)
is what I was looking for.

When you do the size the way you did, it might take into account
the details of the overlay filesystem inside the DVD contents.
(A different value.)

There's no point comparing SHA1 or SHA256 checksums of your
and my disc, because the MediaCreationTool ISO files are all different.
But at least the size should be the same, within a few bytes.
(The ISO should at least be rounded to a multiple of 2048 bytes.)

Paul

So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove
the main HD and install the spare HD and boot with
the DVD-R?

Then what happens after I boot?

After I'm finished do I format the HD or leave Win10
on it? Then put my main HD back in and remove the
blank(Win10) HD, correct?


Robert


You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

If you:

right-click Start Orb : Run : "control"

will start the Control Panels window in Windows 10, if the tutorial doesn't work.

When you install Windows 10, it should match the "SKU" of
the Windows 7 key on that machine. If the XPS 8500 is running
Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64, you install Windows 10 Pro
(32 bit or 64 bit, doesn't matter on a Clean Install).

I'm trying to keep this first one simple, by starting
with the empty Spare drive, and having you enter the
key off the COA sticker.

If the install does not work out, you clone over (or even
restore from backup), an image you normally use on Windows 7,
boot that Windows 7 image on the spare drive, and just
run Setup.exe off the DVD. That's a Win10-over-Win7
install which you would not be keeping, and you'd check
for Activation when finished.

Paul



I'm sending this to you from the 8500 Win10 HD
Just so you know that it's operational but I
have no idea how to proceed so I will be shutting
it down and switching back to my Main HD.

I wish Tinypic or Post Image worked otherwise
I would take pictures to show you.

Robert



I'm back on the 8500 with Win 7 now, in passing
during the Win10 setup it never gave me the option
of Win 10 Pro.

I didn't like Win 10 also knowing that I would have
to do massive downloads for A/V etc and have to find
some way to transfer all my bookmarks from Win 7 to
Win 10 sys.

So what now?

Robert



P.s. I have an new email welcoming me to Win10
(It required me to give my email address when
installing).

Robert

Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 12:16:19 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:24:14 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 7:24:08 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:

Just re-reading some of your earlier posts,..
and there's allot to this,.we better start from
the beginning on this and take it step by step.

Robert
Go here and get the "MediaCreationTool1903.exe".

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

There's a download button, to get the stub downloader
that fetches the DVD for you.

https://i.postimg.cc/B62cj5Sp/Media-Creation-Tool.gif

It will likely want to run as Administrator.

Since you have two machines to do, it's better to
"create media for another computer" when asked.

It will create an ISO file (worth keeping).

It will also offer to burn the disc using
the Windows IMAPI2 interface.

It will offer that option only after the download is
complete. It isn't as up-front about that as it could be.

The burning would work if you have DVD+R or DVD-R
without a problem.

The Windows burner doesn't seem to know how to
format the rewriteable media types, which is
the only problem I've had with it.

Once you have the media, then you have materials
to work with.

It might take an hour or two for the download,
maybe 15 minutes for a burn and verify. Then
on the XPS 8500, you can try entering the key
when the installer prompts for it.

*******

Both of your machines are Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64 as
far as I know.

Control Panels : System can help verify that.

The download page will ask what you want, and you
want an x64 disc. I don't think any 32 bit OSes are
involved here. And when installing, if any selection
is offered, you match the Pro part, if you have
Pro or Professional.

Win7 Home Premium = Win10 Home
Win7 Professional = Win10 Pro
Win7 Ultimate = Win10 Pro

When running the DVD on the XPS 8500 with blank Spare
drive inside, the installer will take care of the
partitions. I usually use "Custom" when doing installs
and select whatever I had in mind, but the automation
in this case would be good enough. It should present
the only disk in the computer (the blank one) as a target.

It will summarize what it is about to do, before the
actual install starts. Early on, it may prompt for a
license key. That's your opportunity to enter one.

The copy-files stage of the install could take an hour,
while the multiple-reboots phase might take 15-20 minutes
or so. The version of Windows 10 now, puts more time into
the copy-files, and less time doing the install once all
the files are on the hard drive.

Note: You can prepare the DVD on either the 8500 or 780,
doesn't matter, because it doesn't know what your plan
is when "making media for another computer". As long
as the 780 and 8500 have a working DVD burner, either
machine would do for that step.

HTH,
Paul
I tried it on the 780:

http://i65.tinypic.com/29zttud.jpg "Create install media"

http://i67.tinypic.com/27yr2uo.jpg "Language"

http://i64.tinypic.com/2pqlx0i.jpg damaged

http://i66.tinypic.com/35jxc90.jpg damaged

http://i64.tinypic.com/2a8g46t.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9fqq3c.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/2d1wtj4.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9au1ih.jpg damaged

http://i68.tinypic.com/2prv1ab.jpg damaged


At the end the tray opened and gave
me the option to close or burn. So I
closed the application and removed the
DVD-R.

So am I good to go?

Robert
I can only see the first two of your links.

The other images claim the image has been removed ?

If you got an ISO file, please give an indication
of the file size in bytes. (Do "Properties" on the
file in File Explorer.) This size is only a rough
indicator, since the ISO file contains an install.esd,
and the contents vary from one person to the next.
I made up a filename for it, so the file name won't
match the filename you used. I name them so I
can keep track of them.

Win10-64bit-mediacreation-1903-7OSes.iso

3,967,483,904 bytes

You can use Imgburn, and the top left of the
six buttons ("Write Image File to Disc"),
to burn an ISO and make bootable media
using a DVD.

HTH,
Paul
Here you go:

http://i67.tinypic.com/hv6sdj.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/10h3yuv.jpg

I noticed that on the 780 Tinypics
didn't give me the allow pop-up it
normally does and several times when
I pressed upload nothing happened and
had to click the Tinypic link to restart
it. I wonder if I messed up the 780
by getting the latest version of FF?

Maybe we can look at the 780 after this
and is if its OK?

Robert
No, those didn't work either.

Just tell me the file size, so we know
roughly whether the 1903 x64 "windows.iso" file is OK.

Paul
I don't understand why Tinypic isn't working?
Here's from PostImage. They also had issues
and I had to re-try several times. Whats going
on ?

https://i.postimg.cc/rKbrqs3L/9-chec...ation-tool.jpg "Don't do that!"
You could stop it.
https://i.postimg.cc/CRz9fPcq/9a-che...ation-tool.jpg


Used space: 4,193,091,584 bytes 3.90GB
free space: 512,983,040 bytes 489MB

Robert
I can at least see the pictures.

If you run the Setup.exe like that, it will do Win10-over-Win7.

It's OK to do that, if you clone Win7 from the original hard
drive, to the Spare hard drive, then boot the Spare hard drive,
then run the Setup.exe from the DVD.

Otherwise, running that Setup.exe could upset a "Good" hard
drive in the computer you're testing that on.

For at least one of the install attempts, I wanted to try
a Clean Install, by booting the DVD while the empty Spare HDD
is in the computer receiving the OS.

*******

The size of the downloaded Windows.iso file (or similar name)
is what I was looking for.

When you do the size the way you did, it might take into account
the details of the overlay filesystem inside the DVD contents.
(A different value.)

There's no point comparing SHA1 or SHA256 checksums of your
and my disc, because the MediaCreationTool ISO files are all different.
But at least the size should be the same, within a few bytes.
(The ISO should at least be rounded to a multiple of 2048 bytes.)

Paul
So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove
the main HD and install the spare HD and boot with
the DVD-R?

Then what happens after I boot?

After I'm finished do I format the HD or leave Win10
on it? Then put my main HD back in and remove the
blank(Win10) HD, correct?


Robert

You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

If you:

right-click Start Orb : Run : "control"

will start the Control Panels window in Windows 10, if the tutorial doesn't work.

When you install Windows 10, it should match the "SKU" of
the Windows 7 key on that machine. If the XPS 8500 is running
Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64, you install Windows 10 Pro
(32 bit or 64 bit, doesn't matter on a Clean Install).

I'm trying to keep this first one simple, by starting
with the empty Spare drive, and having you enter the
key off the COA sticker.

If the install does not work out, you clone over (or even
restore from backup), an image you normally use on Windows 7,
boot that Windows 7 image on the spare drive, and just
run Setup.exe off the DVD. That's a Win10-over-Win7
install which you would not be keeping, and you'd check
for Activation when finished.

Paul


I've installed the blank drive in the 8500
and started the DVD-R but took awhile before
it started and the computer recognized it.

It wouldn't let me upgrade so I am doing a
custom install. It says its getting the files
ready for installation but have not seen ant
Win 10 Pro selections as yet.

Also am unsure of your instructions to check
it works. When I right click the Start button
I get properties and open Windows Explorer.

It just restarted the 8500 and is just hanging
Now it says getting devices ready.

Robert

The install operation will reboot multiple times.
You don't need to interact with it.

It doesn't actually need the DVD after the first reboot.

Boot DVD and install --| Machine reboots | reboots again
| Don't press a key | etc. Eventually
Keep DVD in drive -----| Should see spinning balls | Win10 desktop
| display + percentage done | appears...
|
| --- can remove DVD anytime along here ---

HTH,
Paul

Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:03:05 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 12:16:19 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:24:14 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 7:24:08 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:

Just re-reading some of your earlier posts,..
and there's allot to this,.we better start from
the beginning on this and take it step by step.

Robert
Go here and get the "MediaCreationTool1903.exe".

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

There's a download button, to get the stub downloader
that fetches the DVD for you.

https://i.postimg.cc/B62cj5Sp/Media-Creation-Tool.gif

It will likely want to run as Administrator.

Since you have two machines to do, it's better to
"create media for another computer" when asked.

It will create an ISO file (worth keeping).

It will also offer to burn the disc using
the Windows IMAPI2 interface.

It will offer that option only after the download is
complete. It isn't as up-front about that as it could be.

The burning would work if you have DVD+R or DVD-R
without a problem.

The Windows burner doesn't seem to know how to
format the rewriteable media types, which is
the only problem I've had with it.

Once you have the media, then you have materials
to work with.

It might take an hour or two for the download,
maybe 15 minutes for a burn and verify. Then
on the XPS 8500, you can try entering the key
when the installer prompts for it.

*******

Both of your machines are Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64 as
far as I know.

Control Panels : System can help verify that.

The download page will ask what you want, and you
want an x64 disc. I don't think any 32 bit OSes are
involved here. And when installing, if any selection
is offered, you match the Pro part, if you have
Pro or Professional.

Win7 Home Premium = Win10 Home
Win7 Professional = Win10 Pro
Win7 Ultimate = Win10 Pro

When running the DVD on the XPS 8500 with blank Spare
drive inside, the installer will take care of the
partitions. I usually use "Custom" when doing installs
and select whatever I had in mind, but the automation
in this case would be good enough. It should present
the only disk in the computer (the blank one) as a target.

It will summarize what it is about to do, before the
actual install starts. Early on, it may prompt for a
license key. That's your opportunity to enter one.

The copy-files stage of the install could take an hour,
while the multiple-reboots phase might take 15-20 minutes
or so. The version of Windows 10 now, puts more time into
the copy-files, and less time doing the install once all
the files are on the hard drive.

Note: You can prepare the DVD on either the 8500 or 780,
doesn't matter, because it doesn't know what your plan
is when "making media for another computer". As long
as the 780 and 8500 have a working DVD burner, either
machine would do for that step.

HTH,
Paul
I tried it on the 780:

http://i65.tinypic.com/29zttud.jpg "Create install media"

http://i67.tinypic.com/27yr2uo.jpg "Language"

http://i64.tinypic.com/2pqlx0i.jpg damaged

http://i66.tinypic.com/35jxc90.jpg damaged

http://i64.tinypic.com/2a8g46t.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9fqq3c.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/2d1wtj4.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9au1ih.jpg damaged

http://i68.tinypic.com/2prv1ab.jpg damaged


At the end the tray opened and gave
me the option to close or burn. So I
closed the application and removed the
DVD-R.

So am I good to go?

Robert
I can only see the first two of your links.

The other images claim the image has been removed ?

If you got an ISO file, please give an indication
of the file size in bytes. (Do "Properties" on the
file in File Explorer.) This size is only a rough
indicator, since the ISO file contains an install.esd,
and the contents vary from one person to the next.
I made up a filename for it, so the file name won't
match the filename you used. I name them so I
can keep track of them.

Win10-64bit-mediacreation-1903-7OSes.iso

3,967,483,904 bytes

You can use Imgburn, and the top left of the
six buttons ("Write Image File to Disc"),
to burn an ISO and make bootable media
using a DVD.

HTH,
Paul
Here you go:

http://i67.tinypic.com/hv6sdj.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/10h3yuv.jpg

I noticed that on the 780 Tinypics
didn't give me the allow pop-up it
normally does and several times when
I pressed upload nothing happened and
had to click the Tinypic link to restart
it. I wonder if I messed up the 780
by getting the latest version of FF?

Maybe we can look at the 780 after this
and is if its OK?

Robert
No, those didn't work either.

Just tell me the file size, so we know
roughly whether the 1903 x64 "windows.iso" file is OK.

Paul
I don't understand why Tinypic isn't working?
Here's from PostImage. They also had issues
and I had to re-try several times. Whats going
on ?

https://i.postimg.cc/rKbrqs3L/9-chec...ation-tool.jpg "Don't do that!"
You could stop it.
https://i.postimg.cc/CRz9fPcq/9a-che...ation-tool.jpg


Used space: 4,193,091,584 bytes 3.90GB
free space: 512,983,040 bytes 489MB

Robert
I can at least see the pictures.

If you run the Setup.exe like that, it will do Win10-over-Win7.

It's OK to do that, if you clone Win7 from the original hard
drive, to the Spare hard drive, then boot the Spare hard drive,
then run the Setup.exe from the DVD.

Otherwise, running that Setup.exe could upset a "Good" hard
drive in the computer you're testing that on.

For at least one of the install attempts, I wanted to try
a Clean Install, by booting the DVD while the empty Spare HDD
is in the computer receiving the OS.

*******

The size of the downloaded Windows.iso file (or similar name)
is what I was looking for.

When you do the size the way you did, it might take into account
the details of the overlay filesystem inside the DVD contents.
(A different value.)

There's no point comparing SHA1 or SHA256 checksums of your
and my disc, because the MediaCreationTool ISO files are all different.
But at least the size should be the same, within a few bytes.
(The ISO should at least be rounded to a multiple of 2048 bytes.)

Paul
So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove
the main HD and install the spare HD and boot with
the DVD-R?

Then what happens after I boot?

After I'm finished do I format the HD or leave Win10
on it? Then put my main HD back in and remove the
blank(Win10) HD, correct?


Robert

You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

If you:

right-click Start Orb : Run : "control"

will start the Control Panels window in Windows 10, if the tutorial doesn't work.

When you install Windows 10, it should match the "SKU" of
the Windows 7 key on that machine. If the XPS 8500 is running
Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64, you install Windows 10 Pro
(32 bit or 64 bit, doesn't matter on a Clean Install).

I'm trying to keep this first one simple, by starting
with the empty Spare drive, and having you enter the
key off the COA sticker.

If the install does not work out, you clone over (or even
restore from backup), an image you normally use on Windows 7,
boot that Windows 7 image on the spare drive, and just
run Setup.exe off the DVD. That's a Win10-over-Win7
install which you would not be keeping, and you'd check
for Activation when finished.

Paul


I'm sending this to you from the 8500 Win10 HD
Just so you know that it's operational but I
have no idea how to proceed so I will be shutting
it down and switching back to my Main HD.

I wish Tinypic or Post Image worked otherwise
I would take pictures to show you.

Robert



I'm back on the 8500 with Win 7 now, in passing
during the Win10 setup it never gave me the option
of Win 10 Pro.

I didn't like Win 10 also knowing that I would have
to do massive downloads for A/V etc and have to find
some way to transfer all my bookmarks from Win 7 to
Win 10 sys.

So what now?

Robert

This is why we were keeping "Win10-over-Win7" for later.

That allows you to keep your Programs and User Data.

You would probably uninstall Avast before running the
Setup.exe on the DVD while Windows 7 is booted. That
would kick off the upgrade over top of the running
OS. With Avast gone, it's likely easier to install
Windows 10 that way.

You would need to download Avast again, once Windows 10
is running. Other things, like Firefox, like the Firefox
bookmarks, would be preserved in a Win10-over-Win7 install.

*******

We could have done it that way. You can still do it now, if
you have the energy for this.

1) Clone (or even restore a recent backup) onto the Spare drive.
2) Boot the Spare drive into W7. (It should be activated, since only
the drive serial number is different.)
3) Uninstall Avast from Programs and Features on Windows 7 SP1 x64.
4) Run Setup.exe off the DVD, while DVD is in the optical drive.
5) This does Windows 10 over Windows 7.
This preserved Programs and User Data.

Part of this exercise is also to make you familiar with
what Windows 10 looks like.

You could also add ClassicShell, to change the appearance of the OS.
There should also be Start10, which is a commercial shell.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Shell

https://www.stardock.com/products/start10/
https://www.stardock.com/products/start10/download

*******

I included a Tutorial page before, for Activation checking.
Even the System control panel would do.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

Paul

Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:27:46 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:03:05 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 12:16:19 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:24:14 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 7:24:08 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:

Just re-reading some of your earlier posts,..
and there's allot to this,.we better start from
the beginning on this and take it step by step.

Robert
Go here and get the "MediaCreationTool1903.exe".

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

There's a download button, to get the stub downloader
that fetches the DVD for you.

https://i.postimg.cc/B62cj5Sp/Media-Creation-Tool.gif

It will likely want to run as Administrator.

Since you have two machines to do, it's better to
"create media for another computer" when asked.

It will create an ISO file (worth keeping).

It will also offer to burn the disc using
the Windows IMAPI2 interface.

It will offer that option only after the download is
complete. It isn't as up-front about that as it could be.

The burning would work if you have DVD+R or DVD-R
without a problem.

The Windows burner doesn't seem to know how to
format the rewriteable media types, which is
the only problem I've had with it.

Once you have the media, then you have materials
to work with.

It might take an hour or two for the download,
maybe 15 minutes for a burn and verify. Then
on the XPS 8500, you can try entering the key
when the installer prompts for it.

*******

Both of your machines are Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64 as
far as I know.

Control Panels : System can help verify that.

The download page will ask what you want, and you
want an x64 disc. I don't think any 32 bit OSes are
involved here. And when installing, if any selection
is offered, you match the Pro part, if you have
Pro or Professional.

Win7 Home Premium = Win10 Home
Win7 Professional = Win10 Pro
Win7 Ultimate = Win10 Pro

When running the DVD on the XPS 8500 with blank Spare
drive inside, the installer will take care of the
partitions. I usually use "Custom" when doing installs
and select whatever I had in mind, but the automation
in this case would be good enough. It should present
the only disk in the computer (the blank one) as a target.

It will summarize what it is about to do, before the
actual install starts. Early on, it may prompt for a
license key. That's your opportunity to enter one.

The copy-files stage of the install could take an hour,
while the multiple-reboots phase might take 15-20 minutes
or so. The version of Windows 10 now, puts more time into
the copy-files, and less time doing the install once all
the files are on the hard drive.

Note: You can prepare the DVD on either the 8500 or 780,
doesn't matter, because it doesn't know what your plan
is when "making media for another computer". As long
as the 780 and 8500 have a working DVD burner, either
machine would do for that step.

HTH,
Paul
I tried it on the 780:

http://i65.tinypic.com/29zttud.jpg "Create install media"

http://i67.tinypic.com/27yr2uo.jpg "Language"

http://i64.tinypic.com/2pqlx0i.jpg damaged

http://i66.tinypic.com/35jxc90.jpg damaged

http://i64.tinypic.com/2a8g46t.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9fqq3c.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/2d1wtj4.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9au1ih.jpg damaged

http://i68.tinypic.com/2prv1ab.jpg damaged


At the end the tray opened and gave
me the option to close or burn. So I
closed the application and removed the
DVD-R.

So am I good to go?

Robert
I can only see the first two of your links.

The other images claim the image has been removed ?

If you got an ISO file, please give an indication
of the file size in bytes. (Do "Properties" on the
file in File Explorer.) This size is only a rough
indicator, since the ISO file contains an install.esd,
and the contents vary from one person to the next.
I made up a filename for it, so the file name won't
match the filename you used. I name them so I
can keep track of them.

Win10-64bit-mediacreation-1903-7OSes.iso

3,967,483,904 bytes

You can use Imgburn, and the top left of the
six buttons ("Write Image File to Disc"),
to burn an ISO and make bootable media
using a DVD.

HTH,
Paul
Here you go:

http://i67.tinypic.com/hv6sdj.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/10h3yuv.jpg

I noticed that on the 780 Tinypics
didn't give me the allow pop-up it
normally does and several times when
I pressed upload nothing happened and
had to click the Tinypic link to restart
it. I wonder if I messed up the 780
by getting the latest version of FF?

Maybe we can look at the 780 after this
and is if its OK?

Robert
No, those didn't work either.

Just tell me the file size, so we know
roughly whether the 1903 x64 "windows.iso" file is OK.

Paul
I don't understand why Tinypic isn't working?
Here's from PostImage. They also had issues
and I had to re-try several times. Whats going
on ?

https://i.postimg.cc/rKbrqs3L/9-chec...ation-tool.jpg "Don't do that!"
You could stop it.
https://i.postimg.cc/CRz9fPcq/9a-che...ation-tool.jpg


Used space: 4,193,091,584 bytes 3.90GB
free space: 512,983,040 bytes 489MB

Robert
I can at least see the pictures.

If you run the Setup.exe like that, it will do Win10-over-Win7.

It's OK to do that, if you clone Win7 from the original hard
drive, to the Spare hard drive, then boot the Spare hard drive,
then run the Setup.exe from the DVD.

Otherwise, running that Setup.exe could upset a "Good" hard
drive in the computer you're testing that on.

For at least one of the install attempts, I wanted to try
a Clean Install, by booting the DVD while the empty Spare HDD
is in the computer receiving the OS.

*******

The size of the downloaded Windows.iso file (or similar name)
is what I was looking for.

When you do the size the way you did, it might take into account
the details of the overlay filesystem inside the DVD contents.
(A different value.)

There's no point comparing SHA1 or SHA256 checksums of your
and my disc, because the MediaCreationTool ISO files are all different.
But at least the size should be the same, within a few bytes.
(The ISO should at least be rounded to a multiple of 2048 bytes.)

Paul
So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove
the main HD and install the spare HD and boot with
the DVD-R?

Then what happens after I boot?

After I'm finished do I format the HD or leave Win10
on it? Then put my main HD back in and remove the
blank(Win10) HD, correct?


Robert

You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

If you:

right-click Start Orb : Run : "control"

will start the Control Panels window in Windows 10, if the tutorial doesn't work.

When you install Windows 10, it should match the "SKU" of
the Windows 7 key on that machine. If the XPS 8500 is running
Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64, you install Windows 10 Pro
(32 bit or 64 bit, doesn't matter on a Clean Install).

I'm trying to keep this first one simple, by starting
with the empty Spare drive, and having you enter the
key off the COA sticker.

If the install does not work out, you clone over (or even
restore from backup), an image you normally use on Windows 7,
boot that Windows 7 image on the spare drive, and just
run Setup.exe off the DVD. That's a Win10-over-Win7
install which you would not be keeping, and you'd check
for Activation when finished.

Paul


I'm sending this to you from the 8500 Win10 HD
Just so you know that it's operational but I
have no idea how to proceed so I will be shutting
it down and switching back to my Main HD.

I wish Tinypic or Post Image worked otherwise
I would take pictures to show you.

Robert


I'm back on the 8500 with Win 7 now, in passing
during the Win10 setup it never gave me the option
of Win 10 Pro.

I didn't like Win 10 also knowing that I would have
to do massive downloads for A/V etc and have to find
some way to transfer all my bookmarks from Win 7 to
Win 10 sys.

So what now?

Robert



P.s. I have an new email welcoming me to Win10
(It required me to give my email address when
installing).

Robert

You weren't supposed to apply for an MSA.

You were supposed to look in the lower left for
"Local Account".

The reason this would be important in a "real" or
"permanent" install, is getting the "correct" home
directory name.

Using a Local Account, if you're John Jones, then
the home directory is \home\users\John.

If instead, your email address is
the home directory becomes \home\users\horat
as the algorithm uses the first five letters of
the email address. And with random GMAIL accounts,
the string could be quite weird. Some people hate
having a weird home directory on their brand new OS.

Instead, when doing an install, you install and use
the "local account" first. If you want to apply an
MSA you happen to have, to the account, that would
be a later step after your home directory is properly
defined.

Write down the details of your MSA, on your password list.

And remember, that the password for the email account
should be *different* than the password associated with
the MSA. You have to be careful when typing passwords
later, to not enter the GMAIL password into the
OS password prompt. MSA is messy that way.

With a local account, you could use the same local account
and password you were using in Windows 7.

Paul

On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:56:29 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 12:16:19 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:24:14 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 7:24:08 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:

Just re-reading some of your earlier posts,..
and there's allot to this,.we better start from
the beginning on this and take it step by step.

Robert
Go here and get the "MediaCreationTool1903.exe".

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

There's a download button, to get the stub downloader
that fetches the DVD for you.

https://i.postimg.cc/B62cj5Sp/Media-Creation-Tool.gif

It will likely want to run as Administrator.

Since you have two machines to do, it's better to
"create media for another computer" when asked.

It will create an ISO file (worth keeping).

It will also offer to burn the disc using
the Windows IMAPI2 interface.

It will offer that option only after the download is
complete. It isn't as up-front about that as it could be.

The burning would work if you have DVD+R or DVD-R
without a problem.

The Windows burner doesn't seem to know how to
format the rewriteable media types, which is
the only problem I've had with it.

Once you have the media, then you have materials
to work with.

It might take an hour or two for the download,
maybe 15 minutes for a burn and verify. Then
on the XPS 8500, you can try entering the key
when the installer prompts for it.

*******

Both of your machines are Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64 as
far as I know.

Control Panels : System can help verify that.

The download page will ask what you want, and you
want an x64 disc. I don't think any 32 bit OSes are
involved here. And when installing, if any selection
is offered, you match the Pro part, if you have
Pro or Professional.

Win7 Home Premium = Win10 Home
Win7 Professional = Win10 Pro
Win7 Ultimate = Win10 Pro

When running the DVD on the XPS 8500 with blank Spare
drive inside, the installer will take care of the
partitions. I usually use "Custom" when doing installs
and select whatever I had in mind, but the automation
in this case would be good enough. It should present
the only disk in the computer (the blank one) as a target.

It will summarize what it is about to do, before the
actual install starts. Early on, it may prompt for a
license key. That's your opportunity to enter one.

The copy-files stage of the install could take an hour,
while the multiple-reboots phase might take 15-20 minutes
or so. The version of Windows 10 now, puts more time into
the copy-files, and less time doing the install once all
the files are on the hard drive.

Note: You can prepare the DVD on either the 8500 or 780,
doesn't matter, because it doesn't know what your plan
is when "making media for another computer". As long
as the 780 and 8500 have a working DVD burner, either
machine would do for that step.

HTH,
Paul
I tried it on the 780:

http://i65.tinypic.com/29zttud.jpg "Create install media"

http://i67.tinypic.com/27yr2uo.jpg "Language"

http://i64.tinypic.com/2pqlx0i.jpg damaged

http://i66.tinypic.com/35jxc90.jpg damaged

http://i64.tinypic.com/2a8g46t.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9fqq3c.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/2d1wtj4.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9au1ih.jpg damaged

http://i68.tinypic.com/2prv1ab.jpg damaged


At the end the tray opened and gave
me the option to close or burn. So I
closed the application and removed the
DVD-R.

So am I good to go?

Robert
I can only see the first two of your links.

The other images claim the image has been removed ?

If you got an ISO file, please give an indication
of the file size in bytes. (Do "Properties" on the
file in File Explorer.) This size is only a rough
indicator, since the ISO file contains an install.esd,
and the contents vary from one person to the next.
I made up a filename for it, so the file name won't
match the filename you used. I name them so I
can keep track of them.

Win10-64bit-mediacreation-1903-7OSes.iso

3,967,483,904 bytes

You can use Imgburn, and the top left of the
six buttons ("Write Image File to Disc"),
to burn an ISO and make bootable media
using a DVD.

HTH,
Paul
Here you go:

http://i67.tinypic.com/hv6sdj.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/10h3yuv.jpg

I noticed that on the 780 Tinypics
didn't give me the allow pop-up it
normally does and several times when
I pressed upload nothing happened and
had to click the Tinypic link to restart
it. I wonder if I messed up the 780
by getting the latest version of FF?

Maybe we can look at the 780 after this
and is if its OK?

Robert
No, those didn't work either.

Just tell me the file size, so we know
roughly whether the 1903 x64 "windows.iso" file is OK.

Paul
I don't understand why Tinypic isn't working?
Here's from PostImage. They also had issues
and I had to re-try several times. Whats going
on ?

https://i.postimg.cc/rKbrqs3L/9-chec...ation-tool.jpg "Don't do that!"
You could stop it.
https://i.postimg.cc/CRz9fPcq/9a-che...ation-tool.jpg


Used space: 4,193,091,584 bytes 3.90GB
free space: 512,983,040 bytes 489MB

Robert
I can at least see the pictures.

If you run the Setup.exe like that, it will do Win10-over-Win7.

It's OK to do that, if you clone Win7 from the original hard
drive, to the Spare hard drive, then boot the Spare hard drive,
then run the Setup.exe from the DVD.

Otherwise, running that Setup.exe could upset a "Good" hard
drive in the computer you're testing that on.

For at least one of the install attempts, I wanted to try
a Clean Install, by booting the DVD while the empty Spare HDD
is in the computer receiving the OS.

*******

The size of the downloaded Windows.iso file (or similar name)
is what I was looking for.

When you do the size the way you did, it might take into account
the details of the overlay filesystem inside the DVD contents.
(A different value.)

There's no point comparing SHA1 or SHA256 checksums of your
and my disc, because the MediaCreationTool ISO files are all different.
But at least the size should be the same, within a few bytes.
(The ISO should at least be rounded to a multiple of 2048 bytes.)

Paul
So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove
the main HD and install the spare HD and boot with
the DVD-R?

Then what happens after I boot?

After I'm finished do I format the HD or leave Win10
on it? Then put my main HD back in and remove the
blank(Win10) HD, correct?


Robert

You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

If you:

right-click Start Orb : Run : "control"

will start the Control Panels window in Windows 10, if the tutorial doesn't work.

When you install Windows 10, it should match the "SKU" of
the Windows 7 key on that machine. If the XPS 8500 is running
Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64, you install Windows 10 Pro
(32 bit or 64 bit, doesn't matter on a Clean Install).

I'm trying to keep this first one simple, by starting
with the empty Spare drive, and having you enter the
key off the COA sticker.

If the install does not work out, you clone over (or even
restore from backup), an image you normally use on Windows 7,
boot that Windows 7 image on the spare drive, and just
run Setup.exe off the DVD. That's a Win10-over-Win7
install which you would not be keeping, and you'd check
for Activation when finished.

Paul


I've installed the blank drive in the 8500
and started the DVD-R but took awhile before
it started and the computer recognized it.

It wouldn't let me upgrade so I am doing a
custom install. It says its getting the files
ready for installation but have not seen ant
Win 10 Pro selections as yet.

Also am unsure of your instructions to check
it works. When I right click the Start button
I get properties and open Windows Explorer.

It just restarted the 8500 and is just hanging
Now it says getting devices ready.

Robert

The install operation will reboot multiple times.
You don't need to interact with it.

It doesn't actually need the DVD after the first reboot.

Boot DVD and install --| Machine reboots | reboots again
| Don't press a key | etc. Eventually
Keep DVD in drive -----| Should see spinning balls | Win10 desktop
| display + percentage done | appears...
|
| --- can remove DVD anytime along here ---

HTH,
Paul

This is correct, it did reboot
and Win10 dektop did appear.

Robert

In message , Paul
writes:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:27:46 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:03:05 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
[BIG snip]
So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove the main HD and
install the spare HD and boot with the DVD-R?

That's what you did in the end. (You say it didn't offer you "upgrade" -
that's not surprising; with a blank HD, it had nothing to upgrade from.)
[]
You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.
[]
I'm sending this to you from the 8500 Win10 HD
Just so you know that it's operational but I have no idea how to
proceed so I will be shutting
it down and switching back to my Main HD.
I wish Tinypic or Post Image worked otherwise
I would take pictures to show you.

(You could always have taken them with a camera!)

Robert


I'm back on the 8500 with Win 7 now, in passing
during the Win10 setup it never gave me the option of Win 10 Pro.

When you had the W10 system running, did you follow Paul's instructions
to see if it was activated/registered/whatever? (I can never remember
what word is correct.)

I didn't like Win 10 also knowing that I would have to do massive

I don't like W10 either - at least, not all the things that seem to be
different just for the sake of being different. (And other things too,
such as the automatic "up"grades.)

downloads for A/V etc and have to find some way to transfer all my
bookmarks from Win 7 to Win 10 sys.
[]
You weren't supposed to apply for an MSA.

You were supposed to look in the lower left for
"Local Account".

The reason this would be important in a "real" or
"permanent" install, is getting the "correct" home
directory name.

Using a Local Account, if you're John Jones, then
the home directory is \home\users\John.

If instead, your email address is
the home directory becomes \home\users\horat
as the algorithm uses the first five letters of
the email address. And with random GMAIL accounts,
the string could be quite weird. Some people hate
having a weird home directory on their brand new OS.

*IF* he has managed to get a legal (or whatever word) W10 "ticket" onto
the Microsoft servers for his computer, does he have to worry about this
now, or can he leave it until he eventually goes for W10 (if he ever
does)? I suppose what I'm asking is, is the "ticket" on the
authorisation server tied in any way to whatever login he set up just
now, or is it only tied to the machine's hardware, so that if - much
later - he decides to set up W10 again, but doing the login "properly"
(a "local account"), it will still be valid?
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

There's only so much you can do... with gravel.
- Charlie Dimmock, RT 2016/7/9-15

On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 9:09:11 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:03:05 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 12:16:19 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:24:14 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 7:24:08 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:

Just re-reading some of your earlier posts,..
and there's allot to this,.we better start from
the beginning on this and take it step by step.

Robert
Go here and get the "MediaCreationTool1903.exe".

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

There's a download button, to get the stub downloader
that fetches the DVD for you.

https://i.postimg.cc/B62cj5Sp/Media-Creation-Tool.gif

It will likely want to run as Administrator.

Since you have two machines to do, it's better to
"create media for another computer" when asked.

It will create an ISO file (worth keeping).

It will also offer to burn the disc using
the Windows IMAPI2 interface.

It will offer that option only after the download is
complete. It isn't as up-front about that as it could be.

The burning would work if you have DVD+R or DVD-R
without a problem.

The Windows burner doesn't seem to know how to
format the rewriteable media types, which is
the only problem I've had with it.

Once you have the media, then you have materials
to work with.

It might take an hour or two for the download,
maybe 15 minutes for a burn and verify. Then
on the XPS 8500, you can try entering the key
when the installer prompts for it.

*******

Both of your machines are Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64 as
far as I know.

Control Panels : System can help verify that.

The download page will ask what you want, and you
want an x64 disc. I don't think any 32 bit OSes are
involved here. And when installing, if any selection
is offered, you match the Pro part, if you have
Pro or Professional.

Win7 Home Premium = Win10 Home
Win7 Professional = Win10 Pro
Win7 Ultimate = Win10 Pro

When running the DVD on the XPS 8500 with blank Spare
drive inside, the installer will take care of the
partitions. I usually use "Custom" when doing installs
and select whatever I had in mind, but the automation
in this case would be good enough. It should present
the only disk in the computer (the blank one) as a target.

It will summarize what it is about to do, before the
actual install starts. Early on, it may prompt for a
license key. That's your opportunity to enter one.

The copy-files stage of the install could take an hour,
while the multiple-reboots phase might take 15-20 minutes
or so. The version of Windows 10 now, puts more time into
the copy-files, and less time doing the install once all
the files are on the hard drive.

Note: You can prepare the DVD on either the 8500 or 780,
doesn't matter, because it doesn't know what your plan
is when "making media for another computer". As long
as the 780 and 8500 have a working DVD burner, either
machine would do for that step.

HTH,
Paul
I tried it on the 780:

http://i65.tinypic.com/29zttud.jpg "Create install media"

http://i67.tinypic.com/27yr2uo.jpg "Language"

http://i64.tinypic.com/2pqlx0i.jpg damaged

http://i66.tinypic.com/35jxc90.jpg damaged

http://i64.tinypic.com/2a8g46t.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9fqq3c.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/2d1wtj4.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9au1ih.jpg damaged

http://i68.tinypic.com/2prv1ab.jpg damaged


At the end the tray opened and gave
me the option to close or burn. So I
closed the application and removed the
DVD-R.

So am I good to go?

Robert
I can only see the first two of your links.

The other images claim the image has been removed ?

If you got an ISO file, please give an indication
of the file size in bytes. (Do "Properties" on the
file in File Explorer.) This size is only a rough
indicator, since the ISO file contains an install.esd,
and the contents vary from one person to the next.
I made up a filename for it, so the file name won't
match the filename you used. I name them so I
can keep track of them.

Win10-64bit-mediacreation-1903-7OSes.iso

3,967,483,904 bytes

You can use Imgburn, and the top left of the
six buttons ("Write Image File to Disc"),
to burn an ISO and make bootable media
using a DVD.

HTH,
Paul
Here you go:

http://i67.tinypic.com/hv6sdj.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/10h3yuv.jpg

I noticed that on the 780 Tinypics
didn't give me the allow pop-up it
normally does and several times when
I pressed upload nothing happened and
had to click the Tinypic link to restart
it. I wonder if I messed up the 780
by getting the latest version of FF?

Maybe we can look at the 780 after this
and is if its OK?

Robert
No, those didn't work either.

Just tell me the file size, so we know
roughly whether the 1903 x64 "windows.iso" file is OK.

Paul
I don't understand why Tinypic isn't working?
Here's from PostImage. They also had issues
and I had to re-try several times. Whats going
on ?

https://i.postimg.cc/rKbrqs3L/9-chec...ation-tool.jpg "Don't do that!"
You could stop it.
https://i.postimg.cc/CRz9fPcq/9a-che...ation-tool.jpg


Used space: 4,193,091,584 bytes 3.90GB
free space: 512,983,040 bytes 489MB

Robert
I can at least see the pictures.

If you run the Setup.exe like that, it will do Win10-over-Win7.

It's OK to do that, if you clone Win7 from the original hard
drive, to the Spare hard drive, then boot the Spare hard drive,
then run the Setup.exe from the DVD.

Otherwise, running that Setup.exe could upset a "Good" hard
drive in the computer you're testing that on.

For at least one of the install attempts, I wanted to try
a Clean Install, by booting the DVD while the empty Spare HDD
is in the computer receiving the OS.

*******

The size of the downloaded Windows.iso file (or similar name)
is what I was looking for.

When you do the size the way you did, it might take into account
the details of the overlay filesystem inside the DVD contents.
(A different value.)

There's no point comparing SHA1 or SHA256 checksums of your
and my disc, because the MediaCreationTool ISO files are all different.
But at least the size should be the same, within a few bytes.
(The ISO should at least be rounded to a multiple of 2048 bytes.)

Paul
So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove
the main HD and install the spare HD and boot with
the DVD-R?

Then what happens after I boot?

After I'm finished do I format the HD or leave Win10
on it? Then put my main HD back in and remove the
blank(Win10) HD, correct?


Robert

You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

If you:

right-click Start Orb : Run : "control"

will start the Control Panels window in Windows 10, if the tutorial doesn't work.

When you install Windows 10, it should match the "SKU" of
the Windows 7 key on that machine. If the XPS 8500 is running
Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64, you install Windows 10 Pro
(32 bit or 64 bit, doesn't matter on a Clean Install).

I'm trying to keep this first one simple, by starting
with the empty Spare drive, and having you enter the
key off the COA sticker.

If the install does not work out, you clone over (or even
restore from backup), an image you normally use on Windows 7,
boot that Windows 7 image on the spare drive, and just
run Setup.exe off the DVD. That's a Win10-over-Win7
install which you would not be keeping, and you'd check
for Activation when finished.

Paul


I'm sending this to you from the 8500 Win10 HD
Just so you know that it's operational but I
have no idea how to proceed so I will be shutting
it down and switching back to my Main HD.

I wish Tinypic or Post Image worked otherwise
I would take pictures to show you.

Robert



I'm back on the 8500 with Win 7 now, in passing
during the Win10 setup it never gave me the option
of Win 10 Pro.

I didn't like Win 10 also knowing that I would have
to do massive downloads for A/V etc and have to find
some way to transfer all my bookmarks from Win 7 to
Win 10 sys.

So what now?

Robert

This is why we were keeping "Win10-over-Win7" for later.

That allows you to keep your Programs and User Data.

You would probably uninstall Avast before running the
Setup.exe on the DVD while Windows 7 is booted. That
would kick off the upgrade over top of the running
OS. With Avast gone, it's likely easier to install
Windows 10 that way.

You would need to download Avast again, once Windows 10
is running. Other things, like Firefox, like the Firefox
bookmarks, would be preserved in a Win10-over-Win7 install.

*******

We could have done it that way. You can still do it now, if
you have the energy for this.

1) Clone (or even restore a recent backup) onto the Spare drive.
2) Boot the Spare drive into W7. (It should be activated, since only
the drive serial number is different.)
3) Uninstall Avast from Programs and Features on Windows 7 SP1 x64.
4) Run Setup.exe off the DVD, while DVD is in the optical drive.
5) This does Windows 10 over Windows 7.
This preserved Programs and User Data.

Part of this exercise is also to make you familiar with
what Windows 10 looks like.

You could also add ClassicShell, to change the appearance of the OS.
There should also be Start10, which is a commercial shell.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Shell

https://www.stardock.com/products/start10/
https://www.stardock.com/products/start10/download

*******

I included a Tutorial page before, for Activation checking.
Even the System control panel would do.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

Paul

Well we could do the Win10 over Win7
but I need to format the blank (Win10 HD)
or do I just clone Win7 over Win 10
then repeat the process for installing Win
10 over it but this time I should pick upgrade
vs Custom install correct?


Robert

I didnt see the bottom part of the link you
gave for verification but I can check it this
next time around.

MSA? Micro Signal architecture? I do not recall
seeing local account? I selected this for personal
computer.

I don't recall a local account/password for using
Windows 7?

That's why this is so confusing because during install
its asking me questions I don't understand or which
one to select.

Robert

On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 9:16:02 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:27:46 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:03:05 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 12:16:19 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:24:14 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 7:24:08 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:

Just re-reading some of your earlier posts,..
and there's allot to this,.we better start from
the beginning on this and take it step by step.

Robert
Go here and get the "MediaCreationTool1903.exe".

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

There's a download button, to get the stub downloader
that fetches the DVD for you.

https://i.postimg.cc/B62cj5Sp/Media-Creation-Tool.gif

It will likely want to run as Administrator.

Since you have two machines to do, it's better to
"create media for another computer" when asked.

It will create an ISO file (worth keeping).

It will also offer to burn the disc using
the Windows IMAPI2 interface.

It will offer that option only after the download is
complete. It isn't as up-front about that as it could be.

The burning would work if you have DVD+R or DVD-R
without a problem.

The Windows burner doesn't seem to know how to
format the rewriteable media types, which is
the only problem I've had with it.

Once you have the media, then you have materials
to work with.

It might take an hour or two for the download,
maybe 15 minutes for a burn and verify. Then
on the XPS 8500, you can try entering the key
when the installer prompts for it.

*******

Both of your machines are Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64 as
far as I know.

Control Panels : System can help verify that.

The download page will ask what you want, and you
want an x64 disc. I don't think any 32 bit OSes are
involved here. And when installing, if any selection
is offered, you match the Pro part, if you have
Pro or Professional.

Win7 Home Premium = Win10 Home
Win7 Professional = Win10 Pro
Win7 Ultimate = Win10 Pro

When running the DVD on the XPS 8500 with blank Spare
drive inside, the installer will take care of the
partitions. I usually use "Custom" when doing installs
and select whatever I had in mind, but the automation
in this case would be good enough. It should present
the only disk in the computer (the blank one) as a target.

It will summarize what it is about to do, before the
actual install starts. Early on, it may prompt for a
license key. That's your opportunity to enter one.

The copy-files stage of the install could take an hour,
while the multiple-reboots phase might take 15-20 minutes
or so. The version of Windows 10 now, puts more time into
the copy-files, and less time doing the install once all
the files are on the hard drive.

Note: You can prepare the DVD on either the 8500 or 780,
doesn't matter, because it doesn't know what your plan
is when "making media for another computer". As long
as the 780 and 8500 have a working DVD burner, either
machine would do for that step.

HTH,
Paul
I tried it on the 780:

http://i65.tinypic.com/29zttud.jpg "Create install media"

http://i67.tinypic.com/27yr2uo.jpg "Language"

http://i64.tinypic.com/2pqlx0i.jpg damaged

http://i66.tinypic.com/35jxc90.jpg damaged

http://i64.tinypic.com/2a8g46t.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9fqq3c.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/2d1wtj4.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9au1ih.jpg damaged

http://i68.tinypic.com/2prv1ab.jpg damaged


At the end the tray opened and gave
me the option to close or burn. So I
closed the application and removed the
DVD-R.

So am I good to go?

Robert
I can only see the first two of your links.

The other images claim the image has been removed ?

If you got an ISO file, please give an indication
of the file size in bytes. (Do "Properties" on the
file in File Explorer.) This size is only a rough
indicator, since the ISO file contains an install.esd,
and the contents vary from one person to the next.
I made up a filename for it, so the file name won't
match the filename you used. I name them so I
can keep track of them.

Win10-64bit-mediacreation-1903-7OSes.iso

3,967,483,904 bytes

You can use Imgburn, and the top left of the
six buttons ("Write Image File to Disc"),
to burn an ISO and make bootable media
using a DVD.

HTH,
Paul
Here you go:

http://i67.tinypic.com/hv6sdj.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/10h3yuv.jpg

I noticed that on the 780 Tinypics
didn't give me the allow pop-up it
normally does and several times when
I pressed upload nothing happened and
had to click the Tinypic link to restart
it. I wonder if I messed up the 780
by getting the latest version of FF?

Maybe we can look at the 780 after this
and is if its OK?

Robert
No, those didn't work either.

Just tell me the file size, so we know
roughly whether the 1903 x64 "windows.iso" file is OK.

Paul
I don't understand why Tinypic isn't working?
Here's from PostImage. They also had issues
and I had to re-try several times. Whats going
on ?

https://i.postimg.cc/rKbrqs3L/9-chec...ation-tool.jpg "Don't do that!"
You could stop it.
https://i.postimg.cc/CRz9fPcq/9a-che...ation-tool.jpg


Used space: 4,193,091,584 bytes 3.90GB
free space: 512,983,040 bytes 489MB

Robert
I can at least see the pictures.

If you run the Setup.exe like that, it will do Win10-over-Win7.

It's OK to do that, if you clone Win7 from the original hard
drive, to the Spare hard drive, then boot the Spare hard drive,
then run the Setup.exe from the DVD.

Otherwise, running that Setup.exe could upset a "Good" hard
drive in the computer you're testing that on.

For at least one of the install attempts, I wanted to try
a Clean Install, by booting the DVD while the empty Spare HDD
is in the computer receiving the OS.

*******

The size of the downloaded Windows.iso file (or similar name)
is what I was looking for.

When you do the size the way you did, it might take into account
the details of the overlay filesystem inside the DVD contents.
(A different value.)

There's no point comparing SHA1 or SHA256 checksums of your
and my disc, because the MediaCreationTool ISO files are all different.
But at least the size should be the same, within a few bytes.
(The ISO should at least be rounded to a multiple of 2048 bytes.)

Paul
So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove
the main HD and install the spare HD and boot with
the DVD-R?

Then what happens after I boot?

After I'm finished do I format the HD or leave Win10
on it? Then put my main HD back in and remove the
blank(Win10) HD, correct?


Robert

You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

If you:

right-click Start Orb : Run : "control"

will start the Control Panels window in Windows 10, if the tutorial doesn't work.

When you install Windows 10, it should match the "SKU" of
the Windows 7 key on that machine. If the XPS 8500 is running
Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64, you install Windows 10 Pro
(32 bit or 64 bit, doesn't matter on a Clean Install).

I'm trying to keep this first one simple, by starting
with the empty Spare drive, and having you enter the
key off the COA sticker.

If the install does not work out, you clone over (or even
restore from backup), an image you normally use on Windows 7,
boot that Windows 7 image on the spare drive, and just
run Setup.exe off the DVD. That's a Win10-over-Win7
install which you would not be keeping, and you'd check
for Activation when finished.

Paul


I'm sending this to you from the 8500 Win10 HD
Just so you know that it's operational but I
have no idea how to proceed so I will be shutting
it down and switching back to my Main HD.

I wish Tinypic or Post Image worked otherwise
I would take pictures to show you.

Robert


I'm back on the 8500 with Win 7 now, in passing
during the Win10 setup it never gave me the option
of Win 10 Pro.

I didn't like Win 10 also knowing that I would have
to do massive downloads for A/V etc and have to find
some way to transfer all my bookmarks from Win 7 to
Win 10 sys.

So what now?

Robert



P.s. I have an new email welcoming me to Win10
(It required me to give my email address when
installing).

Robert

You weren't supposed to apply for an MSA.

You were supposed to look in the lower left for
"Local Account".

The reason this would be important in a "real" or
"permanent" install, is getting the "correct" home
directory name.

Using a Local Account, if you're John Jones, then
the home directory is \home\users\John.

If instead, your email address is
the home directory becomes \home\users\horat
as the algorithm uses the first five letters of
the email address. And with random GMAIL accounts,
the string could be quite weird. Some people hate
having a weird home directory on their brand new OS.

Instead, when doing an install, you install and use
the "local account" first. If you want to apply an
MSA you happen to have, to the account, that would
be a later step after your home directory is properly
defined.

Write down the details of your MSA, on your password list.

And remember, that the password for the email account
should be *different* than the password associated with
the MSA. You have to be careful when typing passwords
later, to not enter the GMAIL password into the
OS password prompt. MSA is messy that way.

With a local account, you could use the same local account
and password you were using in Windows 7.

Paul

Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:27:46 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:03:05 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
[BIG snip]
So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove the main HD and
install the spare HD and boot with the DVD-R?

That's what you did in the end. (You say it didn't offer you "upgrade" -
that's not surprising; with a blank HD, it had nothing to upgrade from.)
[]
You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.
[]
I'm sending this to you from the 8500 Win10 HD
Just so you know that it's operational but I have no idea how to
proceed so I will be shutting
it down and switching back to my Main HD.
I wish Tinypic or Post Image worked otherwise
I would take pictures to show you.

(You could always have taken them with a camera!)

Robert


I'm back on the 8500 with Win 7 now, in passing
during the Win10 setup it never gave me the option of Win 10 Pro.

When you had the W10 system running, did you follow Paul's instructions
to see if it was activated/registered/whatever? (I can never remember
what word is correct.)

I didn't like Win 10 also knowing that I would have to do massive

I don't like W10 either - at least, not all the things that seem to be
different just for the sake of being different. (And other things too,
such as the automatic "up"grades.)

downloads for A/V etc and have to find some way to transfer all my
bookmarks from Win 7 to Win 10 sys.
[]
You weren't supposed to apply for an MSA.

You were supposed to look in the lower left for
"Local Account".

The reason this would be important in a "real" or
"permanent" install, is getting the "correct" home
directory name.

Using a Local Account, if you're John Jones, then
the home directory is \home\users\John.

If instead, your email address is
the home directory becomes \home\users\horat
as the algorithm uses the first five letters of
the email address. And with random GMAIL accounts,
the string could be quite weird. Some people hate
having a weird home directory on their brand new OS.

*IF* he has managed to get a legal (or whatever word) W10 "ticket" onto
the Microsoft servers for his computer, does he have to worry about this
now, or can he leave it until he eventually goes for W10 (if he ever
does)? I suppose what I'm asking is, is the "ticket" on the
authorisation server tied in any way to whatever login he set up just
now, or is it only tied to the machine's hardware, so that if - much
later - he decides to set up W10 again, but doing the login "properly"
(a "local account"), it will still be valid?
[]
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)Ar@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

There's only so much you can do... with gravel.
- Charlie Dimmock, RT 2016/7/9-15

I thought about taking pics with the camera but
Tinypic and PostImage are not working. I spent
allot of time posting Tinypics and none of them
came out.

I tried to follow Paul instructions but didn't
see the verification at the bottom of the page
he gave(my fault)In any case I think were going
to try again with Win10 over Win7.

I had no idea how to set this up e.g. local etc
so I don't know if I've messed things up. The
DVD-R did seem to take forever to start the process
and I was just trying to work my way through it as best
I could.

I didn't know about the local thing until Paul
and you mentioned it.

Robert

On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 9:09:11 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 8:03:05 PM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 6:26:08 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 12:16:19 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:24:14 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 10:46:29 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:
On Thursday, July 4, 2019 at 7:24:08 AM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:

Just re-reading some of your earlier posts,..
and there's allot to this,.we better start from
the beginning on this and take it step by step.

Robert
Go here and get the "MediaCreationTool1903.exe".

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/soft...load/windows10

There's a download button, to get the stub downloader
that fetches the DVD for you.

https://i.postimg.cc/B62cj5Sp/Media-Creation-Tool.gif

It will likely want to run as Administrator.

Since you have two machines to do, it's better to
"create media for another computer" when asked.

It will create an ISO file (worth keeping).

It will also offer to burn the disc using
the Windows IMAPI2 interface.

It will offer that option only after the download is
complete. It isn't as up-front about that as it could be.

The burning would work if you have DVD+R or DVD-R
without a problem.

The Windows burner doesn't seem to know how to
format the rewriteable media types, which is
the only problem I've had with it.

Once you have the media, then you have materials
to work with.

It might take an hour or two for the download,
maybe 15 minutes for a burn and verify. Then
on the XPS 8500, you can try entering the key
when the installer prompts for it.

*******

Both of your machines are Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64 as
far as I know.

Control Panels : System can help verify that.

The download page will ask what you want, and you
want an x64 disc. I don't think any 32 bit OSes are
involved here. And when installing, if any selection
is offered, you match the Pro part, if you have
Pro or Professional.

Win7 Home Premium = Win10 Home
Win7 Professional = Win10 Pro
Win7 Ultimate = Win10 Pro

When running the DVD on the XPS 8500 with blank Spare
drive inside, the installer will take care of the
partitions. I usually use "Custom" when doing installs
and select whatever I had in mind, but the automation
in this case would be good enough. It should present
the only disk in the computer (the blank one) as a target.

It will summarize what it is about to do, before the
actual install starts. Early on, it may prompt for a
license key. That's your opportunity to enter one.

The copy-files stage of the install could take an hour,
while the multiple-reboots phase might take 15-20 minutes
or so. The version of Windows 10 now, puts more time into
the copy-files, and less time doing the install once all
the files are on the hard drive.

Note: You can prepare the DVD on either the 8500 or 780,
doesn't matter, because it doesn't know what your plan
is when "making media for another computer". As long
as the 780 and 8500 have a working DVD burner, either
machine would do for that step.

HTH,
Paul
I tried it on the 780:

http://i65.tinypic.com/29zttud.jpg "Create install media"

http://i67.tinypic.com/27yr2uo.jpg "Language"

http://i64.tinypic.com/2pqlx0i.jpg damaged

http://i66.tinypic.com/35jxc90.jpg damaged

http://i64.tinypic.com/2a8g46t.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9fqq3c.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/2d1wtj4.jpg damaged

http://i65.tinypic.com/9au1ih.jpg damaged

http://i68.tinypic.com/2prv1ab.jpg damaged


At the end the tray opened and gave
me the option to close or burn. So I
closed the application and removed the
DVD-R.

So am I good to go?

Robert
I can only see the first two of your links.

The other images claim the image has been removed ?

If you got an ISO file, please give an indication
of the file size in bytes. (Do "Properties" on the
file in File Explorer.) This size is only a rough
indicator, since the ISO file contains an install.esd,
and the contents vary from one person to the next.
I made up a filename for it, so the file name won't
match the filename you used. I name them so I
can keep track of them.

Win10-64bit-mediacreation-1903-7OSes.iso

3,967,483,904 bytes

You can use Imgburn, and the top left of the
six buttons ("Write Image File to Disc"),
to burn an ISO and make bootable media
using a DVD.

HTH,
Paul
Here you go:

http://i67.tinypic.com/hv6sdj.jpg

http://i63.tinypic.com/10h3yuv.jpg

I noticed that on the 780 Tinypics
didn't give me the allow pop-up it
normally does and several times when
I pressed upload nothing happened and
had to click the Tinypic link to restart
it. I wonder if I messed up the 780
by getting the latest version of FF?

Maybe we can look at the 780 after this
and is if its OK?

Robert
No, those didn't work either.

Just tell me the file size, so we know
roughly whether the 1903 x64 "windows.iso" file is OK.

Paul
I don't understand why Tinypic isn't working?
Here's from PostImage. They also had issues
and I had to re-try several times. Whats going
on ?

https://i.postimg.cc/rKbrqs3L/9-chec...ation-tool.jpg "Don't do that!"
You could stop it.
https://i.postimg.cc/CRz9fPcq/9a-che...ation-tool.jpg


Used space: 4,193,091,584 bytes 3.90GB
free space: 512,983,040 bytes 489MB

Robert
I can at least see the pictures.

If you run the Setup.exe like that, it will do Win10-over-Win7.

It's OK to do that, if you clone Win7 from the original hard
drive, to the Spare hard drive, then boot the Spare hard drive,
then run the Setup.exe from the DVD.

Otherwise, running that Setup.exe could upset a "Good" hard
drive in the computer you're testing that on.

For at least one of the install attempts, I wanted to try
a Clean Install, by booting the DVD while the empty Spare HDD
is in the computer receiving the OS.

*******

The size of the downloaded Windows.iso file (or similar name)
is what I was looking for.

When you do the size the way you did, it might take into account
the details of the overlay filesystem inside the DVD contents.
(A different value.)

There's no point comparing SHA1 or SHA256 checksums of your
and my disc, because the MediaCreationTool ISO files are all different.
But at least the size should be the same, within a few bytes.
(The ISO should at least be rounded to a multiple of 2048 bytes.)

Paul
So should I proceed to disconnect and/or remove
the main HD and install the spare HD and boot with
the DVD-R?

Then what happens after I boot?

After I'm finished do I format the HD or leave Win10
on it? Then put my main HD back in and remove the
blank(Win10) HD, correct?


Robert

You're going to boot the DVD and install Windows 10
on the Spare drive. Then check to see that it is activated.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

If you:

right-click Start Orb : Run : "control"

will start the Control Panels window in Windows 10, if the tutorial doesn't work.

When you install Windows 10, it should match the "SKU" of
the Windows 7 key on that machine. If the XPS 8500 is running
Windows 7 SP1 Pro x64, you install Windows 10 Pro
(32 bit or 64 bit, doesn't matter on a Clean Install).

I'm trying to keep this first one simple, by starting
with the empty Spare drive, and having you enter the
key off the COA sticker.

If the install does not work out, you clone over (or even
restore from backup), an image you normally use on Windows 7,
boot that Windows 7 image on the spare drive, and just
run Setup.exe off the DVD. That's a Win10-over-Win7
install which you would not be keeping, and you'd check
for Activation when finished.

Paul


I'm sending this to you from the 8500 Win10 HD
Just so you know that it's operational but I
have no idea how to proceed so I will be shutting
it down and switching back to my Main HD.

I wish Tinypic or Post Image worked otherwise
I would take pictures to show you.

Robert



I'm back on the 8500 with Win 7 now, in passing
during the Win10 setup it never gave me the option
of Win 10 Pro.

I didn't like Win 10 also knowing that I would have
to do massive downloads for A/V etc and have to find
some way to transfer all my bookmarks from Win 7 to
Win 10 sys.

So what now?

Robert

This is why we were keeping "Win10-over-Win7" for later.

That allows you to keep your Programs and User Data.

You would probably uninstall Avast before running the
Setup.exe on the DVD while Windows 7 is booted. That
would kick off the upgrade over top of the running
OS. With Avast gone, it's likely easier to install
Windows 10 that way.

You would need to download Avast again, once Windows 10
is running. Other things, like Firefox, like the Firefox
bookmarks, would be preserved in a Win10-over-Win7 install.

*******

We could have done it that way. You can still do it now, if
you have the energy for this.

1) Clone (or even restore a recent backup) onto the Spare drive.
2) Boot the Spare drive into W7. (It should be activated, since only
the drive serial number is different.)
3) Uninstall Avast from Programs and Features on Windows 7 SP1 x64.
4) Run Setup.exe off the DVD, while DVD is in the optical drive.
5) This does Windows 10 over Windows 7.
This preserved Programs and User Data.

Part of this exercise is also to make you familiar with
what Windows 10 looks like.

You could also add ClassicShell, to change the appearance of the OS.
There should also be Start10, which is a commercial shell.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Classic_Shell

https://www.stardock.com/products/start10/
https://www.stardock.com/products/start10/download

*******

I included a Tutorial page before, for Activation checking.
Even the System control panel would do.

https://www.tenforums.com/tutorials/...dows-10-a.html

Paul

I think we can try the Win 10 over Win 7 tomorrow
but first I need to either format the Win10 drive
or can I download Win 7 over it? I can either Clone
it or do a Mrimg Restore. I guess the restore would
be best and up to date although it doesn't really
matter since this is a throwaway or I could just save
this formatted HD with Win10 on it and be ready to go?

Which of the start 10 downloads do I use? It should free
and two paid versions? I would like the free version
but if I pay I get the start 10 and the other link just
says Start 10 with a download button on top.

I will take pictures this time and hopefully Tinypic will
work.

Robert

Robert in CA wrote:


I think we can try the Win 10 over Win 7 tomorrow
but first I need to either format the Win10 drive
or can I download Win 7 over it? I can either Clone
it or do a Mrimg Restore. I guess the restore would
be best and up to date although it doesn't really
matter since this is a throwaway or I could just save
this formatted HD with Win10 on it and be ready to go?

Which of the start 10 downloads do I use? It should free
and two paid versions? I would like the free version
but if I pay I get the start 10 and the other link just
says Start 10 with a download button on top.

I will take pictures this time and hopefully Tinypic will
work.

Robert

Using your external backup drive and your Macrium CD,
you can boot Macrium, do a restore, and restore Windows 7
over the Spare drive. You could pick a recent backup
you stored on the External drive, as the MRIMG for it.

That will prepare you for a Win10-over-Win7, if you
want to try that out.

When you restore a backup, it will inform you that it will
be removing the content already on the destination hard drive.
There might be a size difference between the MRIMG source of the
Win7 image, and the spare drive during restore. This might
require resizing or something, to make it fit.

Paul

On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:02:28 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:


I think we can try the Win 10 over Win 7 tomorrow
but first I need to either format the Win10 drive
or can I download Win 7 over it? I can either Clone
it or do a Mrimg Restore. I guess the restore would
be best and up to date although it doesn't really
matter since this is a throwaway or I could just save
this formatted HD with Win10 on it and be ready to go?

Which of the start 10 downloads do I use? It should free
and two paid versions? I would like the free version
but if I pay I get the start 10 and the other link just
says Start 10 with a download button on top.

I will take pictures this time and hopefully Tinypic will
work.

Robert

Using your external backup drive and your Macrium CD,
you can boot Macrium, do a restore, and restore Windows 7
over the Spare drive. You could pick a recent backup
you stored on the External drive, as the MRIMG for it.

That will prepare you for a Win10-over-Win7, if you
want to try that out.

When you restore a backup, it will inform you that it will
be removing the content already on the destination hard drive.
There might be a size difference between the MRIMG source of the
Win7 image, and the spare drive during restore. This might
require resizing or something, to make it fit.

Paul

I completed the resto

http://i68.tinypic.com/1euade.jpg

For some reason my bookmarks didn't
show up and when I tried to click view
bookmarks the only option was to hide
bookmarks and I received a message that
some other program was using bookmarks
and I couldn't view them. So I closed
all programs (Word, Dell Imaging, Paint
and then the bookmarks appeared, very
strange. I've never had this happen
before.


Am now going to switch back to the Main HD
and btw I couldn't connect to the Internet
this morning and had to unplug the modem again
and also I had the same problem on the main HD
with the bookmarks.

Robert

On Sunday, July 7, 2019 at 9:58:38 AM UTC-7, Robert in CA wrote:
On Saturday, July 6, 2019 at 11:02:28 PM UTC-7, Paul wrote:
Robert in CA wrote:


I think we can try the Win 10 over Win 7 tomorrow
but first I need to either format the Win10 drive
or can I download Win 7 over it? I can either Clone
it or do a Mrimg Restore. I guess the restore would
be best and up to date although it doesn't really
matter since this is a throwaway or I could just save
this formatted HD with Win10 on it and be ready to go?

Which of the start 10 downloads do I use? It should free
and two paid versions? I would like the free version
but if I pay I get the start 10 and the other link just
says Start 10 with a download button on top.

I will take pictures this time and hopefully Tinypic will
work.

Robert

Using your external backup drive and your Macrium CD,
you can boot Macrium, do a restore, and restore Windows 7
over the Spare drive. You could pick a recent backup
you stored on the External drive, as the MRIMG for it.

That will prepare you for a Win10-over-Win7, if you
want to try that out.

When you restore a backup, it will inform you that it will
be removing the content already on the destination hard drive.
There might be a size difference between the MRIMG source of the
Win7 image, and the spare drive during restore. This might
require resizing or something, to make it fit.

Paul

I completed the resto

http://i68.tinypic.com/1euade.jpg

For some reason my bookmarks didn't
show up and when I tried to click view
bookmarks the only option was to hide
bookmarks and I received a message that
some other program was using bookmarks
and I couldn't view them. So I closed
all programs (Word, Dell Imaging, Paint
and then the bookmarks appeared, very
strange. I've never had this happen
before.


Am now going to switch back to the Main HD
and btw I couldn't connect to the Internet
this morning and had to unplug the modem again
and also I had the same problem on the main HD
with the bookmarks.

Robert

I'm now back with the main HD and there isn't a
problem with the bookmarks not showing. That was
very strange.

Anyway,.. what are my steps now? and can I fix the
local this time around or am I stuck with the
parameters I already gave?

Thanks,
Robert

Robert in CA wrote:


I'm now back with the main HD and there isn't a
problem with the bookmarks not showing. That was
very strange.

Anyway,.. what are my steps now? and can I fix the
local this time around or am I stuck with the
parameters I already gave?

Thanks,
Robert

Defining an account, is on a per-install basis.

If you don't use the contents of the Spare drive
for anything, just removing the OS partition on it
is enough to not have an issue with how the
home directory was named.

The Microsoft Server doesn't pass this information
along with every install. The user gets to decide
whether the setup uses a local account during
the install (during the Out-Of-The-Box stage).

Keep the details of your MSA though, as there
might be a usage for it eventually.

Paul