Windows OS upgrade options for Compaq Presario SR5410F

[LRoi]

Hello, I have a 10-year old Compaq Preasrio SR5410F with the following characteristics:

Windows Vista® Home Premium with Service Pack 1

Intel® Pentium® Dual-Core Desktop Processor E2160
1.80 GHz, 1MB L2 Cache, 800 MHz Front Side Bus

4GB RAM

Intel® G31 Express Chipset

Graphics Software Driver: Intel® G33/G31 Express Chipset Family

Video graphics
N351
N351
Integrated graphics using Intel GMA 3100

Motherboard

MS-7525 (Boston)

Manufacturer: MSI

Chipset:
Northbridge chipset: Intel G31 Express
Southbridge chipset: Intel ICH7

Front side bus speeds: 1333/1066/800 MHz
Processor socket: 775

The machine runs fine and I would like to use it for another 2-4 years.

I would like to perform a clean install of a newer Windows operating system, either Windows 7 

or Windows 8.1.

I would also like to make this install a 64-bit version; my current Vista is a 32-bit version.

Please bear in mind that I am aware of losing my existing environment - I will be performing a Clean install.

However, before I even attempt the new install I wanted to know if my computer can handle a 64-bit version 

of either the 7 or 8.1 systems.

With my given processor and hardware, would a 64-bit install be achievable with either of the operating 

systems or is my machine incompatible for such an upgrade?

Thank you.

Lou

[Paul_Tikkanen · Accepted solution]

Hi, Lou:

Unless someone on this forum has the exact same model as yours, and tried an operating system like W8.1 or W10, someone like me can only answer in generalities.

Yes, your PC can run a 64 bit operating system.  The processor supports it.  See the instruction set spec at the link below.

https://ark.intel.com/products/29739/Intel-Pentium-Processor-E2160-1M-Cache-1_80-GHz-800-MHz-FSB

Looking at the specs...I would say that any OS from W7 - W10 would work. 

There may not be a driver for the modem, but you may be able to use the Vista driver.

https://support.hp.com/us-en/document/c01374067

You may have to use a trick to manually install the Intel graphics driver, or purchase an add-on video card that has driver support for the newer operating system.  I could probably help you with the Intel graphics driver installation if need be.

For windows 7, there is a handy upgrade advisor utility you can run to see what obstacles you may run into if you install W7.  Reminder...W7 support ends sometime in 2020, so that isn't going to buy you the maximum time you want to continue using the PC.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=20

There used to be a W8.1 upgrade assistant utility, but I can't find the one directly from the Microsoft site.

Bottom line...your PC has the hardware to support upgrading to a 64 bit OS and meets the minimum requirements to run W7 - W10 64 bit.

I have a HP dc7800 with the Intel Q35 express chipset (basically the same generation as the chipset your PC's motherboard has), and it runs W10 64 bit just fine.  I did install a discrete video card though.  I installed it years ago when I was running W7 on it.

[LRoi]

Thank you so much for your reply.

I don'y know how soon I will be doing this, if I do it at all.

It is nice to know, that, at least at the surface, it is Supposed to work.

My next step is exploring tools and establishing a current backup with recovery.

Lou

[Paul_Tikkanen]

You're very welcome, Lou.

[LRoi]

Hello Paul,

Some thoughts have occurred to me that I would like to ask for your counsel.

If I do the clean install of a new OS I really don't require my recovery partition anymore.

Does the new Install give me the option to consolidate my partitions?

Also, if I do this, and, the Installation needs to be aborted because it just won't install for some reason, 

would I be able to use recovery disks and backups to revert back to my former system; or, would those options be rendered useless because I blew out the original Boot Partition during the new install?

Thank you again.

Lou

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Hi, Lou:

If you have made your set of HP recovery disks, you can use them to reinstall Vista 32 bit, and yes, you can delete all partitions on the hard drive at the beginning of the installation process, create one big C:\ partition and install Windows.

The recovery disks don't need the recovery partition to be present.

Though I don't foresee any issues with you clean installing a new version of Windows, it certainly is important to have a way to go back to your PC's current state.

Windows should install on that PC with no problems.

If you want to try out W10 (having first made your recovery disks), you can download it from the link below.

https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/software-download/windows10

If you are asked to enter a product key during the installation, check the 'Skip' box.

Then you should have 30 days to try out W10 before you buy a product key.

This guy has a video that indicates you can still get W10 for free even though the free upgrade period expired two years ago.

But I think you would need to have W7 or newer installed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Xb6eMGhrVw

You can also use this free disk imaging software to create a system image (save on a portable hard drive), and the software will allow you to also create a bootable rescue disk to access the system image you created.

https://www.macrium.com/reflectfree?x-ca=blog

[LRoi]

Once again, Paul, thank you so much for your help.

[Paul_Tikkanen]

Anytime.