Upgrade from Vista to Windows 8

Hi everyone, my first post on here and hopefully someone can help.

Basically I have a Dell Studio (approx 3 years old) which all of a sudden got some sort of glitch. I ran a diagnostics and got an error code which pointed me in the direction of changing the hard drive, which I did. Once replaced I still had the glitch where anything I typed I kept getting loads of "4's" repeating. I then changed the keyboard which fixed the problem but when loading the Vista OS discs something doesn't seem quite right and when trying to connect to the Internet it says that it cannot detect the Network Adapter/Driver.

My question is, as my laptop is pretty much at factory settings, can I do a straight upgrade to Windows 8 or isn't it that easy. Can someone please advise the best way forward as I think the Laptop is in good working order now its just that I need to sort out which OS to use.

Many thanks,

SP

 

Not sure.

Sorry not really a techie when it comes to things like this, just been going on advice from the internet.

The only discs that came with the laptop were one for the Vista OS (which I assumed had everything on there, ie drivers etc) and one for some media stuff.

Where would I get these 'chipset' drivers?

By the way, I should mention that when I try to get to the BIOS by hitting the F2 or F12 keys I can't get into it. Not sure if this is all connected or a different problem. Understand what you're saying about compounding the problem, just thought it might fix it.

Regards,

SP

 

Might want to check this advisor out to see if your comp will support Win 8 -
http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?docid=575111

 

Thanks Ibmest, mine's not on there so looks like a Windows 7 upgrade for me, oh well:cry

Still need to sort out the current OS tho.

Thanks,

SP

 

Give the model number of the laptop and we can find your drivers. Or go to Dell support and use your Dell service tag number to get to your drivers. Sounds like you need chipset and then LAN or WLAN drivers.

As far as I know if a computer can run Win7 it can run Win8. Was your model on the list as not supported or not on either list (as in untested)?

 

sach2, was not on either list. It's a Dell Studio 1735.

 

You want to get the Intel driver under Chipset and install that first. http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/studio-1735

Then under Network, you want the Broadcom driver for wired ethernet.
Not sure on the WLAN driver it looks like there might be two different wireless cards. You could narrow it down by using your service tag or try both of the recommended ones.

 

sach 2,

Many thanks, will have a go at copying these onto disk on my home pc and transferring them to the laptop in question and see if that works.

What about my problem not getting into my BIOS? Something definitely isn't right there.

Thanks,

SP

 

I'm not sure about getting into BIOS. You replaced the internal keyboard which should be responsive. If you were using a USB external keyboard I would say it is having problems recognizing that keyboard before Windows loads drivers for it. I really am unsure. It just ignores the keyboard strokes and goes straight to Windows? Repeatedly hitting F2 or F12 during the Dell screen makes no difference?

 

Was not using an external keyboard. Just replaced the existing one as I kept getting loads of '4's' repeating when I was typing which led me to think that there was something wrong with it.

Hitting F2 or F12 during the startup makes no difference at all and goes straight to Windows.

 

Do you have an external to give a quick try? Other than that, I'm trying to think of what might force it to go to BIOS and then you could see if it would take a keystroke. Maybe remove the HD, so that when it went through POST it would find no boot device and throw you into BIOS, then you could see if it would take an F1 or F2 command as requested.

 

I do have an external hard drive. What do you mean give it a try?

Will try removing the HD and see if that works.

Alternatively could I just go down the root of installing a fresh version Windows 7 (ie not an upgrade)?

 

Sach2 meant that you should try an external keyboard I think.

 

I meant trying an external USB keyboard to see if that is recognized during the BIOS screen. The other idea of removing the HD is that when booting it should pop up an error during POST/BIOS about not finding a boot device and asking you to hit F1 to Continue or F2 to enter BIOS. I would be curious if it would take a keyboard stroke from the internal keyboard at that screen.

On the upgrading to Win7. I did just see a post about someone who had a 1735 and had no problems running Win7 but when upgrading to Win8 he could not get bluetooth operating. That implies that he has run Win7 of that model laptop for at least a year with no problem.

An upgrade disc lets you do a clean install once it verifies you have a Vista license. You use the Custom install rather than the automatic. The upgrade disc is cheaper so it is up to you. I haven't used an upgrade disc in quite some time so maybe someone can give better advice or their experience.

As far as I know their are no specific Win7 drivers written for that notebook. Those that run Win7 on it just install the Vista drivers and they seem to be compatible.

 

Ok will try an external keyboard and then removing the HD and see if that works.

Anyway, further to the advice from sach2 yesterday I did manage to download all the Network and Chipset drivers and transfer them onto the laptop and guess what......didn't change a thing!:confused Tried doing the F2 F12 buttons and still couldn't get into the BIOS. Then after alot of restarting and pressing loads of buttons I somehow managed to get to the 'blue' screen. Unfortunately none of my number keys across the top of the keyboard or the ones on the right worked and nor did my cursor keys:confused I'm now losing the will to live with this!!

 

I'm trying to figure out why the drivers did not install. Some Dell driver installers run by themselves when you run the downloaded files. Some just create a folder which you have to go into and then run the setup.exe file. So for instance for the chipset driver you might have to go to the folder C:\DELL\DRIVERS\R180979 and then run the setup program from there to install the driver.

The Broadcom LAN driver (for wired internet) should have installed itself, does it show in Device Manager under Network Adapters?