[Solved] 32-bit Vista will only upgrade to 32-bit Win7....?

I pre-ordered the $49.99 Windows 7 Home Premium upgrade on Amazon. My intention was to upgrade my current 32-bit Vista to the 64-bit Windows 7.

But now I'm worried that Microsoft may not consider that to be a valid upgrade path. I'm worried that the upgrade software will only let me install the 32-bit version of Windows 7, since the OS it will replace on my PC is only 32-bit.

Does anybody know with reasonable certainty that won't be the case?

People have mentioned that the upgrade will contain both 32 and 64-bit versions, so you can upgrade to either version. But you may need to do a clean install of the 64-bit version as opposed to an in-place upgrade (or installing over your current OS), which would have kept your files and apps automatically. I think people confuse the meaning of the term "upgrade". I think most people use it loosely to describe the act of going from one older OS to a more recent OS. "Vista sucks, I'm read to upgrade to Windows 7." They may upgrade or do a clean install but either way, Vista is going out the curb. Microsoft defines upgrade paths as either clean install or in-place. In-place installs the latest OS in-place with minimal impact to your existing system, i.e., files and applications all remain in tact. Clean install removes everything. Both methods are still upgrading though.

So when someone mentions that you can't upgrade XP to W7 or you can't upgrade from 32 to 64-bit bit, all they mean (I think) is that you can't do it it without backing up your files yourself and reinstalling your apps. It needs to be clean install. I think most people recommend doing a clean install anyway. Unless you've got a ton of apps and don't have the original CDs. But it shouldn't take much to get the PC back the way you had it. And you'll probably realize you don't use half the apps you had installed anyway!

1. Windows Home, Pro, Enterprise and Ultimate editions all have BOTH 32-bit and 64-bit installations bundled with them. They do not sell 32-bit or 64-bit only boxes. Every box comes with both 32-bit and 64-it versions. You pick and choose which version of the OS you want to install during the initial setup. (Of course, you need a 64-bit CPU too for the 64-bit OS install, but this is pretty much standard now)

NOTE: If you are running 32-bit Vista and want to upgrade to 64-bit Win7, you will have to choose to do a clean install during the installation setup, which will wipe your hard drive. There is no direct Vista 32-bit to Win7 64-bit installation without doing a hard drive wipe.


2. All you need to use for the Win 7 upgrade versions is the original Vista or XP installation CDs (these can either be Full or Upgrade versions too) and the Key Code. During the Win7 Upgrade install on a blank HDD, it'll simply ask you to pop in the CD and punch in the key code just to verify you own it. You will not have to do a full install of XP or Vista prior to installing Win7. All you need is the discs and the key code.

3. No matter which version of Windows 7 you get, (Home, Pro, etc...) you can go online to Microsoft's website and pay for an "anytime upgrade" to unlock the Pro, Enterprise and Ultimate Edition features at a later time. So if you get the Home edition and you find out later you need the Ultimate edition for something (like the Windows XP mode) then you can just pay for the unlock code to get the feature. The discs all have the FULL version of the OS on them - the only difference is that certain editions, liek the Home edition, have features locked.

If you have Vista on computer A, you may NOT use an upgrade licence on computer B.

Windows 7 Pre-Order Offer : Frequently asked questions

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/b [...] r-faq.aspx

Not alot of help but some.

Here is some info from MSDN Blogs.
Read: "Delivering a quality upgrade experience", almost to the bottom of page 1.
Also note where it says,"These same steps will be required as we transition from the RC milestone to the RTM milestone."

http://blogs.msdn.com/e7/

upgrades are retarded, always do a fresh install to a new OS. Also buying the upgrade CD is also completely retarded. Why pay for a CD like this? You will have to install Vista then upgrade to 7 every time you reformat. Ridiculous.

As I've stated before - uSoft hade a loop hole (intended, or Not) so that you could install the OEM upgrade WITHOUT having the previous version on your HDD. While this is illegal to circument "owning" the previous edition, it would be legal if you infact own the previous edition. THE questioned was this a goof and did the fix it. probably did.

To kamaric - I guess I'm retarted to save the cost differential between a half priced oem upgrade DVD as opposed to FULL price for a "Box" full version. I'll stay retarted and use my money elsewhere.

Actually the first link answers this question completely. You just have to read the appropriate questions. YES, you can do a clean install with the upgrade DVDs.