Windows XP Pro 32bit to Win 7 Pro 64bit Upgrade

Can I have the XP Pro 32bit upgrade version and install the Win 7 Pro 64bit upgrade version?
I've not been able to get a clear answer on this.
Please note I'm not trying to run an upgrade from xp to win 7. I know it will be a clean install. That said, will Win 7 Pro Upgrade allow me to install the 64bit version if it sees a 32bit upgrade version of XP? People go off on tangents about upgrade and clean installs. Please read the question. Thank you!

Message edited by lknowlton on 10-20-2009 at 03:57:33 AM

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yeah,
it reads the CD Keys... and to my knowledge it doesn't distinguish from x32 to x64.
So you should be able to use the 'upgrade' to clean install Win7x64

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Reply to arges86

arges86 wrote :

yeah,
it reads the CD Keys... and to my knowledge it doesn't distinguish from x32 to x64.
So you should be able to use the 'upgrade' to clean install Win7x64

That would be awesome! Thanks!
I originally didn't even consider going 64bit, but if I can (I know my system can) then
so shall I give it a whirl!

I kept hearing contradictory things about this and was quite annoyed by the cornfusion!

Reply to lknowlton

If you have a legal version of Windows, be it x32 or x64, it will allow you to do a clean install with the Upgrade disk. And yes, I think now is a good time to make the switch to 64bit.

Reply to Herr_Koos

I just did a Install of Win7 beside a XP 32 bit install, and although I did not use the option because I was dual booting, I had the "upgrade" option available.

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Reply to EXT64

@EXT64:
So, what your saying is that you had the option to install 64bit Win 7 with a 32bit version of XP already installed... right?

Message edited by lknowlton on 10-21-2009 at 02:21:57 AM

Reply to lknowlton

yeah,
you just can't upgrade a x64 ontop of a pre-existing x32 OS...

if that makes any sense

Reply to arges86

Unfortunately, "upgrade" refers to two different things and therefore causes a lot of confusion:

1) Licensing - the ability to purchase an "upgrade" copy of the new OS at a reduced price based on having a licensed prior version. You CAN do this for Windows 7 if you have ANY version of Windows since Windows 2000. The new license is valid even if you install the 64-bit version of Windows 7 and your previous OS was 32-bit.

2) Installation - the ability to install the new OS onto an existing system while keeping all of the existing accounts and installed software intact. With Windows 7 you can only do this if the previous system was Vista and only if it's a 32-bit to 32-bit upgrade or a 64-bit to 64-bit upgrade. All other combinations require you that you migrate your accounts and reinstall your software after installing Windows 7.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by sminlal on 10-21-2009 at 08:01:50 AM

Reply to sminlal

sminlal wrote :

Unfortunately, "upgrade" refers to two different things and therefore causes a lot of confusion:

1) Licensing - the ability to purchase an "upgrade" copy of the new OS at a reduced price based on having a licensed prior version. You CAN do this for Windows 7 if you have ANY version of Windows since Windows 2000. The new license is valid even if you install the 64-bit version of Windows 7 and your previous OS was 32-bit.

2) Installation - the ability to install the new OS onto an existing system while keeping all of the existing accounts and installed software intact. With Windows 7 you can only do this if the previous system was Vista and only if it's a 32-bit to 32-bit upgrade or a 64-bit to 64-bit upgrade. All other combinations require you that you migrate your accounts and reinstall your software after installing Windows 7.

Your first point is well taken and provides the answer to the question I was looking for. Thank you.

Your second point I already knew about, but thanks anyway. It may, perhaps, help others who are reading this thread. Well written, concise and easily understood. Thanks again!

Reply to lknowlton

Windows 7 CD key will allow you to install either 32 or 64bit, HOWEVER you will need the corresponding 32/64bit disc to do that.

Also you can only upgrade from 32 to 32bit and 64 to 64bit.

Lastly UPGRADE to Win 7 (any version) can only be done from VISTA, not XP, unless you upgrade XP to Vista first.

Personally just backup your data and wipe the lot clean.

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Reply to plasmastorm

plasmastorm wrote :

Windows 7 CD key will allow you to install either 32 or 64bit, HOWEVER you will need the corresponding 32/64bit disc to do that.

Also you can only upgrade from 32 to 32bit and 64 to 64bit.

Lastly UPGRADE to Win 7 (any version) can only be done from VISTA, not XP, unless you upgrade XP to Vista first.

Personally just backup your data and wipe the lot clean.

Your reply is a bit confusing. Maybe its because:
As I'd said in my original post, I'M NOT TRYING TO "UPGRADE" XP TO WIN 7, because I already KNOW it will require a CLEAN INSTALL (in either 32 or 64bit Win 7).
I also said "PLEASE READ THE QUESTION". Thanks!

Reply to lknowlton

I tried to upgrade from XP Pro 32 to Win 7 64 and it would not let me. Said I didn't have the right software. Win 7 32 is installing now.

Is it possible to next put in the Win 64 disc and update to Win 7 64 after Win 32 installs.

Thanks

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to kehardman

should be...
but i always recommend doing a clean install of a new OS either on a new HDD or a new partition

Reply to arges86

kehardman wrote :

I tried to upgrade from XP Pro 32 to Win 7 64 and it would not let me. Said I didn't have the right software. Win 7 32 is installing now.

Is it possible to next put in the Win 64 disc and update to Win 7 64 after Win 32 installs.

Thanks

I'm not sure if you tried to UPGRADE XP to WIN 7 or just do a clean installation.
You CAN NOT do a UPGRADE from XP to WIN 7.
You CAN do a CLEAN INSTALLATION, which means WIN 7 wipes out your XP.
You could install WIN 7 32bit probably because you started a clean install.
Try installing the 64bit WIN 7 again by rebooting with the 64bit WIN 7 disc in your dvd drive. It would then see the 32bit version of WIN 7 and should allow you to install the 64bit version.
Good luck and let us know how it went. Thanks!

Reply to lknowlton

I just finished using the upgrade version of the software to go from XP 32 bit to Windows 7 64 bit. You cannot start from within XP like the instructions say. You have to boot from the 64 bit CD. I took the safe route and installed a seperate hard drive so that I could create a dual boot system. Did the custom install and pointed it to the new drive to install into. You can also do this into another partion on a single drive. I did not enter the product key or mark it for activation untill after the install was done and I had booted from the hard drive in to Windows 7. If you leave the product key field blank and uncheck the activation box durring install you can do that. Activated just fine and I am typing this from my new Windows 7 64 bit system.

Message edited by Azarack on 10-24-2009 at 06:03:48 AM

Reply to Azarack

congrats
it worked like it should

Reply to arges86

Azarack thank you for clarifying that you can use an upgrade version of Win 7 to do a clean install. From your install it sounds as if you also installed on a new HD (or partition) and not the drive or partition that the 32 bit XP resides on.

I called Microsoft support yesterday & they insisted I had to buy the full retail version to go from XP to Win 7. Your post clearly states they were providing wrong information.

You have just saved many readers $100 over the full retail version! Thank you.

I was planning on buying the Ultimate OEM, but will now buy the upgrade instead for $30 more since I understand the OEM version is tied to only one machine & can't be upgraded. If anyone has used an OEM version in the past & has found it to be just as upgradeable as a full or "upgrade" version, then please post. Thank you.

Reply to texrb

I did it and it works, am not familiar with multiboot details though. Question: Once you have done this the drive with XP can't be removed since the boot manager is on it. Is there a way to remove the xp drive and go to a "normal" single boot drive that being the win 7 drive? If not I'll probably start all over again on one drive with xp being on a tiny partition.

Reply to Anonymous

Windows + R brings up the run dialog
type in msconfig
go the to Boot tab, and then delete the OS you don't want...
then all you have to do is go into disk manager & delete the partition w/ the old OS on it

Message quoted 1 times

Reply to arges86

arges86 wrote :

Windows + R brings up the run dialog
type in msconfig
go the to Boot tab, and then delete the OS you don't want...
then all you have to do is go into disk manager & delete the partition w/ the old OS on it

Would you not also then have to set the Win 7 partition to "active", so the BIOS knows that that drive is the bootable primary partition? Or does it automagically set the Win 7 partition to active? Thanks!

Reply to lknowlton

Hey,

I have read this whole topic, but i am not the smartest when it comes to computers, so a few things i wish to clarify.

I am currently on Windows XP Home (32bit) and i wish for my operating system to be Windows 7 Professional (64bit).

I am going to buy Windows 7 Professional (64 bit) from;

http://www.microsoft.com/student/d [...] fault.aspx

As far as i can tell this is an upgrade. Now after I purchase this and i download the files, do i just run it? or must i do something else because im on 32bit and i want to switch to 64bit.

Can someone please advise me of how to do this. I dont understand what partitioning is etc. or how to do it. I just want the easiest way to get from my Windows XP (32 Bit) to Windows 7 (64bit).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Cheers

Reply to Anonymous

you can't upgrade directly from windows xp the windows 7...
i recommend turning the downloaded files into an .iso (http://www.downloadsquad.com/2009/10/22/how-to-make-a-dvd-of-that-student-only-windows-7/)
and then installing the OS on a different partition or a separate hard drive than XP
you can create a diff. partition when you're installing the OS, or you can create it through XP w/ a program called disk manager

Reply to arges86

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Windows XP Pro 32bit to Win 7 Pro 64bit Upgrade

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