32bit XP to 64bit Winows 8?

coliff said:
After researching this for many hours, I've found out some useful info. In the Windows 8 Pro Upgrade email order confirmation there is a link to download the installer/ISO. The link detects if you are on a 32-bit or 64-bit computer and gives the correct installer based on that. So you just need to open the link on a 64-bit computer, then burn the ISO to a USB drive and then you'll have the 64-bit installer. Job done! I still don't have the 64-bit ISO myself just yet though...
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This is correct.

Just do the above and copy the ISO to a USB flash drive using the Microsoft Windows 7 USB / DVD download tool which makes the USB drive bootable (the tool works on XP and Vista as well). You'll sometimes also have to set your BIOS to boot from USB.

I did a clean install of Win 8 64-Bit using this method.
 
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Just installed from the upgrade down loaded iso and win 8 has "Windows 8 Pro Build 9200" in the bottom corner and Windows activation is "not available"? I guess I need XP installed on the hard drive?
 
Right,

I downloaded and copied the ISO to DVD, in my current install of Win 7 64.

If I read this correct, I can now install XP (SP3?), then run a clean install of the Win 8 upgrade over the top. This should install 64 bit version of Win 8?

Apologies if this has been covered, its not too clear:)
 
once you've ran the upgrade assistant from previous OS once and made a dvd or usb it saves some files from the previous OS then from that dvd or usb u can boot from it u can install win8 on a empty hdd/ssd

so if u run it from a 32bit previous OS you'll get a win8 32bit dvd or usb
 
divinebeetle said:
Right,

I downloaded and copied the ISO to DVD, in my current install of Win 7 64.

If I read this correct, I can now install XP (SP3?), then run a clean install of the Win 8 upgrade over the top. This should install 64 bit version of Win 8?

Apologies if this has been covered, its not too clear:)
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no....

from that dvd just boot from it
 
gareth170 said:
once you've ran the upgrade assistant from previous OS once and made a dvd or usb it saves some files from the previous OS then from that dvd or usb u can boot from it u can install win8 on a empty hdd/ssd

so if u run it from a 32bit previous OS you'll get a win8 32bit dvd or usb
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Ah, I see.

Thanks, I understand now:)
 
Just confirming that 32bit XP to 64bit W8 Pro is possible..

Created bootable media using the upgrade assistant whilst I still had W8 Release Preview 64bit installed on a HDD. My new SSD is not in use at this stage.

The tricky bit came when putting XP onto modern hardware. Whilst still on W8RP I downloaded nlite and followed some guidance on lifehacker to use nlite to slip stream XP SP3 into the files from my original XP install CD which only had SP2. Not everyone will have this issue, so you may be able to get away with an older XP install and then bring it up to date in Windows Update to SP3. The original did not like my motherboard hard disk controller, which threw the fatal error I mentioned in my post above. Once I had the new XP install disc I shut down and disconnected my SSD and on reboot had to enter the BIOS and change the controller to IDE. The XP install I used to delete 2 partitions on the HDD to wipe out W8RP and the sum of this new unformatted space was chosen as the target for XP. After XP installed and I sorted my wireless LAN adapter I clicked the activate icon in the system tray and activated ok. Checked out windows update out of curiosity and there were about 116 updates so I left them alone, just completed the update to allow use of windows update as it also runs windows genuine advantage validation and didn't think that would be a bad thing to be sure the install of W8 would recognise I had a proper valid version of XP present.

I then shut down so I could reconnect my new unformatted SSD, so both drives are connected now and also added the W8 bootable USB stick. Booted into BIOS so I could change the disk controller over to AHCI and the boot order to move the USB to first priority. Checked I had my OC settings removed to default safe levels and rebooted with the USB picking up the install process...

All went fine, in W8 Pro now, right clicked the start icon and chose System which confirms, 64-bit Operating System and Windows is activated.

:D
 
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squarebutt said:
But if he does that he's installing over win7 and will use that key for win8. He wants to use the XP key, so surely has to install XP first.
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once you've ran the upgrade assistant from previous OS once (in his case win7 64bit) and made a dvd or usb it saves some files from the previous OS to make it a win8 64bit like a "full version" dvd or usb then from that dvd or usb u can boot from it u can install win8 64bit on a empty hdd/ssd
 
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gareth170 said:
once you've ran the upgrade assistant from previous OS once (in his case win7 64bit) and made a dvd or usb it saves some files from the previous OS to make it a win8 64bit like a "full version" dvd or usb then from that dvd or usb u can boot from it u can install win8 64bit on a empty hdd/ssd
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So If Im reading you correct, the dvd acts as a full retail version on a blank drive, since nothing is actually being upgraded. How is it then validated as an upgrade? If a win7 exists there though, it would use that key, rendering the win 7 original disk and key unuseable?
 
squarebutt said:
So If Im reading you correct, the dvd acts as a full retail version on a blank drive, since nothing is actually being upgraded. How is it then validated as an upgrade? If a win7 exists there though, it would use that key, rendering the win 7 original disk and key unuseable?
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because the upgrade assistant only checks if your previous OS is activated then after download it copy's some files from the previous OS to make it a 32bit or 64bit
 
I upgraded from win xp home 32bit and it installed the 32bit win 8. So what I did was.. (maybe someone will find this info helpful)

1. In win8 press the [windows button + r] this will open run in there you type [diskmgmt.msc] without the brackets this will open a partition program. right click on your drive and click shrink volume. Shrink it by around 40gb (50gb if you can the reason is the windows 8 assistance thingy requires 24gb free space ontop of the newely installed OS which is like 10gb more or less + the downloaded iso and some leg room 50gb worked for me). Now that unallocated space needs to be made usable. I don't remember this part something like click new and format it.

2. Download the windows 8 consumer preview 64bit from microsoft just google it. Burn it to a dvd, boot it and install it into the partition you just made. The product key is TK8TP-9JN6P-7X7WW-RFFTV-B7QPF once thats installed you can download the windows 8 again. I believe the link is in the email they send you when you buy it. This time it will download the 64bit version.

Burn that to a disk again, boot it and install it over the lot.

Now you have upgraded xp32 to win8 64 without buying a dvd. Worked for me.
 
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Hello,
I've bought 3 copies of Windows 8 Pro, to get these I've used old 32 Windows XP disks (all legit). Here is what I've done:
1) Installed XP via VMWare
2) Downloaded the Advisor and paid for Win. 8 on the XP virtual Machine.
Cancelled the download (as I don't want the 32bit version)
3) Opened the e-mail on my legit Windows 8 machine
Downloaded the .iso (from the link in the e-mail).

However, at the end of the download Windows advisor displays the product key, this is not the one from the download link but a version I paid for earlier (downloaded from the same PC but paid for on another (legit) Windows XP machine).
Anyone know if this will give me a problem when i try to install?
I have got 3 .iso's and all legit using this method but am a little concerned. I'll install tomorrow and find out for sure, just wandering if anyone has had the same issue? (if indeed it is one).
I did think this was the best way of getting a 64bit Windows 8 from a 32 bit operating system.

Cheers
 
Could I just run W8RP as a VM, download using the email link. This would give me the 64bit ISO? Chuck it on a DVD and install?
 
Glaucus said:
This is why I made an install thread to try and condense the info. The info is in there.

The key is valid for either. You can not download it though. You will need a disc. So an extra ~£12 on top of the £25 and howeve long it takes to deliver.
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I have downloaded both 32 and 64 bit upgrade versions using the same email/product key. To get the 32 bit iso I ran the consumer Preview 32bit. Then to get the 64bit iso I ran the consumer preview 64 bit.
 
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