Dual boot win vista 32 bit to 64bit win 7

[CaptainBri]

Hey guys,

some of you probably have seen my other thread regarding this. I had win 7 64 bit then was planing to dual boot with win vista 32 bit but the disc i have is a toshiba one and only does a clean install meaning deleting partition and such.

I recently reformated to windows vista home premium 32 bit. Did the parititon and such, so now i am ready to install win 7 64 bit in a different partition.

The thing is, when i insert the cd, which is windows 7 home premium 64-bit it shows this error message.

'The version of this file is not compatible with the version of windows you're running. Check your computers system information to see whether you need an x86(32bit) or x64(64 bit) version of the program.'

I think the one that i downloaded is an upgrade only but i did a clean install when i installed it before and its only a 64 bit aswell, this is so hard lol.

i bought my windows 7 from a promo for students for only $50 aud and i chose 64 bit because my computer was runing a vista 64 bit before. But my stupid school cannot support 64-bits so i was planing to dual boot with a 32 bit and a 64 bit windows 7.

What do you guys think i should do?

so all i have with me atm is my windows 7 64-bit and my cd key for it.

If i download windows 7 32-bit will the cd key for the 64-bit work for the 32-bit? or nope?

 

[Arc]

I recently reformated to windows vista home premium 32 bit. Did the parititon and such, so now i am ready to install win 7 64 bit in a different partition.

The thing is, when i insert the cd, which is windows 7 home premium 64-bit it shows this error message.

'The version of this file is not compatible with the version of windows you're running. Check your computers system information to see whether you need an x86(32bit) or x64(64 bit) version of the program.'

I think you are inserting the Windows 7 64 bit dvd when you logged on in vista 32 bit. So it is a general situation . A 64 bit program or installer cannot be run or mounted in a 32 bit os.

If you want to install windows 7 64 bit, do it by booting from the windows 7 dvd. After the installation is properly completed, if you have any problem about the dual boot menu ( that means if you dont get a dual boot menu), post back here.

Edit : Read the tutorial carefully : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html . Just the difference is yours is Vista. As you have partitions previously done, skip the step 1.

 

[CaptainBri]

i tried booting it and it doesnt work lol.

what i might do is, snice i have a cd key for both win 7 and vista, i might reformat this computer using the toshiba recovery disc, install win vista 64 bit, then i can upgrade that to windows 7 64 bit using clean install.

I can download windows vista 32bit and use the cd key that i have in this computer. Do you think that would work?

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello CaptainBri.



The key can be used to install either a 32-bit or 64-bit, the only stipulation is it has to be Pro/Pro or Ultimate/Ultimate, if the key is for a Pro version it will only install a Pro version.

 

[CaptainBri]

ok thanks, i'll just download the 32 bit vista, since i want the windows 7 on 64 bit.

So my plan is, download vista 32 bit, reformat this computer to 64 bit vista so i can install win 7 64 bit, then partition and install vista 32bit.

Hope this would work

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

If I were you I'd install Windows 7 to the first partition on the HDD so it can be the "System Partition" and then install Vista to the second partition, that way if you ever need / want to remove Vista it'll be that much easier.

 

[Arc]

i tried booting it and it doesnt work lol.

what i might do is, snice i have a cd key for both win 7 and vista, i might reformat this computer using the toshiba recovery disc, install win vista 64 bit, then i can upgrade that to windows 7 64 bit using clean install.

I can download windows vista 32bit and use the cd key that i have in this computer. Do you think that would work?

Go to bios and set dvd drive as first boot device. Then it will boot nicely. but if you stick in your recent plan, do as Bare Foot kid says; install 7 in C, and install vista in another drive.

 

[CaptainBri]

yes thats what i am planning to do, im vista 32 bit atm, and i cant install win 7, so what im gna do is instal the 64 bit first den do a clean install with the win 7 64-bit so basically it becomes the first partition den i'll install 32 bit vista in the second paritition.

and thats what i did, i went to bios, booted using cd, and it loaded normally like the cd isnt there any ideas? but i guess i'll just stick to my plan if it doesnt work

 

[Arc]

Best of luck, my friend

 

[CaptainBri]

thanks, 3gig would take a few hours to download, i shall reply here when it has worked properly, which i hope it will lol

 

[gregrocker]

FYI: You do not have to have Vista installed to install an Upgrade version of Win7. There are workarounds given here: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html

 

[CaptainBri]

that kinda made me a little confused lol

 

[Zomby88]

Remember to uncheck activate immediatley during your install . Don`t activate until your happy with your install. You can only use retail keys 1 time.

And definetly put W7 on your 1st partition. Make your partitions up when you install W7.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

The tutorial that Greg has posted shows how to do a clean install with an upgrade version of Windows.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Remember to uncheck activate immediatley during your install . Don`t activate until your happy with your install. You can only use retail keys 1 time.

And definetly put W7 on your 1st partition. Make your partitions up when you install W7.

Let's clarify this; 1 retail key can only be activated on 1 machine at a time

 

[Frostmourne]

One sec, your school doesn't support x86-64? Why not? Most 32-bit software works fine on 64-bit. Otherwise, virtualize 7 32-bit.

 

[Zomby88]

Remember to uncheck activate immediatley during your install . Don`t activate until your happy with your install. You can only use retail keys 1 time.

And definetly put W7 on your 1st partition. Make your partitions up when you install W7.

Let's clarify this; 1 retail key can only be activated on 1 machine at a time

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[Zomby88]

Remember to uncheck activate immediatley during your install . Don`t activate until your happy with your install. You can only use retail keys 1 time.

And definetly put W7 on your 1st partition. Make your partitions up when you install W7.

Let's clarify this; 1 retail key can only be activated on 1 machine at a time

What do you mean, At A Time ? Once the key is activated that`s it. Unless I`m missing something here.

 

[gregrocker]

Remember to uncheck activate immediatley during your install . Don`t activate until your happy with your install. You can only use retail keys 1 time.

And definetly put W7 on your 1st partition. Make your partitions up when you install W7.

Let's clarify this; 1 retail key can only be activated on 1 machine at a time

What do you mean, At A Time ? Once the key is activated that`s it. Unless I`m missing something here.

Win7 retail Product Key can be activated as many times as you wish and migrate freely to the machine of your choice, as long as it is on only one machine at a time.

Most reinstalls on same hardware will activate on the internet. If you change hardware, there can be a robocall which trades numbers which deactivate on the old hardware and activate the new.

Only OEM versions cannot be migrated to other hardware, although they can be reinstalled as often as you like. Some have reported MS has made exceptions to allow Builder's OEM to migrate to other hardware during the in-person phone activation option.