help needed, tried to upgrade from 32bit win7 to 64bit (doh)

[Beachy]

I know now that it cant be done.
Anyway this is where Im at. I got a new machine at Christmas, it has a TB hard drive, intel 3 processor, 8g video card, cant remember what else and I cant get into it to tell you but its is definitely able to run the 64 bit version of win7. It came without an OS and as I already had a guenuine copy of win7 that was fine. However, being a bit of a noob I loaded the 32 bit version and not the 64 bit version.

Today I decided to load the 64 bit version. yes, i now know that it cant be done as a simple upgrade. (im kicking myself)
It started to load....but now it is stuck at a command prompt screen. If i reboot i just get the command prompt screen. If i try to go back to loading from the windows vista disk all i get is the command prompt screen. I can open the registry, and it looks like the previous 32bit version has been cleared, but the 64 bit version has not loaded. I think it has cleared the 32bit version but not loaded the 64bit version.

I did think of just formatting the c drive but i cant remember the name of the partitions, The C drive was partitioned to have windows on one and my data on the other. I dont mind formatting because i backed up most stuff i would have needed....just have to download drivers again for the Graphic card....or just a horrible thought.. would i need drivers for the motherboard and other hardware??

Basically I am stuck and my beautiful gaming machine is flooked :

 

[ignatzatsonic]

If all of your data is backed up, you should be able to boot from the Windows 7 disk, wipe all partitions, and reinstall Windows to a single C partition. Make sure only one hard drive is connected when you start.

But first a few questions:

You mention the PC came with no OS and then you mention Vista. What does Vista have to do with this? I assume you want Windows 7, not Vista.

Do you have a valid 25 character Windows 7 Product Key?

Is your Windows 7 installation disc a retail version?

Is it a full version or an upgrade version?

Have you set the BIOS to boot from the DVD drive first?

 

[Arc]

To upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit, you need to perform a http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/1649-clean-install-windows-7-a.html with the 64 bit version.

Here is some more and important info : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164

Edit: you need to format not only the C drive, but also the 100 MB system reserved partition, too. Then follow the installation process, it will guide you accordingly.

 

[gregrocker]

Are you aware that you need to boot the installer to clean install an OS?

Follow the steps given here to get a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Be sure to delete all partitions during Custom install at the Drive selection screen, using Drive Options:



Then create partitions as you wish or if you have no scheme just click Next.

 

[Beachy]

Sorry, I Did not make myself too clear. I mentioned Vista because I realised too late that I couldent upgrade from the 32 bit win 7 to the 64 bit win7 so I was going to try and load a copy of Vista 64 bit so I could than load win7.

And yes, I have a valid copy of Win7. It came on a DVD with two disks, the 32bit and 64 bit versions. It has a valid product key that I already validated.

I just looked in the registry and all the values are set to zero....does thats why i think i unloaded the 32bit win7 when trying to put on the 64bit version. Basically, it looks like i have no OS at all.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

I just looked in the registry and all the values are set to zero....does thats why i think i unloaded the 32bit win7 when trying to put on the 64bit version. Basically, it looks like i have no OS at all.

It sounds like you have a retail version since you have 2 discs.

Do you know how to set the BIOS to boot from the DVD drive first?

I have no idea what you mean by "all the values are set to zero" in the registry. What are you looking at?

 

[gregrocker]

If this is Upgrade version, just boot the 64 bit Win7 DVD and it will see the underlying OS on HD to allow use of Upgrade version key during install - even if you delete all partitions during install as you should.

How to Boot your Computer from a Bootable CD or DVD

The steps in Clean Reinstall tutorial are the same for retail.

 

[Beachy]

Great, Thank You,
I can follow those instructions if only I could get something on the screen apart from a screen asking me for instructions/
All it is loading at the moment is windows/system32/cmd.exe

I typed in this format :c
And it asked me for a name of the partitions to format. As far as i remember, windows created this [partition and i cant for the life of me remember what it is called. Nor do I know how to type the command to format the partitions.

PS. sorry for the bad typos I am on an old machine with a crappy keyboard.

 

[ignatzatsonic]

You don't need to use the format command. Formatting will be done automatically as part of the installation.

You need to boot from the Windows 7 DVD.

To repeat: do you know how to set the BIOS to boot from the DVD drive first, before any hard drive?

 

[Beachy]

Yes I can get into the bois and boot from DVD......but nothing happens when i boot from DVD.

Any ideas on what the command is for formatting the partitions please

 

[Beachy]

You don't need to use the format command. Formatting will be done automatically as part of the installation.

You need to boot from the Windows 7 DVD.

To repeat: do you know how to set the BIOS to boot from the DVD drive first, before any hard drive?

Sorry, but it wont boot from DVD

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Sorry, but it wont boot from DVD

Regardless of which installation disc you use?

Is your DVD drive KNOWN to be good?

Does the DVD drive work normally in all respects?

 

[Beachy]

yes....it work fine.....i can hear it going round.....thats not the problem. the problem is me...Im a numpty and tried to install the 62 bit version over the top of the 32 bit version.

yes i do i have to boot menu on my screen now

 

[gregrocker]

You can install 64 bit over the top of 32 bit, you just must boot the DVD.

If it fails when DVD drive is set first in BIOS setup as shown in tutorial I posted, then try tapping the one-time BIOS Boot Menu key at boot.

Why do you keep telling us about command lines and error prompts that only mean you are not booting the DVD? Boot the DVD, period.

If it won't boot via either method then confirm the ISO or burn another using the ISO download for your licensed version and tools provided in Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7

 

[Beachy]

Ok, I will give it another go. Thanks so much.
Im telling you about the command lines because thats all i get on my screen when i boot from DVD .. A blue windows background and then the black command prompt screen.
BRb..


Oh I saw this ......which says i cant .. maybe they are wrong .....
64 bit - Can I upgrade from Windows 7 32-bit to Windows 7 64 bit without reinstalling all of my software? - Super User

 

[ignatzatsonic]

When you were in the BIOS, did you:

1: change the boot priority to boot from the DVD drive first?

and then

2: Save those settings and exit the BIOS and reboot?

and then

3: Put the Windows installation disc in the DVD drive and restart?

 

[Beachy]

This is where i went wrong.
i already had the 32 bit version installed.... and tried to upgrade to the 64 bit version.....and it clearly says you cant do that.
"If you have a 32-bit (x86) Windows 7 currently installed, then you must use a 32-bit Windows 7 installation disc to be able to do a repair install with."

 

[gregrocker]

As stated you must do a Clean Reinstall to change from 32- to 64-bit.

As it states in the tutorial I linked for you you must back up your files and reinstall your programs: Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7.

Nothing will be saved which you do not back up first. Read the tutorial, which is the same for retail as for Factory OEM.

 

[Beachy]

Ok, Thanks
Im downloading the ISO right now. Its taking some time because this is an old machine and the connection keeps dropping.
As I already had the 32 bit version on the new machine do i need to download that iso? or can I still put the 64 bit version on the new machine?


im going to have try this tommorow as my net connection just dropped to an upload speed of 2mps....ggrr.

but thank you both so very much.....

 

[ignatzatsonic]

Ok, Thanks
Im downloading the ISO right now. Its taking some time because this is an old machine and the connection keeps dropping.
As I already had the 32 bit version on the new machine do i need to download that iso? or can I still put the 64 bit version on the new machine?

In post #5 you stated that you have both 32-bit and 64-bit discs for Windows 7.

So I am wondering why you are downloading an ISO?

If you want to install 64-bit, you don't need the 32-bit disc.