Upgrade from Windows 7 32bit RC1 to Windows 7 64bit

7echno7im said:

You are running Vista now? Me personally, I would install the latest RC. But that's just me, depends on how comfotable you are with backing up and restoring. Do you or don't you have a Vista OEM disk?

I'm running the latest RC right now. I don't have a Vista OEM disc, but vista came preinstalled on my laptop -- I have a vista recovery partition on my hard drive. I have also burned a recovery disc that can turn on when the computer is booting up.

l337 said:

just do this method but with windows 7
Clean Install From Upgrade Vista - Vista Forums

Why does everybody think that things with Microsoft will always continue to work as they have worked in the past?

The problem with Win7, is that the upgrade is going to do a check to ensure that the installed copy of the OS on the hard drive is "activated". With the method that you have linked to, you install without putting in a key and then install again. This shouldn't work with Win7 since it has not been activated. At least that is how I am understanding the new process.

I just built a new machine a few weeks ago and purchased a copy of Windows Vista 64-bit that came with a free upgrade to Windows 7. Unfortunately, I believe the media for Windows 7 will be the "upgrade" version..which means that I will have to install vista, activate it and then install Windows 7 doing a custom install and clearing out the partitions. Kinda a pain, but once I get it installed, I plan to use the backup utility to create a system image and then i can just restore that image in the future.

sirdizzle said:

It makes sense....so far.

Do you suggest I upgrade to 64bit using the rc or do you suggest i wait till the final upgrade disc comes out in a few months?

install rc1 right now or the leaked 7600 build, so you can see if all your apps will work in 64-bit

pparks1 said:

Why does everybody think that things with Microsoft will always continue to work as they have worked in the past?

The problem with Win7, is that the upgrade is going to do a check to ensure that the installed copy of the OS on the hard drive is "activated". With the method that you have linked to, you install without putting in a key and then install again. This shouldn't work with Win7 since it has not been activated. At least that is how I am understanding the new process.

I just built a new machine a few weeks ago and purchased a copy of Windows Vista 64-bit that came with a free upgrade to Windows 7. Unfortunately, I believe the media for Windows 7 will be the "upgrade" version..which means that I will have to install vista, activate it and then install Windows 7 doing a custom install and clearing out the partitions. Kinda a pain, but once I get it installed, I plan to use the backup utility to create a system image and then i can just restore that image in the future.

i dont think so, because you allowed to use the upgrade for xp, and in order to upgrade xp, you have to do a clean install, hence it never gets to see if xp was activatd or not. Also microsoft stated you just need the xp or vista disc on hand.

l337 said:

i dont think so, because you allowed to use the upgrade for xp, and in order to upgrade xp, you have to do a clean install, hence it never gets to see if xp was activatd or not. Also microsoft stated you just need the xp or vista disc on hand.

Actually, it could still check to see if the system was activated or not. The only limit with XP is that you cannot actually upgrade and preserve installed apps and data...rather it has to be a clean install.

You can also choose to do a clean install with Windows 7. The clean install however doesn't mean that you drive can be empty...it means that once it verifies an activated prior version of the OS running, it will then allow you to remove and recreate partitions and opt to not preserve programs and data.

That's at least the way that I am reading it.

pparks1 said:

Actually, it could still check to see if the system was activated or not. The only limit with XP is that you cannot actually upgrade and preserve installed apps and data...rather it has to be a clean install.

You can also choose to do a clean install with Windows 7. The clean install however doesn't mean that you drive can be empty...it means that once it verifies an activated prior version of the OS running, it will then allow you to remove and recreate partitions and opt to not preserve programs and data.

That's at least the way that I am reading it.

I looked at the other thread what the hell is MS Doing, and I saw the link you posted. The guy says when you put the disc in while you are in vista or xp, but what I am saying is that you boot from the disc and do a clean install and upgrade that, that should work.

sirdizzle said:

Hi guys,

I have a few quick questions...

I have an HP Pavillion DV6500 laptop that came preinstalled with 32bit Vista.
Right now I am using Windows 7 Evaluation Copy Build 7100 32bit.

I'm wondering if there's any way to upgrade to 64bit windows 7 when the upgrade disc comes out in October or even now.

I don't mind having to reformat the hard drive.

Can I possibly reformat the hard drive now and install a fresh copy of windows 7 rc b4bit?

I tried talking to HP support about this, but they wouldn't give me a direct answer to any question.

They wouldn't even tell me if my laptop could support 64bit. (I did some research, and I think it can.)

Thanks in advance!

The answer to this post was the very first answer..

YOU CAN NOT UPGRADE FROM X86 (32B) TO X64 (64B).

yes, you can clean install from a UPGRADE DISK.

To find out if your system is x64 ready. run the Win7 Upgrade advisor or insert any x64 disk and see what it say..