Windows 7 32-bit to 64-bit upgrade

tim3003 · 18 Aug 2018 at 12:06

I am running Windows 7 32-bit, but want to upgrade it to 64-bit. As I understand it I do not need to purchase a whole new license but can use my current license. I have a 64-bit CD which says 'Intended for distribution with a Refurbished PC'. I've tried to boot to this to install but it won't. Looking on Amazon there are plenty of 'Re-install Win 7 64-bit' CDs, for around £6.97. Are these the ones I need? If not, what do I need? There are none saying 'Install' except full license versions.

Thanks.

tim3003 · 18 Aug 2018 at 20:14

Orcvader said:
7 keys are both 32-bit and 64-bit so you just need a 64-bit ISO for installation.

What's your system specs? What exactly happens when you try to boot with the 64-bit disk that you have?

How big is the ISO? My broadband is slow, so it may take hours to download. I also have no USB stick larger than 256mb to boot from, , and no CD/DVD-write drive. hence wanting the set-up CD. The 64-bit disk will not boot, even if I go into the Bios and make my CD-drive the only bootable one it's ignored and I get the 'press any key to reboot' msg. If I try to run the CD whilst in Win 7 it says 'this CD is not valid for the version of Windows you have, get an installation disk and boot from it.'

My system is AMD FX-8350, 8gb RAM, Asus M78A5L mobo, Radeon 6850 graphics.

tim3003 · 19 Aug 2018 at 12:23

Jamin280672 said:
It would be cheaper to just get a 4gb or safer 8gb USB stick and download the ISO yourself, write it to the USB stick using rufus and then boot from it, as stated above, to download the ISO from the Microsoft site, you just need to give them your key to verify you have a valid license.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/8GB-Exec...568416?hash=item1caf34f7e0:g:6WoAAOSwg4tbJ7qR

Ok thanks. Are you saying it is not possible to get a bootable 64-bit upgrade CD without paying for a full license version? Because if it is, I'd still prefer to get one..

tim3003 · 19 Aug 2018 at 14:27

I've tried the ISO download link. I have 3 Win 7 Product keys - I think my old laptop went bang, so that accounts for 2 - however all 3 were rejected with the msg 'key comes from a manufacturer refurb'd PC, contact them about upgrading'. I can understand this for my laptop(s), but my desktop I upgraded from XP to Win 7 myself. Is the problem that this wasn't a from-scratch install, so it isn't a full Win 7 32-bit, so I cant just install Win 7 64-bit without a full license?

tim3003 · 19 Aug 2018 at 16:43

I have CDs for Win 7 32 & 64, both Microsoft, saying 'Intended for distribution with a refurbished PC'. The 32-bit one will run from win 7 and start to re-install. The 64-bit one says it's not valid for the system I have. Get the right one, and boot to it. Can I tell if the CD is bootable? It has a boot folder inc bootsect, etfsboot DOS app, plus bootmgr in the root.

tim3003 · 20 Aug 2018 at 12:26

Thanks for all the suggestions. I finally managed to boot from the 64-bit CD, and installed no problems. Interestingly, I did not delete the old Win 7 32-bit system from the hd. (I'd backed it all up though), and after Win 7 64-bit had installed it had kept all the 32-bit system in a win.old folder, also some program files in a Program files (x86) folder. It didnt matter as I'd backed them up, but it does show a new Win7 install has a look at the hd it's about to blat and keeps old stuff (at least old Win 7 stuff)...
I was also concerned as I have a twin-boot system with an old Win XP hd. This survived the installation too - perhaps not so surprising as Win 7 created the twin-boot bios menu when I originally installed the 32-bit version on a new hd..