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Updating to Windows 7 64 bit from Windows 7 32 bit RRS feed

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    Several years ago I purchased an upgrade from Windows Vista to Windows 7 Home Premium that contained disks for the Windows 7 32 and 64 bit upgrades.  At that time, my processor only allowed the 32-bit upgrade.  I am now in the process of building a new computer that will handle Windows 7 64 bit.  If I install my current hard drive into my new computer containing the 32 bit system, will I be able to use the Windows 7 64-bit upgrade disk to upgrade my system?  If so, how would I do it?  Thank you.
    Tuesday, July 10, 2012 11:14 PM

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    No - an Upgrade license requires an exisitng full license to be present for it to upgrade.

    Your new self-built computer will have no such license, and therefore cannot be upgraded - unless the old computer had a Retail license as the basis for the upgrade.

    If the old computer came with WIndows pre-installed, that base license cannot be transferred to the new computer, and therefore cannot form the basis for the upgrade.

    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth

    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 12:07 AM
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    Q.  "If I install my current hard drive into my new computer containing the 32 bit system, will I be able to use the Windows 7 64-bit upgrade disk to upgrade my system?"

    A.  Chances are the new computer would not even boot from the old hard drive because the new hardware (i.e. motherboard) is entirely different from the old hardware.  Assuming you had a full retail edition of Windows Vista, you would need to perform a "clean install" of it, then use the Windows 7 64-bit DVD to perform a Custom Installation.  Of course, if you had a full retail Windows Vista 64-bit DVD, you can install it then perform a direct upgrade to Windows 7 64-bit.

    Carey Frisch

    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 12:18 AM
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    Thanks, Noel and Carey, for your quick responses.  I built my current computer using a retail version of Vista 32-bit with an Anytime Update feature.  I subsequently purchased the update "designed for Windows Vista" to Windows 7 that contained the disk for the 32 bit and 64 bit upgrade.  I will be purchasing an Intel 2700k cpu with an appropriate motherboard. If this new system will not boot with Windows 7 32-bit, how would I go about installing my retail Vista disk on the hard drive so it would be read by my new system so I could perform the custom installation?  I may be missing something obvious, but it wouldn't be the first time!

    GCNorth

    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 12:53 AM
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    Vista should load happily to the new system - however there is a workaround available to avoid it, for use ONLY in such cases where the base license is valid on a clean install.....

    http://www.winsupersite.com/article/windows-7/clean-install-windows-7-with-upgrade-media

    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth

    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 8:47 AM
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    Thanks, Noel, for the information.  If I may impose, I have another question.  My current HDD has Windows 7 32-bit upgraded from Vista 32-bit retail.  If I installed my old 32-bit vista to another clean HDD, could I then install that HDD on my 64-bit system and boot from the Windows 7 64-bit upgrade disk to install Windows 7 64-bit?  Thanks for your patience.

    GCNorth


    • Edited by GCNorth Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:46 PM
    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 2:42 PM
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    Read the link - you only need the win7 64bit disk (and license, of course), and the Vista license. :)

    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth

    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 3:08 PM
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    Thanks, Noel.

    GCNorth

    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 3:53 PM
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    You're welcome

    Noel Paton | Nil Carborundum Illegitemi | CrashFixPC | The Three-toed Sloth

    Wednesday, July 11, 2012 3:57 PM
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