OEM Windows 7 32bit to 64bit

I wonder whether Samsung was correct in claiming that your OEM key couldn't be used to activate an X64 installation. Perhaps it could, but they wouldn't support you on that.

I think that what I might have tried in your situation was acquiring a Win7 X64 installation disk without a key. I would have copied it to a bootable USB flash drive, and removed ei.cfg to eliminate the version specification. An OEM key may not permit an upgrade-in-place, but you couldn't do that in going from X86 to X64 anyway.

As you're already getting a cheap X64 Pro, you could try it as an experiment. It could preserve the new license key for use on another PC.

I encourage you to try it, and report back. Doing a clean install off of a USB key drive is significantly faster than doing it from a DVD, anyway.

Use a USB Key to Install Windows 7?Even on a Netbook

bobkn said:

I wonder whether Samsung was correct in claiming that your OEM key couldn't be used to activate an X64 installation. Perhaps it could, but they wouldn't support you on that.

I think that what I might have tried in your situation was acquiring a Win7 X64 installation disk without a key. I would have copied it to a bootable USB flash drive, and removed ei.cfg to eliminate the version specification. An OEM key may not permit an upgrade-in-place, but you couldn't do that in going from X86 to X64 anyway.

As you're already getting a cheap X64 Pro, you could try it as an experiment. It could preserve the new license key for use on another PC.

I encourage you to try it, and report back. Doing a clean install off of a USB key drive is significantly faster than doing it from a DVD, anyway.

Use a USB Key to Install Windows 7?Even on a Netbook

The guy I spoke to said that because the key was registered on Microsoft servers as a x86 key, it would not activate the x64 version. He also had a look and said that they had being testing putting 64bit Windows 7 on my particular model and it seemed to work with all the hardware, but he strongly hinted that it wouldn't be supported by them.

What's also annoying is the driver website that they provide seems to be broken (all the links on the Samsung download center are timing out). I have scoured the net for the drivers based on their version numbers. Can you see any of these drivers being 'Samsung specific'? Or do you think as long as the version number is the same that drivers aquired from other sites would work. Think I've managed to get them all apart from the HDMI driver (5.0.7000.9) if anyone fancies a hunt!!

Either way I will try it out. I still have the resoration partition as a backup and I've only had the laptop for a week, so worst comes to worst I've got Firefox and some key apps to reinstall. No Biggy. It just baffles me that Samsung would equip a x64 based processor with 4GB of RAM with 32bit Windows?! Worst off, it wasn't advertised as such, so I only found out when it arrived. To be fair this laptop is awesome and I'd strongly recommend it (especially if it came with x64 W7!! Are you listening Samsung!!!)

Under the Win7 EULA you are entitled to use either 32 or 64 bit with each license, and can switch to either at any time of your choosing. Your manufacturer is not allowed to supercede the EULA as activation is controlled only by MS.

If you are in need of a 64 bit installer, you might want to take a look at this about how MS is trying to make good on its student deal where only 32 bit installers were shipped: Microsoft Fixes Windows 7 Student Edition Upgrade Problems - Windows 7 student edition - Gizmodo

jmullaney said:

The guy I spoke to said that because the key was registered on Microsoft servers as a x86 key, it would not activate the x64 version. He also had a look and said that they had being testing putting 64bit Windows 7 on my particular model and it seemed to work with all the hardware, but he strongly hinted that it wouldn't be supported by them.

What's also annoying is the driver website that they provide seems to be broken (all the links on the Samsung download center are timing out). I have scoured the net for the drivers based on their version numbers. Can you see any of these drivers being 'Samsung specific'? Or do you think as long as the version number is the same that drivers aquired from other sites would work. Think I've managed to get them all apart from the HDMI driver (5.0.7000.9) if anyone fancies a hunt!!

Either way I will try it out. I still have the resoration partition as a backup and I've only had the laptop for a week, so worst comes to worst I've got Firefox and some key apps to reinstall. No Biggy. It just baffles me that Samsung would equip a x64 based processor with 4GB of RAM with 32bit Windows?! Worst off, it wasn't advertised as such, so I only found out when it arrived. To be fair this laptop is awesome and I'd strongly recommend it (especially if it came with x64 W7!! Are you listening Samsung!!!)

I think that the first bit is bogus. The key would be in use, as with any activated Win7 installation, but I doubt that there'd be any issue about using it again on the same hardware. I have no personal experience with it, though.

I just tried the driver website (above). Works fine for me at the moment. (It may help that it's about 0300 GMT right now.)

I wonder why Samsung didn't make X64 the default, or at least an option. I've seen a number of 4GB notebooks advertised with X64 as the default OS.

May I suggest you try the 64 bit install on a second partition you shrink from your current install in Disk mgmt?

This way, you can see how many of the drivers are already in the Win7 installer and come in on Windows Updates. Unlike Vista and XP, the Win7 installer is mostly driver-complete with new arriving in Updates.

Hopefully the Support Downloads webpage for your model computer will be working soon so you can access drivers there. If any are missing in Device manager, you can also Google their exact name to track them down, or post back here in Drivers forum for help.

If you are happy with the 64 bit install, we can help you remove the 32 bit partition and recover the MBR into 64 bit partition, as well as Resize it into the lower address space.

Orpheous said:

Greg, do you know if the original OEM license key for 32 bit will work with a 64 bit retail upgrade?

Yes, once all versions are unlocked the 32 or 64 bit installers are the same whether OEM or Retail, Full or Upgrade.

Only the key determines which version will activate, and the same key will activate either 32 or 64 bit in every version.

Unlock ALL Versions in your Windows 7 Build 7000 ISO

Bootable ISO - Create from Installation Files

Orpheous said:

mark39 said:

Forgot to add my laptop came with x86, I backed it up, clean installed x64 and restored the licence, it worked like a charm!

That's interesting. What x64 installation discs did you use?

The signature edition I got for being a launch party host.