changing OS from 32 bit to 64 bit.

I have started from the USB drive !! The install box came up .. Choose your language etc ... Then the box came up which I explained in the last message ... I clicked close ... Now the install windows box is up now asking me to install , again !!! I click install , I click on the upgrade box , and that same message that I printed in my last message ( compatibility report ) has appeared again ??? Going around in circles here !!! I close it , click install now , set up starts , it asks me to accept license and terms . I check the box .i click on next . I click the upgrade box . And then get that compatibility report again !!!

gregrocker said:

You need to run the WIn7 installation media from within the OS to choose Upgrade install, just like it shows in the link provided in Option Four for how to do an Upgrade Install with Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums. Start at Step 4 in that tutorial.

phant0m2012 said:

I have started from the USB drive !! The install box came up .. Choose your language etc ... Then the box came up which I explained in the last message ... I clicked close ... Now the install windows box is up now asking me to install , again !!! I click install , I click on the upgrade box , and that same message that I printed in my last message ( compatibility report ) has appeared again ??? Going around in circles here !!! I close it , click install now , set up starts , it asks me to accept license and terms . I check the box .i click on next . I click the upgrade box . And then get that compatibility report again !!!

If you are doing the upgrade install that was recommended a few pages back, you do not start the install from booting the USB.

I'm going round the bend here !! I have been told to follow option 3 others say option 4 !!! So confusing ... Which option am I supposed to be following ??? 3 or 4 ??? I have never heard of or used an ISO before until the other day . Now ... Lets clee this up ... I have downloaded the needed ISO to my USB stick ... I put it in the USB port . Ok ... I shut down my computer .. I press f12 on start up .. I choose the USB pen drive image . I then reboot to the USB drive ok ... It opens , and then I get what I have said in my last 2 messages .... All I need to know is what now ... What is the purpose of the ISO on my USB drive ? Add ram said I needed to boot from USB drive ? You say I don't ??? Option 3 ... Option 4 ... Boot from USB ... Don't boot from USB ???? Does anyone know ???

To activate Upgrade version on a wiped HD always start with Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version - Windows 7 Help Forums Option 3 which is a simple regedit that takes a couple of minutes. You had an error on that before which may not repeat. Try it to see. Follow the steps shown exactly beginning with Step 2 since you already did the clean install.

If not then proceed to Option 4. Run the installer from the desktop by Opening it in Computer, then rightclick on Setup to Run as Administrator. Illustrated steps are the same as for Upgrade Install with Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums - scroll down to Here's How:

Ok Greg that first bit about option 3 is clear .. The bit about running the installer from the desktop by opening it in computer then right clicking on set up ? Am i running the installer from the ISO I have on my USB drive that's in the USB port ??

Yes, just scroll down to Heres How: in Upgrade Install with Windows 7 - Windows 7 Help Forums

phant0m2012 said:

I'm going round the bend here !! I have been told to follow option 3 others say option 4 !!! So confusing ... Which option am I supposed to be following ??? 3 or 4 ??? I have never heard of or used an ISO before until the other day . Now ... Lets clee this up ... I have downloaded the needed ISO to my USB stick ... I put it in the USB port . Ok ... I shut down my computer .. I press f12 on start up .. I choose the USB pen drive image . I then reboot to the USB drive ok ... It opens , and then I get what I have said in my last 2 messages .... All I need to know is what now ... What is the purpose of the ISO on my USB drive ? Add ram said I needed to boot from USB drive ? You say I don't ??? Option 3 ... Option 4 ... Boot from USB ... Don't boot from USB ???? Does anyone know ???

I apologize for adding to any confusion, I was going by the last method that was recommended before the multi page .iso troubles.

From your post above, you had said "I click the upgrade box", so I assumed you were also going by the last recommended method.

I was just pointing out that an upgrade install is not done from booting the installer, it is done from within windows.

You have more than enough help here so I'll just step aside.

i just clicked onto computer. then onto removable disk G, Which is my usb drive. opened it up and there is NO set up file there ? only-: boot,efi,sources , support,upgrade, autorun,bootmgr, and bootmgr.efi ?

Please install TeamViewer Download at all defaults, PM back to me the ID and pw now so I can connect to check over your install, do the regedit or start the upgrade.

Connected to run Option 3 regedit which allowed activation with Upgrade key.

Also wrote freshly downloaded ISO to flash stick with MS Download tool after DVD failed again, possibly due to bad media since drive worked for the reinstall.

That bootable flash media was tested and boots into Repair console. This is needed for any repairs or reinstall since you have a retail box without SP1. If you don't have it you may not have rescue-ability if F8 System Recovery Options do not work.

The Shutdown problem is apparently resolved with the reinstall since it restarted while I was connected. You had Windows Updates queued on the Start Menu Shutdown button (signified by the yellow !) so I had you do a shut down to test this for sure. Results?

If you will stick with only the tools and methods in the later steps of Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 then you will keep a perfect install for as long as you do.

Let us know how it goes.