Problem installing OS versions

[Maroon Machine]

Have a laptop that had 32bit Vista on it. I bought what I thought was a Windows 8 OS on it but it turned out too be an upgrade disk and we didn't find this out until we kept getting an activation problem.

To cut a VERY long story short we have decided to ditch the Windows 8 and go 7. Plus we have installed brand new Hard drive for the new install.

Now we are not sure if the motherboard can support a 64bit OS as we cannot find any information on the chipset (SIS 632). The Pentium Duo Core (T2370) has a 64bit instruction set. So what we are wondering is can a 64bit OS be installed on the board if it is a 32bit version.

This is because we are having difficulty in finding a 32bit OEM Windows 7.

As a matter of curiosity we have got the 64bit upgrade disk to start an install.

Could someone please help us out with this rather annoying problem.

 

[JackALope52x]

Hello Maroon Machine! Too answer your question, no. A 64-bit version of an OS cannot be installed on a computer with a processor / motherboard that only supports a 32-bit version of an OS. However the reverse is true, you can install a 32-bit OS on a 64-bit machine BUT you will not be able to use it to its full potential.

Now if you say that the processor has a 64-bit instruction set, which the one you mentioned does, then it would have to be installed on a motherboard that supports 64-bit processes. So with that being said, I would say that you should be fine with installing a 64-bit OS on the machine.

Also a quick way to check if you have a 64-bit machine, is to see how much RAM is installed. If you have more than 4GBs of RAM that it would have to be a 64-bit machine because 32-bit only supports up to 4GBs of RAM. Now if you have 4GBs or less then it is a "toss up" and could be either a 32-bit or 64-bit machine.

Hope this helps and let us know how it goes.
-JackALope

 

[whs]

If you post make and model of the PC, we could find out for sure. But it looks like you will be OK.

 

[gregrocker]

I've never heard of Dual Core that doesn't support 64 bit. Just unplug the other HD, boot the DVD to do a Custom Clean Install Windows 7 and you'll find out for sure.

In addition look over these steps which assure a perfect Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 which also apply to a retail install and compile everything that works best based on countless thousands of installs we've helped with here.

 

[Maroon Machine]

Thanks all - John here (ICit2) I am visiting MM - my brother Steve and we just cannot make out if the mobo on the laptop will support a 64bit OS


The machine is an E system 1201 (very obscure English store brand to me) and Speccy comes up with the chipset as a SIS 632 but a Google on the machine doesn't throw up any more info of much use. In my post you can see the CPU is a 64bit I was just trying to make sure that the mobo was too.
We did install the 64bit W8 last night - it over wrote ( I think) the first 32bit install.

However it keeps throwing up a message to activate even though we inserted the code at the start. Installing seems to be back to front of the 7 install as well.

Now unlike me Steve likes W8 so we bought a new 250GB drive but we are stuck with that upgrade or going to 7.

Sorry it is so convoluted but Steve was caught by not fully understanding what an upgrade was or did.

 

[AddRAM]

Hey John, how`s it going ????

I think you just need a 64 bit capable cpu. As Greg states.

You can install 32 bit or 64 bit on a dual core.

 

[Maroon Machine]

Hey John, how`s it going ????

I think you just need a 64 bit capable cpu. As Greg states.

You can install 32 bit or 64 bit on a dual core.

Hiyya mate everything going great and good to catch up with the folks again especially Steve as we were always very close.

Anyhow OT we are going to install 7 Pro as prices over here are really good. The CPU is this one so no probs ARK | Intel® Pentium® Processor T2370 (1M Cache, 1.73 GHz, 533 MHz FSB) the only real restriction is the amount of RAM but I shall help him out with a better machine soon

 

[gregrocker]

Hi John and Steve -

When you insert the Product Key during install, it only queues it up for activation but doesn't actually activate it. This needs to be done pro-actively at the Control Panel>System activation link, or from the System Tray when prompted.

If activation is rejected, most of the time it is due to incorrect characters being inputted so triple check the key provided.

If that fails here's how to Activate Windows 7 by Phone - Windows 7 Help Forums

 

[Maroon Machine]

Hi John and Steve -

When you insert the Product Key during install, it only queues it up for activation but doesn't actually activate it. This needs to be done pro-actively at the Control Panel>System activation link, or from the System Tray when prompted.

If activation is rejected, most of the time it is due to incorrect characters being inputted so triple check the key provided.

If that fails here's how to Activate Windows 7 by Phone - Windows 7 Help Forums

Ok Greg will do as soon as the software gets here and we have an activation code