Solved Windows 7 32 bit to 64 bit

[slopland]

Alright, I understand that you cannot do an in place upgrade, so I am prepared to do a fresh install.

I was running an xp system, tried to upgrade directly to 7 64bit, however I kept getting the "this is not compatible" error. I tried to boot to my DVD directly, but get the error "Disk boot failure. Insert system disk and press enter".
So, I simply navigated to the setup.exe in the disc of the 32 bit version that I have, completed a fresh install of windows 7 enterprise 32bit on this machine.

Again, I tried to install 64 bit but got the same compatibility issue and when attempting to boot to the install DVD, got the same boot disk error.

I read that you cannot go 32 to 64 without using the boot to dvd option, but for me my bios will not read the disk for some reason. The disk, when in explorer is read fine and I can see all the files, even the setup.exe for the 64.
I have done the following
1. changed boot sequence in bios to read dvd first, tried it with removable first, then dvd 2nd and completely disabled the hard disc so if it didnt work, it wouldnt load windows
2. directly click the setup.exe for the 64 bit: compatiblity error of course came up.
3. Since I have 2 DVD ROM drives (one ROM and one RW) I changed the slave/master lineup. (apparently the DVD ROM is not reading any disc well, but the RW does, so I have mainly used it)
4. I looked into flash drive options, but my bios and mobo (ASUS m2n e sli) does not support boot from usb drive
5. Looked into making my usb drive come up as a hard disk and fool the mobo to boot from the usb with it formatted as bootable but was unable to do this due to knowledge lacking.
6. I have also let my disk run for about 10 minutes when booting to it to see if it is just taking a while to read

Any ideas? I would really like to use the 64 bit version, but it is not currently installing and is driving me crazy!

for the record, this is a legit version of windows 7, both the 32 and 64.

 

[slopland]

Also, as far as trying to make my usb flash drive a bootable source, when I use diskpart, it does not show up as a drive/disk.

 

[gregrocker]

Did you burn DVD yourself? If so install ImgBurn, select Verify Disk, load the ISO using file icon, look for "Bootable" in text at left, then insert DVD and click button to Verify both.

This is the best method to create flash stick installer: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2432-usb-windows-7-installation-key-drive-create.html

You can also try copying the DVD files over to stick formatted primary in Disk Management. Works for me.

Try booting by using key given on first bootup screen for Boot Menu, stick should be listed under Hard Drives.

Try booting your DVD there, too. I'm not sure why you have Removable listed first in BIOS boot order, it might be blocking DVD boot.

 

[slopland]

I am trying that right now. I had removable first because I read where one guy said while it was reading A, it gave enough time for disk to spin and become readable. Weird, I know, but worth a try. I did try dvdrom as first boot option.

only thing I have now, is when this flash drive is finished formatting to a bootable drive, will the bios see it as a hard drive to boot from? THat is another part of the problem in that I have an ASUS board and it does not have an option for boot from USB.

I was/am hoping this will fool the mobo into believing this is a hard drive

 

[gregrocker]

I created a 8 gb bootable installer using my Kingston Data Traveler by formatting primary and dragging the DVD files into the root. I can keep all my apps there too.

It has always showed up in Boot Menu under Hard Drives.

This doesn't always work so the next most recommended method is the tutorial I linked from SevenForums which uses UltraISO trial to write ISO to stick.

If you can't find it anywhere in Boot Menu, look in BIOS boot order under Hard Drives, USB, removable, etc. Be sure to enable USB boot, USB legacy and PlugNPlay.

 

[Night Hawk]

Hi slopland Welcome to the Se7en Forums!

I have to disagree on one thing about the Asus M2N-E series boards not booting from flash drives. I do that regularly here with the M2N-E without the SLI option.

The shareware version of UltraISO does work by itself to format a flash drive and write from the 7 dvd to create a bootable install stick. This was tested with the retail as well as RCs and does work. MS also released their own tool for creating a usb install stick as well.

When pressing the F8 button right as the first post screen appears this will bring up the boot device menu where the usb flash will be listed right there under the one or more hard drives and above the separate catagory for optical drives installed on the system. Simply select the flash drive there once you have the flash drive set to go. You won't need diskpart for this.

 

[slopland]

Alright, so that this thread may help someone else I am posting my experience. I must say THANK YOU very much for the prompt and accurate help here. Awsome.

After 5 hours, it is finally installing. Read my post for the problems.

The flash key installer method given by greg worked perfect on my flash drive (corsair voyager). It even made it recognizable by diskpart.

And thank you much to nightpart. I was using delete and going into bios and did not remember the F8 option. Although, the first time i restarted, used F8, my flash drive was not there. I got discouraged and then had a brain fart: The USB that my flash is plugged into is a USB/HUB controller PCI card and not a direct USB into my mobo;; DUH. SO, I moved my flash drive to a primary USB slot and restarted and there it was. I then booted to my flash drive and the install began.

For future help to others. My problems were
1. BIOS not reading DVD, giving me a boot disk error when going from either XP or windows 7 32 bit to 64 bit windows 7.
2. The 32 bit windows 7 installed from the disk when i clicked setup.exe without booting to disk. Selected custom and it installed windows 7 over my XP (deleting everything as I expected).
3. BOot disk error.. Well, I dont know why this occured and I did not fix it. I imagine that I did not correctly burn the iso. I used nero and burned a data dvd. I tried to burn a bootable but nero wanted a .ima file that I did not see on the disc so I burned it regular data disk in UDF I think (cause it made me).
4. Couldnt figure out how to get my flash drive as bootable. Gregs post helped trememdously.
5. Couldnt get my bios to boot to USB so used F8 at POST screen, made sure USB flash was in a main mobo USB slot and it was available for boot (diskpart even recognized it as a HDD after the greg solution. )

Thank you guys tremendously. It has definately helped and if this can help another person, then I have helped as much as I have been helped.

 

[gregrocker]

It was surely your burn since you only burned files which are never bootable in a DVD. Use ImgBurn 4x speed with Verify to burn ISO.

You'll need to keep the installer to use its Repair Console for emergency repairs unless you want to burn a DVD from ISO.

If you get the 100mb System Reserved partition it also conveniently puts Repair console available by tapping F8 at bootup.

Or burn a Repair CD in the Backup center to see if it boots.

While there save a Win7 Backup Image externally or to a primary formatted partition so you never have to reinstall again, just reimage HD or replacement using DVD repair console.

Thanks for reporting back. Stick around and help others since you do that.

 

[Night Hawk]

One thing I could add here is on usb hubs and flash drives. With some hubs as well as some flash drives you always run into problems! I've been finding that out with different brands of both!

Lately a small 4 port hub made by CyberPower has worked out far better then 6-7 port hubs. The San Disk and Kingston flash drives have no problem booting when plugged into that one little hub for some reason. Those were cheaper at Walmart but are carried at Radio Shack there as well.

For some reason this particular hub accepts various brands of flash drives. You can see that one at Amazon.com: Cyberpower CP-H420P USB Hub, 4-Port, USB 2.0, 480Mbps, 1.1/2.0 Compatible, PC/MAC PlugNPlay: Electronics

 

[manhunter2826]

^Not wanting to hijack the thread but I have had the same problem with some cheap usb hubs. I have a nice Lexmark printer which when plugged into the hub will spew out corrupted data when printing. If plugged directly into the laptop's usb port, there are no probs. Ditto my external Fujistu hard drive.