Solved Problem with Upgrading to Win 7 Ultimate (64 bit)

[Joe Brick]

Hi,
I'm new here and I hope I'm posting in the right place. Here goes.
The difficulty I’ve been having is that I want to upgrade my current Windows 7 professional (32 bit) to Windows 7 ultimate (64 bit), but can’t seem to be able to do it.
I originally installed the existing Win 7 (32 bit) version over my previous Windows XP (SP3) from an authentic “upgrade only installation disk” (this type of installation disks are sold at a significant discount to students at my university). The installation disk for the Win 7 ultimate (64 bit) which I recently bought is also of the “upgrade only” kind.
The problem is that when I put the Win 7 ultimate (64 bit) installation disk in the cd-player and try to boot directly from it (having checked beforehand that the cd-player gets "booting-priority" over the hdd in the bios), the post runs as it should, but when the cd-player kicks-in, the screen goes blank, a message saying “unsupported video format” appears for a few seconds on the screen, and then the system proceeds to boot the existing Win 7 (32 bit) from the hdd as usual.
I guess the system gets stuck for some reason during the attempt to start the new installation, however, I can’t see what the problem is because the screen goes blank during that stage. No message appears after the system boots into the existing OS.
I’ve tried to run the installation disk from within my Win 7 (32 bit), but the system won’t let me saying that I’ve got an incompatible version. This is to be expected since, from what I’ve read, these upgrade only installations can only run from boot and always over-write the existing windows installation completely.
Does anybody know of a way around this problem?
Many thanks.

 

[zigzag3143]

Hi,
I'm new here and I hope I'm posting in the right place. Here goes.
The difficulty I’ve been having is that I want to upgrade my current Windows 7 professional (32 bit) to Windows 7 ultimate (64 bit), but can’t seem to be able to do it.
I originally installed the existing Win 7 (32 bit) version over my previous Windows XP (SP3) from an authentic “upgrade only installation disk” (this type of installation disks are sold at a significant discount to students at my university). The installation disk for the Win 7 ultimate (64 bit) which I recently bought is also of the “upgrade only” kind.
The problem is that when I put the Win 7 ultimate (64 bit) installation disk in the cd-player and try to boot directly from it (having checked beforehand that the cd-player gets "booting-priority" over the hdd in the bios), the post runs as it should, but when the cd-player kicks-in, the screen goes blank, a message saying “unsupported video format” appears for a few seconds on the screen, and then the system proceeds to boot the existing Win 7 (32 bit) from the hdd as usual.
I guess the system gets stuck for some reason during the attempt to start the new installation, however, I can’t see what the problem is because the screen goes blank during that stage. No message appears after the system boots into the existing OS.
I’ve tried to run the installation disk from within my Win 7 (32 bit), but the system won’t let me saying that I’ve got an incompatible version. This is to be expected since, from what I’ve read, these upgrade only installations can only run from boot and always over-write the existing windows installation completely.
Does anybody know of a way around this problem?
Many thanks.

I am not sure but dont think you can install using a TV as monitor. google the problem to be sure.

You do need to boot form the cd to clean install 64 bit over 32.

 

[theog]

Ken is right, as you need to set TV up when Windows is installed.

You can use your upgrade disk to do a clean install.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?ltr=C
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11470-windows-easy-transfer-transfer-computers.html?ltr=W

 

[Joe Brick]

Hi Zigzag,

thanks for the quick reply.

I understand what you're saying, but then again the original installation worked fine (Win 7 32 bit from upgrade only installation disk over Win XP), and it was the same system with the same TV set and a similar kind of upgrade only disk. So why wouldn't it work in this case?

I really can't afford buying a computer screen. Moreover, the TV screen shows the bios post and the (currently installed) windows start-up without a problem. It is only with the new installation disk running from boot that the screen goes blank.

 

[Joe Brick]

Ken is right, as you need to set TV up when Windows is installed.

You can use your upgrade disk to do a clean install.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?ltr=C
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11470-windows-easy-transfer-transfer-computers.html?ltr=W

Hi Theog,

many thank for replying and the links. I'll go over them and see if it helps.

btw, who is Ken? (is it zigzag3143?)

 

[zigzag3143]

Ken is right, as you need to set TV up when Windows is installed.

You can use your upgrade disk to do a clean install.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/31402-clean-install-upgrade-windows-7-version.html?ltr=C
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11470-windows-easy-transfer-transfer-computers.html?ltr=W

Hi Theog,

many thank for replying and the links. I'll go over them and see if it helps.

btw, who is Ken? (is it zigzag3143?)

Yep, zigzag3143 is screen name, Ken is real name. Welcome to SF

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello Joe Brick, welcome to Seven Forums!


What they're saying is, there is no upgrade path from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows, it will have to be a clean install and the best way forward, after you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, is to do a wipe secure erase of the entire Hard Disk Drive, have a look at this information below.

All the installed programs/apps will have to be reinstalled so be sure to save the activation keys where applicable and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version


The TV should be ok, I used to install with a 47" LCD TV without issue but YMMV.

 

[Joe Brick]

Hello Joe Brick, welcome to Seven Forums!


What they're saying is, there is no upgrade path from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows, it will have to be a clean install and the best way forward, after you have copied out or made back-ups of the data you need to save to external media, is to do a wipe secure erase of the entire Hard Disk Drive, have a look at this information below.

All the installed programs/apps will have to be reinstalled so be sure to save the activation keys where applicable and be sure to post back with any further questions you may have and to keep us informed.


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

Do a Clean Install with a Upgrade Windows 7 Version


The TV should be ok, I used to install with a 47" LCD TV without issue but YMMV.

Hi there Bare Foot Kid,

thank you very much for explaining this issue and for the links.

I will go over these links and the ones Theog sent tonight and hopefully manage to sort it out. I'll post an update on the results after that.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

My pleasure mate, be sure to post back with an update.

 

[gregrocker]

You could also insert the Ultimate Product Key in an Anytime Upgrade to unlock its extra features from the current OS in about ten minutes.

Type "Anytime" in Start Search box to start the process.

Then save a Win7 backup image so you never have to reinstall:
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery

 

[Joe Brick]

You could also insert the Ultimate Product Key in an Anytime Upgrade to unlock its extra features from the current OS in about ten minutes.

Type "Anytime" in Start Search box to start the process.

Then save a Win7 backup image so you never have to reinstall:
Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup
System Image Recovery

Hi Gregrocker,

This sounds like an excellent idea! much appreciated. I will definitely try this and post back with the result.

 

[Joe Brick]

update - still not working

First, big thanks to all who responded to my original post.

It’s time for an update. Unfortunately, it’s not a happy one. Done quite a bit of reading and tried a couple of thing, but no success so far. In fact, if anything, things got a little bit more complicated…

First, I went over the links sent by Theog and Bare foot kid (thanks again guys). However, unless I am missing something, all the authors seem to presuppose that you have access to the installation manager window of the installation disk and can perform different operations from there. I don’t have such access. Like I said at the start, if I boot from the Windows 7 Ultimate (64 bit) installation disk, the screen goes blank after bios posts, delays for a bit as the cd-rom tries to engage without success, and then the system proceeds to normal startup from the hdd with the windows 7 professional (32 bit) I currently have (or used to have as I shall explain in a moment). On the other hand, if I try to run the installation disk from within windows, I get an error message saying that this version is not compatible with the one I currently have. So I can’t reach the installation manager for the new ultimate 64 bit version either way.

The next thing I did was to disconnect my current hdd and put in a different hdd that is completely blank (but initialized). I then tried to boot with this empty hdd and the installation disk, but after post the system just hangs with a blank screen (it’s not blue, there is a signal, but nothing is shown except the “unsupported video format” massage). The thing to note here that even when I leave the installation disk out of the cd-rom and boot-up with an empty hdd, the system goes through bios as usual, recognizes all the hardware (including the hdd, I checked in the bios), but afterwards does not give an error beep or ask for an installation disk. It just hangs with a blank screen. This seems wrong to me, but I don’t know what to do about it.

Last thing I did was follow gregrocker’s advice which said: “You could also insert the Ultimate Product Key in an Anytime Upgrade to unlock its extra features from the current OS in about ten minutes.” I put the ultimate (64 bit) installation disk in the cd-rom, went to “update anytime” and type-in its product key. The system asked me if I wanted to upgrade and I happily clicked “yes”. However, instead of going to the installation disk and preforming a clean install, the system went to the internet and proceeded to download the upgrade form there. As all this was already in progress, I could do nothing about it.

Now, here is where it gets strange (at least for me): after going through the upgrading process for a few minutes and automatically booting up a few times, windows started up with my existing desktop and it looked as if nothing has changed, except for a notification that the upgrade was successful and I now have Windows Ultimate. But when I checked the computer’s properties, I discovered that I now have Windows ultimate 32 bit and not 64 bit. As I suspected, the installation disk did not come into play at all. Not what I wanted at all. To be clear, I want the 64 bit version and I have no problem with doing a clean install. In fact, I really want a clean install, but can’t get it to happen!

After all this, I tried to run the ultimate (64 bit) installation disk again both from within windows and from boot thinking that since I used the its product key for the upgrade it might work, but in both cases this didn’t happen (either a massage in windows saying it was an incompatible version or the system skips it after bios and goes straight into the existing OS).

Bottom line, I could use more help.

 

[gregrocker]

You keep referring to CD-ROM. Win7 is on a DVD. Is this a DVD drive and is it set to boot first in BIOS setup? Are you getting the prompt to "Press Any Key to Boot from DVD?"

Try setting HD to boot first instead and use the Asus F8 one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to trigger the DVD drive to boot.

If this fails, install Ultra ISO trial version to write ISO to bootable flash stick: On File tab Open DVD, on Bootable tab Write Disk Image, Format, Write. Boot under USB or HD's.

Or try another DVD drive.

 

[DocBrown]

Sounds like a video card / graphics driver causing the blank screen on the win7 install disk. Tell us more about you video, etc.

Edit: It might be the TV set you are using as a monitor :huh:

 

[1994F7PT]

you have to do a clean install of 64 bit as the operating system is built on totally different architecture, it communicates with the hardware in a totally different way, hence the anytime won't work correctly. the license key you bought however with your new 64-bit disc is good for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of ultimate, hence the anytime upgrade still allowed you to proceed as all it saw was an ultimate key, indistinguishable from a 32-bit in terms of that upgrade service

have you not got any friends who can simply lend you a pc screen whilst you install the o/s, then setup your tv after?????

 

[Joe Brick]

You keep referring to CD-ROM. Win7 is on a DVD. Is this a DVD drive and is it set to boot first in BIOS setup? Are you getting the prompt to "Press Any Key to Boot from DVD?"

Yeah, sorry gregrocker, it is a DVD (not CD-ROM, what can I say, writing posts at 5am and that’s what came out…)

The make is: Pioneer DVR-A18LBK


(http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B002O0Y5C8/ref=oss_product)


And, yes, did set the DVD to boot first in BIOS.

And, no, I'm not getting any prompt to "Press Any Key to Boot from DVD" – that’s what makes me think there is something wrong here. (perhaps the message does appear, but I can’t see it because of the blank screen after bios, but I doubt it, cause if I remember correctly, it should also beep and it doesn’t. also, if I try pressing a button anyway at that stage, the DVD doesn’t come to life. The system just hangs.)

Try setting HD to boot first instead and use the Asus F8 one-time BIOS Boot Menu key to trigger the DVD drive to boot.

Tried it. Doesn’t work. It attempts to engage the DVD and apparently fails and moves straight to startup from hdd.

If this fails, install Ultra ISO trial version to write ISO to bootable flash stick: On File tab Open DVD, on Bootable tab Write Disk Image, Format, Write. Boot under USB or HD's.

I want to try this and I understand the general idea, but not the specific operations I need to perform. What does: “On File tab Open DVD, on Bootable tab Write Disk Image, Format, Write” mean? Could you please give me more info or a link that explains how to do all this?

Or try another DVD drive.

I’m afraid I don’t have another DVD drive, but I don’t think there’s a problem with the DVD as it works fine under windows (recognizes DVDs, runs software form them, etc.)

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Have a look at this tutorial at the link below, it's not the same as Greg suggested but it works very well.


USB Windows 7 Installation Key Drive - Create

 

[Joe Brick]

Sounds like a video card / graphics driver causing the blank screen on the win7 install disk. Tell us more about you video, etc.

Edit: It might be the TV set you are using as a monitor :huh:

Hey DocBrown,

I suspect that that the graphics driver is dodgy as well (don’t have a video card), but the fact that there’s no "Press Any Key to Boot from DVD” message after bios with an empty hdd makes me think there might be a more fundamental problem with this mobo.


I checked the display adapter more than once (the display driver is: AMD 760G, ver. 8.710.0.0, which corresponds with the chipset of this mobo), and according to Windows and the AMD site it is up-to-date


The monitor driver is labeled as “Generic Non-PnP Monitor” (ver. 6.1.7600.16385 by Microsoft), and again according to Windows it is up-to-date.


Any thoughts?

 

[Joe Brick]

you have to do a clean install of 64 bit as the operating system is built on totally different architecture, it communicates with the hardware in a totally different way, hence the anytime won't work correctly. the license key you bought however with your new 64-bit disc is good for both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of ultimate, hence the anytime upgrade still allowed you to proceed as all it saw was an ultimate key, indistinguishable from a 32-bit in terms of that upgrade service

have you not got any friends who can simply lend you a pc screen whilst you install the o/s, then setup your tv after?????

Hi 1994F7PT,

Thanks for clarifying this.

And, unfortunately, no I don't.

 

[DocBrown]

Since you don't have a video card, what is the type of video connection is on you MB ? VGA, DVI, HDMI ? Try connecting a standard VGA computer monitor for the Clean Install