I'm thinking about installing Windows 7 on my Dell E510. I'm not unhappy with XP, and I skipped Vista completely. But I would like to remain current and I need to do a few minor upgrades before the E510 is ready for Windows 7. It's been a while since I've done any upgrades other than the laptop memory over the summer.

First, the DVD-RW hasn't worked for a while and needs replaced. Some DVD-RW drives are SATA and some are IDE (or PATA). Dell replacement specs show the E510 has IDE.

Second, the E-510 currently has only 1 gig of memory which is supposedly adequate, but probably not enough. Matched pairs are required, so that means it has 2 x 512 megs. It can handle up to 4 gigs. I could get a 2 gig kit (2 x 1 gig) and leave the 512s in, or get a 4 gig kit (2 x 2 gig) and remove the 512s. The specs for the replacement memory in DDR2-800, but I'm not sure of the speed of the 512s currently installed. The manual does not mention 2 gig DIMMS at all (though they are recommended on the Dell replacement specs page), and described 4 x 1 gig DIMMS as the maximum memory configuration. If the 2 x 512s are in slots 1 & 2 - if they are less than 800, will that lower the speed of the DIMMS in SLOT 3 & 4 (which will be DDR2-800)?

Third, as usual, I have not backed up anything. I will need to get some USB drives or DVD-ROMs for music, pictures, documents, etc.

Fourth, my version of Office is old (Office XP) and I was considering upgrading that as well, or switching to Open Office but would need to keep a minimal version of Office XP for a few macro functions.

I could order from Dell, but they are expensive and they messed up my order when I upgraded the laptop memory and never told me about matched pairs. (though they did make it right and when I eventually got the lost package, I returned it). I've checked Pricewatch, and can get both the DVD-RW drive and the memory for about half of what Dell was charging.

I'm supposed to be eligible for a student discount with Dell, but it wasn't reflected anywhere in the checkout process, so I did not place the order. I can get the student price for Windows 7 (and Office 2007 if I decide to get it). Do I correctly understand that I need a full (clean install) version since I don't have Vista?

I also have a Dell E-510. It's a good machine, but a little out-dated.

Let's go in order before I shock you with my bottom-line recommendation.

1)Yes, it has an IDE port that's usually used for the CD/DVD drive. But it also has two SATA ports. If you have only one SATA hard drive installed, you could put in a SATA CD/DVD drive and use the second SATA port for it.

2) Check to make sure you really have 2x512s installed. I've seen these machines shipped with all four slots filled with 256s. You're right about Dell memory prices being exorbitant. Get the best price for your model through a price comparison site--my favorite one is dealram.com. The page for your model is here:
http://dealnews.com/memory/pri...-E510/41336/1GB.html
for the 1GB sticks--they'll cost you $25-$30 each approximately. 32-bit systems (including Windows7 32-bit) can't use more than 3 GBs of RAM, so your best bet is probably to add two of the 1 GB sticks and leave your current two 512s in place.

3)I won't berate you again. But since you don't back up despite knowing you should--and you've followed this bad behavior for years while knowing you should--stop kidding yourself about backing up on your own. You won't do it. You may do it as part of this project, but then you'll stop. So take the right step: sign up for an online backup system that does the work for you automatically each day. My favorite is crashplan right now, but I like backblaze, elephantdrive, carbonite, myotherdrive. (I don't like Mozy.) They all run about $50 per year. Crashplan is free if you back up to another of your computers or to a friend's computer--there's only a charge if you back up to its own online backup servers. Crashplan is unlimited in space allowed and unlimited in numbers of computers you can back up. ElephantDrive lets you back up 4 computers in its family plan.

4) There are specials now for the student version of Office 2007 at around $79 delivered. Probably worth buying at that price. Open Office works fine and is free.

And now for my advice. Don't upgrade your Dell E-510. Keep it, enjoy it. But get a different computer--a new one.

Look, you're talking about upgrading your DVD drive, upgrading your memory, buying a new operating system and installing it. How much is that going to cost you? Say $30 for the DVD drive, $50 for the memory, $110-$200 for Win7 depending on the version you get. You'll spend hours doing it. And what will you wind up with? An older machine with an older processor, out of warranty, whose DVD drive has already failed and whose other parts may be going too.

Instead. why not just get a new machine with everything installed for you and working, with more memory and a faster processor and a larger hard drive, with everything under warranty? There are some great deals below $400 available now, even below $200. Think about it. I recently bought an HP dx2450 from TigerDirect for $399.99 (less 12.8% Bing cashback, less 6% rewards card cashback) with free shipping and no California sales tax (important for me, since it's 8.75% in my area of CA). There are other machines available for under $200, and there will be even better sales after Jan 1.

Jeff/CompGuy

Thanks Jeff. Your advice & expertise has never failed me. I looked at the HP for $399 at Tiger Direct. I used to buy from them a long time ago. I will add up everything and it just might be the best way to go. I checked the current DIMMS and they are DDR2-533 (2 x 512 meg). Student price for Windows 7 Upgrade is $27.99, for Windows 7 Ultimate is $92.60. Newegg price for DVD-RW is $29.99 + S&H, and $45.99 + S&H for DDR2-533(2 x 1 gig)kit.

One of the reasons I want to do the upgrade is because I am very rusty with my skills. I plan to portfolio myself a 3-credit introductory computer course this summer and I want some recent experience to document.

I will look into the online back-up system. I've never really learned how to do it properly. When I have tried, I muddled through and it was a time consuming and cumbersome process that I avoided until it became necessary. So if you can direct me to a "back-ups 101" site, I will do the learning required or subscribe to a service. I can use this for my portfolio as well.

Diane, I wasn't recommending that particular machine (the $399 HP dx2450) for your needs. I like it because it's a business model which can join a domain--the one I got came with XP Pro, Vista Business, and a free upgrade to Windows 7 Ultimate ("free" turning out to mean a $12.99 shipping charge I think). I don't think you need a business model...

The reason I recommend an online backup method is that quite literally you simply install the software and forget about it. There's nothing for you to do except pay the $50 or so each year and check it now and then. The standard software that you install backs up your entire user folder, so it gets all your music and documents and pictures backed up. If you stash stuff in different places, all you have to do is add those locations to what you want backed up. I usually just check the entire hard drive to be backed up so I don't risk missing anything.

These backups aren't image backups--they just backup data. An image backup is also a good idea--I recommend Acronis True Image Home 2010 for that (again, around $50). External hard drives are useful too--a 250 GB USB external drive is, you guessed it, around $50. The directions are easy to follow--basically, decide where you want the image stored and click a button.

Why is everything around $50?

Jeff/CompGuy

The student price of Windows 7 Professional Upgrade has doubled.

I've had some issues with the Windows 7 upgrade. After getting a handle on the back-up thing (using the XP back-up utility and Macrium Reflect), I installed the (now double priced) student copy of Windows 7 on my laptop (because it had the least to restore if my back-ups failed). The laptop is a Dell Inspiron 9100. The windows 7 upgrade advisor indicated that the system required a custom install but was compatible. 3 yellow flags and one red flag came up as know issues for programs, none of which appeared to be important. After the install, everything appeared to be OK, except for sound, which was NOT one of the yellow flags. I went to the Dell website for a driver, and Dell indicated that the Inspiron 9100 was NOT compatible with Windows 7 and no updated sound driver was available. At this point, I chose to restore XP using the Macrium Reflect restore (which was flawless - great little program). I spoke top my son (the MCSE) and he indicated that I could use the XP driver for sound, that his wife has the exact same laptop and Windows 7 is compatible. So I attempt the installation again. This time, my CD product key is invalid, so I can't complete the installation. I'm re-installing on the same computer, so I have no idea why my product key is now invalid. The support website that came with the CD says to call Microsoft. I call Microsoft, and a very nice tech informs me that since it is a student copy, I have to contact the place of purchase for a new CD key. Of course, this is a holiday weekend, so I will not be able to get any live help until Tuesday.

What? The CD-key was valid and now is not valid for the same installation? That can't be.

Did you do the first installation by starting up the computer with the CD? Are you doing the second installation exactly the same way?

Jeff/CompGuy

quote:

Originally posted by CompGuy:
What? The CD-key was valid and now is not valid for the same installation? That can't be.

Did you do the first installation by starting up the computer with the CD? Are you doing the second installation exactly the same way?

Jeff/CompGuy

Yes. I am doing it exactly the same way. Since I restored to XP, it is like another "first" installation, though. Apparently, the "student" CD keys are one time use. I should be able to call the educational distributor and get another code. If not, I will dispute the charge on my credit card.

quote:

Apparently, the "student" CD keys are one time use

Impossible. A CD is a fixed image that doesn't change. It doesn't know how many times it's been used to install before.

Activating an installation with Microsoft AFTER installation is a separate question, of course.

Let's go over this again. The student version is only for upgrades. You go from XP to Windows7 ONLY by inserting the CD/DVD and starting up from it. You can't run it from inside Windows XP. You must use it as a boot disk. Are you doing that? When you reach the point that the installation asks for the CD Key and you fill it in, what exactly is the message you receive?

Jeff/CompGuy

quote:

Originally posted by CompGuy:

quote:

Apparently, the "student" CD keys are one time use

Impossible. A CD is a fixed image that doesn't change. It doesn't know how many times it's been used to install before.

Activating an installation with Microsoft AFTER installation is a separate question, of course.

Let's go over this again. The student version is only for upgrades. You go from XP to Windows7 ONLY by inserting the CD/DVD and starting up from it. You can't run it from inside Windows XP. You must use it as a boot disk. Are you doing that? When you reach the point that the installation asks for the CD Key and you fill it in, what exactly is the message you receive?

Jeff/CompGuy

I can't explain it. The key worked the first time and the installation was complete and I believe it was activated. I booted from the CD both times. The second time, I could not get past the screen to enter the key code. Message was that the key was invalid.

Is there a difference between using restart and shut down to re-boot? (I remember back in the day it was called a "cold boot" to use shut down) Because I think I did use re-start the 2nd time, but it booted from the CD both ways. Someone from another forum suggested I try the XP key from the bottom of my computer.

Look, there has to be a difference in how you installed each time. Did you wipe the hard drive completely before running the disk each time? As an upgrade version, the student DVD needs to see a previous installation of Windows to verify that you're eligible for the upgrade. If it doesn't see one (which it won't on a blank hard drive) it's supposed to ask you to insert a valid Windows disk. But it doesn't do that sometimes--a known Microsoft bug. Is that the problem?

Try these simple instructions to resolve your problem:

1. Install Windows 7. When it asks for your product key, UNCHECK the box that says "Activate When Online", and LEAVE THE KEY BLANK. Click "Next".

2. Allow it to boot. Then, click the start "Orb" and in the search box, type REGEDIT. (Do NOT hit enter). At the top of the search box, a program link called REGEDIT will appear. Click on it once.

3. You will enter the registry editor. Click "Edit" at the top, then "Find". Search for the term "mediaboot". It will search for 15 seconds, and it will highlight an entry called "MediaBootInstall". (Alternately, you can manually find this entry by looking in this path: HKEY-LocalMachine->Software->Microsoft->Windows->CurrentVersion->Setup->OOBE.)

4. Double-click on "MediaBootInstall". Change the value of "Value Data" from a "1" to a Zero. Click "OK".

5. Exit the Registry Editor.

6. Click the start "Orb", then type CMD in the search box WITHOUT hitting "Enter". At the top, a program link called "CMD" will pop up.

7. RIGHT CLICK the CMD link and select "Run Program As Administrator". If you just left clicked on it before, close it out and re-start it as an administrator.

8. A DOS window will open. Type the following: CSCRIPT.EXE SLMGR.VBS -REARM Don't miss the spaces. Hit Enter when done.

9. It will do its thing, and then ask for a reboot. Reboot the system.

10. Upon restarting, you will have a working copy of Win 7 that will require activation with your valid key within 30 days.

11. To activate: Click the Start "Orb" and type "Activate" in the search box without hitting the Enter key.

12. At the top of the search box listings, you will see a line that says "Activate Windows". Click the link and follow the instructions using your valid key.... your key will now work!

Or just get a Mac.

Jeff/CompGuy

I formatted the partition - both times. That's why it didn't make sense. for the key to work once and than not work again.

Thank you Jeff. That worked. Now I just have to get the sound driver

Windows 7 up and running, with sound. Another issue wass the modem. An updated driver was found, device manager indicated it was working, but when I queried it, the message was: the port that the modem is attached could not be opened. This may be the result of a hardware conflict. Check device manager to verify all devices are functional. Device manager shows no conflict. SM56 Help Error message: Incompatible modem codec detected. Please check your modem card. Problem solved. Windows detected it as a MOtorola modem and it is Broadcom. got the XP driver from Dell and modem works.

I rarely use a modem, but like to have one for those times when wireless is not available.

I upgraded the Dell E510 to W7 64 bit Ultimate last weekend. Due to heavy workload with my classes, I waited until the semester was over just in case I had problems. I used XP back-up tool & made updated disk image with Macrium Reflect. No problems at all.