Whoa! Stop me from killing new PC ---

Everyone - thanks so much for incredible thread. But seems dangerous!!

- Background: Just bought a Dell Optiplex 7010 Mini-Tower that has Windows 8 Pro 64-bit pre-loaded. (That's maybe interesting because Dell originally designed this mid-2012 model for Win 7, including Win 7 Pro 64-bit, but then started offering Win 8 Pro 64-bit.)

It has 8GB RAM, a 500GB hard drive, both USB 2 and USB 3 ports, and (for now) VGA and displayport (DP) outputs. My two existing displays happen to be (a) one VGA only and (b) one VGA / DVI.

This Optiplex came with a Dell OEM Win 8 Pro 64-bit install disk. (Actually haven't opened the box yet, but it should be there.)

Also, Dell has sent me a Dell OEM Win 7 Pro 64-bit SP1 install disk for this machine, which should arrive tomorrow.

- Project:

- - - First, get familiar a little with Win 8 for the first time in my life and bring it up to Win 8.1. Check the BIOS or UEFI settings without changing anything. See if Dell has any updates to the BIOS/UEFI and hardware drivers and install all of them. (I'll make a backup of the initial machine before doing anything, and then another backup after fully updating it, using AOMEI Backupper and an external drive.)

- - - Second, INSTALL WIN 7 PRO 64-BIT SP1, using the Dell OEM Win 7 Pro 64-bit SP1 install disk.

- Dangers/fears:

- - - I don't want to brick the machine. The very first post in this thread said NOT to switch the BIOS settings from UEFI to Legacy. OK. But what OTHER things should I avoid doing?

- - - Will the Win 7 Pro 64-bit SP1 install work from the Dell OEM Win 7 Pro 64-bit Sp1 install disk, and NOT a MS retail Win 7 Pro 64-bit SP1 disk?

- - - - - - If you say I canNOT use a Dell OEM Win 7 Pro 64-bit SP1 install disk, then I could make a MS Win 7 Pro 64-bit SP1 install disk from the digitalriver iso - but will that work with my Dell OEM product key? (See How to Download Windows 7, 8, and 8.1 Installation Media ? Legally )

- - - If I cannot succeed installing Win 7 Pro 64-bit, will I be able to go back to Win 8 Pro 64-bit?

- - - WHAT OTHER MISTAKES SHOULD I AVOID?

Many thanks.

The Dell Reinstallation DVD is preferred because while it has all drivers, activation and a Dell Logo it has no bloatware. It is a credit to Dell they provide this while others don't.

No need to change anything in BIOS setup to start except to disable Secure Boot which only supports Windows 8 and 10. Sometimes installing Win7 requires some level of CSM setting but you can try first without it.

Boot the WiN7 disk as a UEFI DVD in BIOS Boot Menu triggered by tapping the F12 key at boot.

If you want to try a Dual Boot with Win8 then shrink it in Disk Mgmt ahead. Partition or Volume - Shrink If you keep the Win8 partition then you can keep the other partitions since Recovery and Dell Diagnostics should still boot and run if Win8 is kept.

You can also try keeping only the Dell Utility partition to see if it will allow booting Dell Hardware Diagnostics via F12 after installing Win7 as it often will if it is the only partition kept.

Keeping any of these partitions may or may not allow Win7 install depending upon your hardware and BIOS, but is worth a try if you want to keep Win8 on the PC even to hide it Default Operating System - Change Default Boot OS - Windows 7 Forums and/or to try keeping the valuable Dell bootable hardware diagnostics on board. It is usually only necessary to delete all partitions or wipe the HD if converting to a Legacy MBR install which you can save as a last resort.

If Clean Install Windows 7 fails at any point, note exactly where and the verbatim error message. Pictures will help. Screenshots and Files - Upload and Post in Seven Forums

There are many tips, tools and methods here which will assure a perfect install based what's worked best in tens of thousands we've helped with here: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Follow the steps for how drivers are handled in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

Driver disks are dated as soon as they are pressed, so if there are any drivers not supplied by the OS via Windows Update, import them from the Dell Support Downloads webpage for your tag number.

To use a second SSD, unplug the other one during Clean Install Windows 7. After install plug back in the Windows 8 SSD, set preferred as SSD to boot first, trigger other using Dell F12 key.

I'm not sure how Dell handles 7 Upgrade as a Dual Boot. Is there a Product Key on the disk? If not I'd ask at www.Eightforums.com where they specialize in these Windows 8 exigencies, or ask Dell if you still have the free one year tech support with full hardware replacement.