[Cowboy4Life]

So we upgraded from window XP to windows 7, little did we know that we needed to upgrade to 64-bit, not the 32-bit. Now that we are trying to use the Windows 7 64-bit CD system keeps telling us the software is not compatable. I have both CD's, 32 and 64, is there a way to upgarde to the correct version of Windows 7 or am I stuck with the one we already downloaded?

[LincolnSpector]

Cowboy4Life, on 24 April 2012 - 06:45 AM, said:

So we upgraded from window XP to windows 7, little did we know that we needed to upgrade to 64-bit, not the 32-bit. Now that we are trying to use the Windows 7 64-bit CD system keeps telling us the software is not compatable. I have both CD's, 32 and 64, is there a way to upgarde to the correct version of Windows 7 or am I stuck with the one we already downloaded?

Hi, Cowboy.

Could you tell us a little more about what's happening? Are you upgrading an XP computer to Win7, or are you replacing it with a new computer? And why do you think you must upgrade to 64?

Lincoln

[Cowboy4Life]

LincolnSpector, on 24 April 2012 - 07:46 AM, said:

Cowboy4Life, on 24 April 2012 - 06:45 AM, said:

So we upgraded from window XP to windows 7, little did we know that we needed to upgrade to 64-bit, not the 32-bit. Now that we are trying to use the Windows 7 64-bit CD system keeps telling us the software is not compatable. I have both CD's, 32 and 64, is there a way to upgarde to the correct version of Windows 7 or am I stuck with the one we already downloaded?

Hi, Cowboy.

Could you tell us a little more about what's happening? Are you upgrading an XP computer to Win7, or are you replacing it with a new computer? And why do you think you must upgrade to 64?

Lincoln

Hello Lincoln,

Well we upgraded from windows XP to windows 7, bought the upgrade version of windows. Installed the 32 version. My son wanted more RAM, we went from 2GB to 8GB, but the tech who installed them for my wife told her we needed the 64 windows 7 in order to utilize all the RAM we had added to the PC.

[LiveBrianD]

Yes, you need 64-bit Windows to access more than ~3.5GB RAM (32-bit accesses 4GB in total, but that includes ALL memory, including system memory, video memory, etc...). Put in your windows disc (while windows is running), and do a custom install from there. (you CAN'T "upgrade" from a 32-bit to a 64-bit OS or vise versa, you must do a custom/clean install, but you can still do that with an upgrade copy of windows as long as a qualifying version is already installed)

[LincolnSpector]

Another option: Don't worry about using all of that RAM. Or perhaps pull half of it out. 4GB (3.5 of which are actually used) should be fine.

There are people on this forum who understand motherboards better than I do, so let me throw this question out to them: If the motherboard can take 8GB, does that guarantee a 64-bit CPU? Without one, you won't be able to install the 64-bit version of Win7, anyway.

Lincoln

[LiveBrianD]

LincolnSpector, on 27 April 2012 - 08:11 AM, said:

Another option: Don't worry about using all of that RAM. Or perhaps pull half of it out. 4GB (3.5 of which are actually used) should be fine.

There are people on this forum who understand motherboards better than I do, so let me throw this question out to them: If the motherboard can take 8GB, does that guarantee a 64-bit CPU? Without one, you won't be able to install the 64-bit version of Win7, anyway.

Lincoln

No. I'd assume that, for an older socket that doesn't have any 64-bit processors (ex. PGA478 Pentium 4s), you'd have a max of 4GB or less. BUT - for some sockets, like LGA775, you can get a 32-bit processor OR a 64-bit processor. (namely, some of the 775 Pentium 4s) For instance, see this: http://ark.intel.com...&Sockets=lga775 Notice a few 32-bit processors in there? Many 775 boards support 8GB RAM, but of course if you put a 32-bit Pentium 4 in one you'll still be limited to 4GB.

[coastie65]

One thing that was over looked was that you can not Upgrade directly from XP to Windows 7 64bit using the Windwos 7 Upgrade disk. You need to use the 64 Bit Installation disk, Here: http://www.ehow.com/...ws-7-64bit.html

[LiveBrianD]

coastie65, on 27 April 2012 - 04:39 PM, said:

One thing that was over looked was that you can not Upgrade directly from XP to Windows 7 64bit using the Windwos 7 Upgrade disk. You need to use the 64 Bit Installation disk, Here: http://www.ehow.com/...ws-7-64bit.html

Huh? Retail and Upgrade copies of Windows 7 come with both 32-bit AND 64-bit media in the box. (OEM copies only come with one version though, not both.)

[Cowboy4Life]

LiveBrianD, on 26 April 2012 - 02:21 PM, said:

Yes, you need 64-bit Windows to access more than ~3.5GB RAM (32-bit accesses 4GB in total, but that includes ALL memory, including system memory, video memory, etc...). Put in your windows disc (while windows is running), and do a custom install from there. (you CAN'T "upgrade" from a 32-bit to a 64-bit OS or vise versa, you must do a custom/clean install, but you can still do that with an upgrade copy of windows as long as a qualifying version is already installed)

So....how would I be able to do a custom upgrade? I'm super noob on this topic

[coastie65]

LiveBrianD, on 27 April 2012 - 04:53 PM, said:

coastie65, on 27 April 2012 - 04:39 PM, said:

One thing that was over looked was that you can not Upgrade directly from XP to Windows 7 64bit using the Windwos 7 Upgrade disk. You need to use the 64 Bit Installation disk, Here: http://www.ehow.com/...ws-7-64bit.html

Huh? Retail and Upgrade copies of Windows 7 come with both 32-bit AND 64-bit media in the box. (OEM copies only come with one version though, not both.)

Yeah, I know that as I have a retail copy of Windows 7. What I was saying is that you can't use an Upgrade disk and do a direct upgrade from XP to Windows 7, at least to my knowledge.

[LiveBrianD]

Cowboy4Life, on 27 April 2012 - 08:47 PM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 26 April 2012 - 02:21 PM, said:

Yes, you need 64-bit Windows to access more than ~3.5GB RAM (32-bit accesses 4GB in total, but that includes ALL memory, including system memory, video memory, etc...). Put in your windows disc (while windows is running), and do a custom install from there. (you CAN'T "upgrade" from a 32-bit to a 64-bit OS or vise versa, you must do a custom/clean install, but you can still do that with an upgrade copy of windows as long as a qualifying version is already installed)

So....how would I be able to do a custom upgrade? I'm super noob on this topic

Since you have an upgrade disc, you have to do it from Windows. Put the disc in, and when the setup wizard appears (you may need to go into 'computer' and select the DVD drive), click install, and follow the prompts to do a CUSTOM install, NOT an upgrade install. (The end result from that or booting off a regular Win7 disc and doing a custom install is the same.)

[LiveBrianD]

coastie65, on 28 April 2012 - 04:25 AM, said:

LiveBrianD, on 27 April 2012 - 04:53 PM, said:

coastie65, on 27 April 2012 - 04:39 PM, said:

One thing that was over looked was that you can not Upgrade directly from XP to Windows 7 64bit using the Windwos 7 Upgrade disk. You need to use the 64 Bit Installation disk, Here: http://www.ehow.com/...ws-7-64bit.html

Huh? Retail and Upgrade copies of Windows 7 come with both 32-bit AND 64-bit media in the box. (OEM copies only come with one version though, not both.)

Yeah, I know that as I have a retail copy of Windows 7. What I was saying is that you can't use an Upgrade disk and do a direct upgrade from XP to Windows 7, at least to my knowledge.

Basically: From ANY Windows version XP and up, you can do a custom (full) install with an upgrade disc. From Windows Vista or 7, the SAME bit-rate, you can do an in-place upgrade.

[coastie65]

Ok. Here is something with the Upgrade disk: http://uk.answers.ya...29054931AA6lhSe This still doesn't address the issue of going from 32 bit to 64 bit, which I do not think can be done like that.

This post has been edited by coastie65: 28 April 2012 - 11:29 AM

[LiveBrianD]

coastie65, on 28 April 2012 - 11:27 AM, said:

Ok. Here is something with the Upgrade disk: http://uk.answers.ya...29054931AA6lhSe This still doesn't address the issue of going from 32 bit to 64 bit, which I do not think can be done like that.

Let me clarify: With an upgrade copy of Windows, you MUST start setup from the existing OS (XP, Vista, or 7). Unless you're going from Vista or 7 to 7, and the same bit-rate, you MUST do a clean/custom install. (which CAN be done with an upgrade disc)

Basically, put in the Win7 64-bit upgrade disc, do a custom install from the existing OS, and then install the drivers.

[coastie65]

LiveBrianD, on 28 April 2012 - 11:38 AM, said:

coastie65, on 28 April 2012 - 11:27 AM, said:

Ok. Here is something with the Upgrade disk: http://uk.answers.ya...29054931AA6lhSe This still doesn't address the issue of going from 32 bit to 64 bit, which I do not think can be done like that.

Let me clarify: With an upgrade copy of Windows, you MUST start setup from the existing OS (XP, Vista, or 7). Unless you're going from Vista or 7 to 7, and the same bit-rate, you MUST do a clean/custom install. (which CAN be done with an upgrade disc)

Basically, put in the Win7 64-bit upgrade disc, do a custom install from the existing OS, and then install the drivers.

That is essentialy what was said in the link I provided. This was unnecessary and could prove confusing.