Dell Inspiron 11 Laptop Behind on Updates Stay Windows 8.1 or Worth Upgrade ?

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A daily used Dell Laptop Inspiron 11 3000 Series, hasn’t been updated since like around 2017- 2018..maybe since 2019.

I don’t know if it meets Win 10 Requirements, Feature Specific Requirements ( which is doesn’t look it’s meeting), including if it’s Graphic Card is compatible with DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver  OR even if Win 10 will it slow down whole machine…or cause issues since feature specific(s) won’t be installed.

Dell Laptop Specs (Let me Know if there’s other Specs needed) :

Intel Pentium N3530 Quad Core 2.16 Ghz

64-bit Win 8.1

4GB DDR3L-1600 SDRAM

500GB HDD

HD Display

Dell Wireless-N 1707

I should update first before even thinking of upgrading. Just in case if I have option to upgrade then I’ll have option to re-install Win 8.1 for any reason, right?

The Dell 2 months ago when trying to Check for Windows Updates, for 1st time the list didn’t update itself quickly instead I stopped after hours of waiting. After trying that month, the yellow text saying ‘there’s important updates to install’ went missing. BUT, came back in Dec.

Also the Dell has those pop up in middle of screen small windows for a long time that don’t cause any usage issues. They are exe – Bad Image pop up Windows and recently Core Application Error. I assume these will be fixed once WU are installed.

 

 

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From online reviews it looks like it will run Windows 10. However, I stopped at 4GB RAM. Despite what Microsoft say about minimum hardware specs, Windows 10 will run but be barely useable with just 4GB.

I’m typing this on a Dell Latitude E7450 with twice as much RAM… and it’s still less than stellar performance. IMO 8GB RAM is the minimum for Windows 10 to even get out of bed; 16GB for it to begin to perform calisthenics.

The HDD has the capacity but not the speed. Sorry but IMO HDD ‘spinners’ have had their day. They remain fine for data storage but for a system drive to host an OS… these days you need a solid state device, not a ‘spinner’.

Best advice? Use something like Macrium Reflect to take a system image… then try a clean install of Windows 10. If it came with Windows 8.1 then it will have a hard-coded ID in its BIOS/UEFI that will still allow an OS upgrade to Windows 10 to be automatically authenticated.

Hope this helps…

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16Gb RAM is out of the question for OP’s Inspiron 3000 laptop as the max amount of RAM supported is 8Gb (anything higher than 8 gigs and that laptop won’t boot at all)

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I am confused… in the start of your reply, you say how even you having 8GB isn’t enough. But then in last paragraph you say upgrade to try to Win 10 ???

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Or put Linux on it, if you can manage without MS software.

cheers, Paul

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Linux?…I touched the OS 8 years ago and remember having hard time to get it to print. I never changed the OS of a PC. Also, would I be able to downgrade back to Win 8.1 with no deadline to do downgrade if can’t adjust to Linux ?

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Linux has moved along nicely in the last 8 years.
Start with a Live USB to see if it runs on the hardware, then install properly if it looks OK.

TheFamilyIT wrote:

would I be able to downgrade back to Win 8.1 with no deadline

I think someone mentioned an image backup. 🙂

cheers, Paul

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TheFamilyIT wrote:

I should update first before even thinking of upgrading. Just in case if I have option to upgrade then I’ll have option to re-install Win 8.1 for any reason, right?

If you create a full image copy of your 8.1 to an external HDD drive it will take a couple of minutes to restore (no need to re-install) in case Windows 10 upgrade fail.

Upgrading from 8.1 to 10 is free.
You better add at least 4GB of RAM and replace the internal HDD with internal SSD.

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yup.

hardware upgrades first before Windows 8.1 to 10 OS upgrade (add another 4Gb onto existing 4Gb to max the Dell Inspiron 11 3000 laptop out at 8Gb and replacing the HDD with a reliable SATA SSD from Samsung)

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and @ep @alex5723  I can’t or will be risky to do Hardware upgrades since laptop is a solid outer shell and I would have to pay for a Pro to take the Laptop in half. I’m use to older laptops that had compartment lids and screws in the bottom for easier access.

Also, is this an option.. would be able to downgrade back to Win 8.1 if Win 10 makes laptop performance slower/become downgraded?

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TheFamilyIT wrote:

would be able to downgrade

Always!
Make an image backup before proceeding, restore afterwards.

cheers, Paul

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Sooo…I don’t need to also create another/dedicated Bootable Rescue Media USB for Win 8.1 just need a Full Image PC Backup ?

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You need the bootable Rescue CD/USB that is made by the backup software. Booting from it and accessing the Image on the external drive where it was backed up, is the only way you can recover if the Win8.1 if the upgrade fails.

You have to boot from the Rescue Media and restore the Image to the computer from the backup drive.

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That’s what I thought, hopefully Macrium Free Ver. still supports Win8.1. Did you read my questions and concerns about decision on staying on Win 8.1 or not from the Topic that I posted here ??

Now, the Win 8.1 laptop should have its WU brought up to date first,right. I don’t know if the laptop’s Graphic Card is compatible with DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver.

Also, I’ve heard in a past thread in this site that it has worked to use same already created bootable rescue media usb that was made while on another PC/OS. So, I can use the existing one that I have..right.

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You need to make the Rescue Media from the PC you intend to use it on. Not another PC.

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Ok. Did you read my questions, game plan, and concerns about decision on staying on Win 8.1 or not from the Topic that I posted at the top here ??

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Make an Image of the Win8.1 as it is.
Be sure you can boot from the Rescue Media made with the backup software and see the Image on the external backup disk.
Update the Win8.1 to the final Jan. 2023 updates using Windows Update.
Make an image of the final Win8.1.

Then make the decision whether or not you want to update to Win10.

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A) So, I don’t need to download/install all the past WU even if some show up in WU queue ?

B) 2 Months ago, the Laptop’s WU was  going for hours trying to check for updates. So, I gave up and haven’t tried again. I guess another option is to manually download and install all the WU, right..

C) What happens next, IF my Graphic Card isn’t compatible with DirectX 9 or later with WDDM 1.0 driver??  Which I  don’t know how to find out.

D) My Intel Processor, is not listed in Microsoft’s Page of Win 8.1 compatible Processors for Feature Specific Requirements. I’ve been getting conflicting advise on if the Intel CPU won’t cause  performance or any other issues…

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A) No. Make an image of the machine as it is so you can recover if required.

B) Open a new thread for the update issue.

C) This is not relevant. Your machine currently works and you can restore it from your backup, so you can test anything you want.

D) Your machine currently works… “Performance issues” sounds like someone has a corrupt installation and has no idea how to fix it. If you have performance issues open a thread here and we will help.

cheers, Paul

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If a clean reinstall of Windows is needed, can the same Install Setup File of Macrium Reflect Free 7 and 8 give limitless installs on different PC Machines ?

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The free version can be installed anywhere, new Windows installation or not.

cheers, Paul

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