XP to Win7, hardware says 64 bit, win upgrade adviser says 32 bit


  1. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro
       #1

    XP to Win7, hardware says 64 bit, win upgrade adviser says 32 bit


    Emachines desktop T6532 with 3mb ram running win xp media center (32 bit). Want to upgrade to win7.

    I ran some sort of MS analysis (can't remember the name) on the machine and it said it would run win7.

    Invoice from machine and hardware scan using CPU-2 says the machine has a 64 bit processor. Amd Athlon 64 3500t.

    Win upgrade adviser says:
    "You'll need to perform a custom installation of 32 bit windows 7 and then re-install programs. Back up files before beginning."

    I have windows 7 home premium upgrade which has both the 32 bit and 64 bit discs in the box.

    This machine is in my shop and I use it for listening to streaming radio and surfing the web. It has some pictures I need to save but beyond that the only program that I use is firefox. When it was used as my primary desktop in the house it's had a boat load of stuff loaded on it over the years and I'd like to format the drive during the win7 upgrade process.

    Iv'e been reading around on the MS website about making the leap from xp to win7 and understand that I will need to do a custom or clean install and that I will lose all of my files/programs/settings in the process. I'll use the win transfer utility to pull the picture files off and then re-install under win7. I have printed off the 17 page upgrade process from the MS site so I'll have when I do the deed.

    I have run into what may or may not be a conflict that I'd like to get some input on before I get into this thing.

    I'd like to do the win7 64 bit upgrade if possible and the processor appears to be rated for it but the adviser says I have to do a 32 bit install. Is there something else hardware wise that's preventing a 64 bit upgrade or is the adviser maybe just seeing the 32 bit xp OS and saying a 32 bit upgrade has to be done?

    Thanks
      My Computer

  2.    #2

    I use 32 bit for any installs with 4gb or less RAM. It seems to perform better. With 3gb I would definitely go with 32 bit.

    Be sure to delete all partitions using the Drive Options in Steps 7/8 of Clean Install Windows 7 to get the cleanest install.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #3

    gregrocker said:
    I use 32 bit for any installs with 4gb or less RAM. It seems to perform better. With 3gb I would definitely go with 32 bit.

    Be sure to delete all partitions using the Drive Options in Steps 7/8 of Clean Install Windows 7 to get the cleanest install.
    Thanks Greg, I'll give it a try and report back. The Clean Install Windows 7 instructions seem much more user friendly than the MS 17 page all text report. I can follow the instructions from my laptop while doing the install on the desktop.

    This copy of win 7 home premium upgrade has been installed once on my wife's old laptop. That laptop is worn out and has multiple problems so it's been sitting on the shelf in the den for a year now. I've not thrown it away yet because it still has the home premium upgrade as the OS and I didn't know if I needed any license info off of it. I think it will still boot up. Can I transfer the license from that laptop to the desktop installation some how?

    Thanks
      My Computer

  4.    #4

    You are entitled to move Win7 Upgrade version to any PC for which it qualifies, and the XP Media Center on the eMachines does qualify. You may have to use MS Phone Activation during the activation process, but there shouldn't be any problem.

    To uninstall Win7 on the old machine you can run its Factory Recovery to overwrite it, wipe the HD, or just delete the OS partition using the booted Win7 installer. It isn't absolutely required to do this but if possible I would.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 8
    Windows 7 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #5

    Thanks Greg.

    The process went well, win7 activated ok and seems to be running good. The clean install instructions on this site were easy to follow and made the whole process less stressful, having the screen shots and all.

    I'm going to physically destroy the hd on the old laptop as the rest of it's going to the recyclers.

    Thanks again
      My Computer


 

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