Windows 10 On X58 Motherboard - Experiences?

Contemplating an upgrade from W7 to W10. What are your experiences from running/trying to run W10 on X58 systems? I have read a lot about driver issues as well as seemingly smooth upgrades.

Gigabyte GA-X58A-UD3R
Intel i7 930
NVIDIA Geforce GT240
12 GB RAM
Win 7 Pro 64 bit

 

I have no recent experience with that motherboard but I note according to the Gigabyte website, there are no W10 (or even W8) drivers. That is not a good sign for you.

It seems some have tried installing W10 and were successful while others failed. Should you try, make sure you have backed up any data you don't want to lose first - just in case.

Due to the age of that motherboard (Revision 1 came out 10 years ago), I'd say it is time to start looking to upgrade your hardware. In the meantime, you might want to consider installing Linux.

More information:
https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...58a-ud3r/9f451cad-99eb-4985-9bee-189aafaa8345

https://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php?topic=18050.0

 

Thank you. Yes, would have to image my current system disk first.
Yes, the system has served me well for 10 years, my mobo is revision 2, still the same situation regarding drivers as you mention.

Anyone having installed Win 10 on X58 based system?

 

Google "windows 10 x58"; you'll get lots of hits. Here are a couple message threads for you to read:

But... but... I *love* my old x58! Too bad Windows 10 doesn't.

Windows 10 Upgrade -- Unique X58 Motherboard​

From what I've read, some people have had no issues with running Windows 10 on their X58 boards, and other people have had nothing but issues. If you really want to try it, here is my recommendation:

1. Get your Windows 7 license key (can be extracted from your current installation)
2. Create a system image of your setup
3. Wipe the drive clean
4. Install Windows 10 from scratch

If it doesn't work, then you can restore your Windows 7 setup using the system image. If it does work, play with it for a few days to make sure that it's stable, then use your Windows 7 key to activate Windows 10 (this option was supposed to expire years ago, but it still works). Let us know how it goes.

 

Thank you. Yes, I have also come across those threads researching this topic for some days now. Your conclusion "no issues or nothing but issues" seems to be quite on point. In the end fact of the matter is there are no win 10 drivers for the motherboard. I am not sure what limitations letting win 10 install generic drivers could bring, would be nice to know.

Thanks for your recommendations going forward. My planned approach would involve migrating os to larger ssd followed by an upgrade to 10.

 

I would make the clone- as is-keep the old hard drive as is-and put it in storage, for now.
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/license_crawler.html
If you have the Windows 7 coa , handy...ok, if not as Mr Kringle suggests in post 4,
Then I would use wsus to download all the updates for Windows 7, and tick the box to make an iso of them (I have, to dvd).
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/get_wsus_content_net.html
Windows 7 support is nearly ended, so if you want to try Windows 10.........
Download iobit driver booster, Check that present drivers are the latest for Windows 7
https://www.majorgeeks.com/files/details/driver_booster_beta.html
Then , use the Microsoft tool to download Windows 10 media creator-This link will explain all.
https://www.partitionwizard.com/clone-disk/windows-10-media-creation-tool.html
I offered this , because , although there can be problems, the download and update tool will help , sometimes more than your own W10 usb/dvd instalation, when you download through the Microsoft media creator.
If all goes well, then use driver booster to check and install any missing drivers.
What seems to escape many people is that Microsofts Windows 10 can, and will have drivers in the basic install to get you started. Just don't use Windows update for drivers as fist call-I find driver booster(free version) does well.
Doing things this way, if it does prove too much trouble, you can just re-do the clone from the original, and keep Windows 7.
Just keep that old drive as is for some time, and COA in case W10 is a real problem.
Good luck
You might find it helpful to backup your present registry, too
https://www.majorgeeks.com/content/page/how_to_back_up_or_restore_the_windows_registry.html

 

If you want to try Windows 10.....
Your main driver problem will be Chipset and Graphics
INTEL DRIVER
https://www.intel.co.uk/content/www/uk/en/support/articles/000006105/processors.html
https://downloadcenter.intel.com/pr...cessor-8M-Cache-2-80-GHz-4-80-GT-s-Intel-QPI-
Use the site tool to check and advise-
If that one does not work, others have tried this one ---
GeForce 353.51 driver download · Intel Chipset Software Installation 10.1.2.8 WHQL Download · GeForce 353.62 WHQL driver download »

https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us...ndows-10/1c426bdf-79b1-4d42-be93-17378d93e587
NVIDIA DRIVER FOR GT 240- W10
https://www.geforce.com/drivers/results/87988

 

Thank you. First: I am going to be meticulous about this process for a couple of reasons. I have maintaned this system for 10 years, keeping it in shape and as clean as possible. Also, this PC is used for work as well as personal purposes and I cannot really afford prolonged system downtime. Doing thorough research will be my approach before going forward.

Would going the upgrade route: saving a system disk image then migrating the system to a new ssd affect the content of the present (too small) ssd? My approach would be connecting the new ssd to an external esata, migrating it from there. Followed by replacing the old ssd system disk by the new (I am short of internal sata connectors). If that means leaving the old ssd data untouched, it follows your advice. I have since earlier extracted the Win 7 key.

What would be the reason for doing this?

Yes, this I assume is the big one. I am currently manually listing my current driver versions, comparing installed drivers using Device manager with driver versions from Gigabyte's site as well as listings from Driverscape for my motherboard GA-X58A-UD3R. It would be interesting to compare the results from Iobit. I will have to make a separate post about drivers and how to handle this.

This I have been thinking about. Most of my installed drivers are certainly not the latest versions. Would I update them before upgrading from W7 to W10 or first upgrade to W10 and afterwards updating drivers? I also don't know if when choosing to upgrade W10 this upgrade will overwrite existing drivers, installing drivers available through MS.

 

Yes. But what exactly, driver-wise, does represent the chipset? Gigabyte says regarding chipset "Intel INF installation".
https://www.gigabyte.com/se/Motherboard/GA-X58A-UD3R-rev-20/support#support-dl-driver-chipset
I know I need w10 compatible Intel ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller as well as Gigabyte GBB36X Controller (plus Marvell SATA controller, should I choose to use those connectors).

I have compared the Gigabyte site to Driverscape, the latter listing what seems to be a set of drivers under "System and Drivers". How does this compare with the drivers being listed by Gigabyte?
https://www.driverscape.com/manufacturers/gigabyte/laptops-desktops/x58a-ud3r/4585

Thanks a bunch for the links to latest Graphics drivers. I did not find that site myself.

 

Edit to above: I guess "chipset" means Northbridge X58 and Southbridge Intel ICH10R.

 

But what does this INF-file actually do in terms of chipset drivers? (I have read the info.) Does it mean I won't have to install the actual chipset drivers?

 

Hi
By all means be meticulous, before upgrading.
As there have been problems upgrading versions of the x58, and Windows 7 is losing support, it would be prudent to have restore discs, and keep the old hard drive, coa etc:
Usually when an operating system reaches unsupported stage, the hackers seem to get worse, and having means of re-installing can be a great help. If you have the updates on dvd, then this helps save time, and these updates will otherwise prove difficult to get.
Of course, if you can get it working nicely...........
Drivers...... Graphics (NVIDIA), and Chipset (INTEL), are the big worry, but wifi, and others should be looked up,as you said,and if possible downloaded and saved- possibly on a usb stick/dvd.
My suggestion to use driver booster, before upgrading, will get any out of date drivers updated, and Windows 7 necessary updates to the point where upgrading will give the least problems.
If you have these ready before upgrade,it will save time, and other problems.The Wsus tool would help in the base copy of your hard drive,as it can update it with any Windows, Net Framework, C+, etc: before updating to Windows 10.
Once you have the system upgraded to W10, then the driver booster will help you find, and install any missing drivers.
Inf driver is the main one.
If you use driverscape, then I have not used that , so good luck, no doubt it will do a similar job.
To be sure to get the partitions right, you can just copy the present size to the new disc, then, extend the C: partition to whatever size you wish.
I have never had a problem cloning ssd ,or,normal hard drives with Partition Wizard

 

I have, by help given here and by own research been saving links to some options regarding chipset drivers. My understanding is "chipset drivers" being drivers for 1. North bridge = X58 Express and 2. South bridge = Intel ICHR10.

This one, referenced by you above, I interpret as a driver for the X58 chip. It seems it will install an inf-file. I'm having a hard time distinguishing the inf-file from a "driver".
Is it crucial to not just install the latest available Chipset INF Utility from Intel?
https://www.guru3d.com/files-details/intel-chipset-software-installation-10-1-2-8-whql-download.html

This one I interpret as a driver for the Intel ICHR10 South Bridge, said to support Win 10.
https://www.driverscape.com/download/intel(r)-ich10r-sata-ahci-controller

Then there are also the controllers for the Gigabyte driven two SATA-ports, as well as the two Marvell 9128 controlled ones.

Are SATA controller drivers an additional driver in relation to chipset drivers?
Among drivers listed by the Gigabyte site, headline SATA RAID:

Intel SATA Preinstall driver (For AHCI / RAID Mode)
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology
GIGABYTE SATA2 Driver
GIGABYTE SATA2 Preinstall driver
(For AHCI / RAID Mode)
Marvell RAID Preinstall Driver (SATA3) for AHCI Mode
Marvell RAID Utility (SATA3)
(Please install Marvell Console Driver before install Marvell RAID Utility)
Marvell RAID Driver (SATA3) for AHCI Mode
Marvell Console Driver (SATA3)

(I do not use RAID configurations)

Thanks for the other recommendations. I am now thinking I'll do a system image even before updating all existing drivers running Win 7. There were a lot of updates running Driver Booster.
Would you say Driver Booster can pick up also relevant chipset drivers or is it better trying to find sources as above for chipset?

Intel RST - do I need it?

 

I would save as many of the drivers that you have looked for, and only because the x58 seemed to have some problems, my suggestion is to do it as
1. Clone existing.
2.On the cloned hard drive- Update all W7 drivers and updates
Use driver booster, or your own choice of driver finder (driver booster will download and install)
Then
3. Have you saved W10 drivers handy, on usb/dvd (don't add until W10 is upgraded.
4. Don't go on-line, yet
Go to device manager, and look at the uninstalled drivers(yellow marks by them)
Click Nvidia, and direct it to your usb/dvd drivers, and let it choose to update from it.
Ditto Intel
Then I find it best to restart after these drivers.
Make a system restore point at this stage.
Next follow suit with any other items that show as not working/needing drivers, one at a time, and direct them to your usb/dvd pack of drivers
Make a system restore point at this stage.
When you find no more will install from your dvd- then use driver booster (or, your own preferred) and let it go-on-line for it to find them.
If W10 upgrade did not install drivers for something, when first upgrading, I would not rely on it (W10) to update my drivers.....Your decision.
Make a system restore point this stage
The Chipset driver will often update the others- if not, then I would go to Intel site to run their tool to check Intel stuff (again it saves you the problem) If your wifi is Intel based, it will help with that, too.
https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/intel-driver-support-assistant.html
For Nvidia, I would do the same
https://www.nvidia.com/Download/Scan.aspx?lang=en-us
Again, if all is well, Make a system restore point at this stage.
If you wish to be certain of all your drivers, sat /usb etc:
Then update from device manager, and you should be o.k.
If you have saved the Marvel, and sata drivers on that usb/dvd, then , if they have not been installed during the other updated drivers, then by all means install them.
This is my mode of operation- others may offer different, or, better advice.

 

Thank you for continuous support. I realize that at some point soon I have to either move forward or ro postpone the migration
I keep adding advices given to form a "migration roadmap" of sorts.

At what step would the actual upgrade to w10 be initiated? I don't follow.
I also don't follow when drivers got uninstalled? Maybe you mean uninstalled as in "missing"?

Still not clear on whether chipset drivers is made up of two parts - the INF-file and the Intel ICHR10 controller - or consists of a single driver file.
Gigabyte's collection of drivers for my motherboard lists only "Intel INF-installation" in the Chipset section. It is dated 2010.
I don't understand the INF-file. Some sites seem to describe it as a file providing the OS with info about all the hardware. A file without which, for example, Device Manager cannot give relevant info about hardware.

(The intel site returns a "something went wrong"-reply when trying to scan.)

 

Sorry,I will try to clarify.........
1. Clone existing.
2.On the cloned hard drive- Update all W7 drivers and updates
Use driver booster, or your own choice of driver finder (driver booster will download and install)
You asked "At what step would the actual upgrade to w10 be initiated? I don't follow.
Then
Try the Windows 10 upgrade
Then Restart
3. Have you saved W10 drivers handy, on usb/dvd (use these when upgraded to W10 ).
4. Don't go on-line, yet
You asked "I also don't follow when drivers got uninstalled? Maybe you mean uninstalled as in "missing"?"
I meant----Go to device manager, and look at the drivers that have not been automatically installed, or, have a problem (yellow marks by them)

You said (The intel site returns a "something went wrong"-reply when trying to scan.)
If you have not run driver booster (or, your own preferred driver updater) and Windows update in Windows 7, before going to Intel download, this could be a reason for it- sometimes it just plays up.
Not much you can do except , perhaps to retry when all Windows 7 drivers, and all Windows updates possible, are up to date.
I would say -go ahead with the upgrade on the cloned hard drive , after making restore discs, of your existing hard drive, and follow as much as you can from your studies, and see how it goes.
If you have problems and need to work , just change the hard drive back to the original, until you have more time with finishing the upgrade on the cloned hard drive,when you can just continue where you left of upgrading- until you have more time -- you will still have the use, as you have now, of your original hard drive. JUST REMEMBER TO SAVE ANY EXTRA WORK TO USB/DVD THAT YOU DO WHILST USING THE OLD HARD DRIVE.
Remember you can always re-do the clone to the new hard drive, if the worse happens when making the first attempt

 

Thank you very much.
Is it possible to run the upgrade tool to Win 10 from start to end with no internet?

 

Yes
It will want to check and update drivers,if it has any, but will probably be the best way, anyway. use the drivers you have , before going on-line, and it my give less problem than if you allowed the updates first.