New
#1
Preparing for x86 Vista > x64 Win7 upgrade
This is doing my head in a bit
I plan to upgrade from Windows Vista Home Premium x86 to Windows Seven Home Premium x64 when it is released. However, I only want to pay for an upgrade licence, NOT a full price version.
My current version of Vista Home Premium is itself an upgrade from the original OEM copy of XP that came on my PC.
There are two ways as far as I can see:
i) Vista Home Premium x86 > Vista Home Premium x64 > Windows 7 Home Premium x64 (first stage done using an alternate media which I have just paid GBP 7 to be delivered shortly.
ii) Vista Home Premium x86 > Windows 7 Home Premium x86 > Windows 7 Home Premium x64 (first stage using an x86 retail upgrade, second stage using alternate media obtained after buying the retail x86 package).
However, looking at the following article:
Installation choices for 64-bit consumer versions of Windows Vista
it reveals that the steps are likely to be even more complex. For example, my option i) becomes:
Extremely messy, and almost certain to end in tears!
- Uninstall Vista altogether
- Reinstall my original Dell x86 copy of XP Home Edition.
- Use the Vista alternative media to do an upgrade installation of Vista Home Premium x64.
- Then do an upgrade installation of Windows x64 on top of that.
It would be nice if MS took the opportunity to provide a straightforward upgrade path from x86 to x64 this time around; until we know the upgrade options no one knows for sure I guess. However, does anyone know or suspect an easier method?
For example, with my x86 copy of Vista Home Premium in situ, could I install a clean copy of Vista Home Premium x64 on another partition by booting from the DVD, and then just do an upgrade install of Windows 7 x64 when it become available?
Thanks for any advice.