Windows Uograde

[Alaskagriz]

I want to upgrade my OS from 32-bit Windows Vista Ultimate to Windows 10, but there are not drivers beyond Windows 7 for my Intel® 82566DC-2 Gigabit Network card.  Windows 7 Ultimate does not seem to be an option as the cost of the software upgrade is as high as $400, and purchasing a new computer would be a better solution.  But my my Pavilion d4996t has lots of memory and a huge hard drive and I would like to install a more current OS if possible.  I'm thinking that purchasing a new network card to replace my Intel® 82566DC-2 card is the solution, but I don't know what to purchase.  Mt 2 questions are what network card should I purchase to replace my Intel® 82566DC-2, and are there any other changes (hardware or software) that I should make before upgrading to Windows 10?  Thank you.

[mdklassen]

You can download Windows 10 for free: https://www.microsoft.com/en-ca/software-download/windows10

and try to install it on your computer, to see which device-drivers are included.

When asked to enter a 25-character product-key, click "I do not have one".

The result is a "trial" version of Windows 10 that will work for a few days -- long enough to open "Device Manager" to look for unsupported/unknown hardware.

Remember to (later) attach any web-camera and/or printer that you intend to use, to see if Windows (or Windows Update) has device-drivers for the hardware.

[Alaskagriz]

I have contacted Intel regarding my network card/driver (Intel® 82566DC-2 gigabit) and I know for a fact that they do not make a driver for Windows 10 (Windows 7 was the last driver).  I would like to assure myself that I am able to connect to my network after the upgrade before I even start this process.

[Alaskagriz]

Thank you mdklassen.

[mdklassen]

>  I would like to assure myself that I am able to connect to my network after the upgrade before I even start this process.

If the device-driver for your network adapter is embedded on the Windows 10 installation files, then try installing Windows 10, and see if the device-driver works.  If it does, then Intel would have no reason to put a device-driver onto their own web-site -- since it would never be needed.

The worst possibility (only "price-wise") is for you to need to buy a "certified for Windows 10" network-adapter card, and enter BIOS SETUP to "disable" the onboard network adapter, and use that new adapter.  ? $20 US ?

P.S. How old is your current disk-drive?  If the answer is "very" or "warranty expired 4 years old", then maybe you should buy a new/bigger/faster disk-drive (or SSD), and install Windows 10 to it, leaving your current disk-drive "untouched".

[Alaskagriz]

Wow!  Lots of good ideas here.  Thank you so very much!