Downgrading Windows 7 64-bit to 32-bit

[herschen]

I have a Gateway DX4300 with Windows 7 64-bit preinstalled. I need to downgrade to Windows 7 32-bit. I spoke to Gateway chat support in India and they informed me that they could not ship me a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit, the computer came with Windows 7 64-bit preinstalled and the drivers are designed for that OS.

First question: Is India just blowing smoke up my a_s? Will this computer be able to run Windows 7 32-bit?

Second question: I'm now in the process of getting a copy of Windows 7 Home Premium 32-bit retail, so I can wipe my drive and install 32-bit. Can I use my Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit CD-Key with the 32-bit version? Will it cause problems that the version I'm getting is retail?

Thank you.

 

[pparks1]

I've never really seen an issue where hardware in a pre-fab computer only has 64-bit drivers and not 32-bit driver support....the other way around....certainly. I'm sure that you will be fine on that front.

As far as using the same key...100% legit. No problems whatsoever.

 

[Petey7]

As much as I love hate to contradict pparks, he is wrong on both fronts.

The key you have is only for a OEM copy of 7 from Gateway only. It will not work with a retail copy of 7.

Although it is unusual, you may not be able to find all the right drivers. You certainly may have trouble getting them from Gateway. I would try to track down the drivers you need before installing 32 bit.

Why do you want to change to 32 bit? are you having a problem? We may know how to solve it.

 

[theog]

As much as I love hate to contradict pparks, he is wrong on both fronts.

The key you have is only for a OEM copy of 7 from Gateway only. It will not work with a retail copy of 7.

Although it is unusual, you may not be able to find all the right drivers. You certainly may have trouble getting them from Gateway. I would try to track down the drivers you need before installing 32 bit.

Why do you want to change to 32 bit? are you having a problem? We may know how to solve it.

1) You can use a OEM key with a Retail DVD.

2) Gateway list 32bit drivers for the DX4300-22.

 

[Petey7]

[
1) You can use a OEM key with a Retail DVD.

Then why have so many others on here said the opposite?

 

[theog]

[
1) You can use a OEM key with a Retail DVD.

Then why have so many others on here said the opposite?

I have said the opposite to yourself as many others do.

 

[Petey7]

You cannot use the oem key to activate a retail version

I know I have seen a few other post like it in the past three weeks alone, but the search function for this website feels the need to leave out certain words so its hard to find the other threads I've seen.

 

[pparks1]

The retail disc can be used with OEM keys. It's the same install.wim file...it's only the key inserted during the install of Windows 7 that dictates what you have.

This is a change from Vista.

 

[theog]

You can do this with Vista aswell, not with Win XP.

 

[pparks1]

Here is a link direct from out tutorial section
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html?ltr=W

The pertinent info in the tutorial at the intro says

Remember you will still need a valid license key specific to the version you are installing. In addition, Microsoft has eliminated the differences between the retail and OEM install discs with Windows 7, so this disc can be used to reinstall Windows 7 on PC’s where the owner has lost, or is unable to find, the OEM restore discs. In order to create such a disc; just delete and remove the ei.cfg from any Windows 7 ISO to convert that image into a universal disc for all editions of Windows 7.

@Theog: sorry I wasn't clear. It changed from Vista onward is what I meant to say.....

 

[theog]

Here is a link direct from out tutorial section
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/85813-windows-7-universal-installation-disc-create.html?ltr=W

The pertinent info in the tutorial at the intro says

Remember you will still need a valid license key specific to the version you are installing. In addition, Microsoft has eliminated the differences between the retail and OEM install discs with Windows 7, so this disc can be used to reinstall Windows 7 on PC’s where the owner has lost, or is unable to find, the OEM restore discs. In order to create such a disc; just delete and remove the ei.cfg from any Windows 7 ISO to convert that image into a universal disc for all editions of Windows 7.

@Theog: sorry I wasn't clear. It changed from Vista onward is what I meant to say.....

Nice Quote.

 

[herschen]

Thank you for all of your feedback. I was mainly concerned about the retail vs. OEM issue (I remember having this problem when I worked in a computer repair shop with XP).

I will find all the drivers on the Internet before installing this, and I have a restore CD in case it does not work (I'll just return to Win 7 64-bit with my tail between my legs).

The reason for doing this is that my dad needs to connect to a VPN and does not have the 64-bit software to do this. He has the DX4320.

I don't know why the Indians had me concerned. I haven't worked much with Windows 64-bit, but from my experience, I knew that 64-bit CPU's generally work in either 32-bit or 64-bit. I thought that something may have changed with the newer technology.