Hi Guys
The moment I found that my Processor was a 64 Bit (It says 64 based processor in Systems) ('is that the same thing')
I thought I had screwed up 'Big Time' by putting on a Copy of Windows 7 32 Bit instead of 64 Bit. (But maybe not?)
As first I need to Clarify that my Copy of Windows 7 is an UPGRADE with both disks included for 32 Bit and 64 Bit.
Owing to some Horror Stories of Windows 7 being incompatible with some Software, I never Installed Windows 7 which has been stuck in the drawer for years and continued to use XP Pro. Which is 32 Bit
But with the arrival of Windows 10, I had to put Windows 7 on top of XP Pro in order to Upgrade it to Windows 10.
So as I was running XP Pro 32 Bit, I put on the Upgrade Windows 7 Home Premium 32 Bit.
After which I then Burned a Compatible ISO DVD of Windows 10 and then Upgraded from Windows 7 32 Bit to Windows 10 32 Bit.
After becoming Familiar ish! with most of the 'Bells and Whistles' To day I thought that I would do a Clean Install of Windows 10.
But prompted by one of the Forum Members, I went and checked my System to see what I was running and what my Processor was, which was when I discovered that my Processor was capable of running 64 Bit.
And so I performed an 'experiment' on one of my old hard drives (in this computer) by first putting on XP Pro 32 Bit and then trying to put a Copy of Windows 7 64 Bit.
In other words try to Upgrade XP Pro 32 Bit to Windows 7 64 Bit.
Which is when I saw a message on the Screen to the effect that I could NOT do that and so in order to do so, would need to be running XP Pro 64 Bit to Upgrade to Windows 7 64 Bit.
Obviously I don't want to buy another Copy of XP Pro (This time 64 Bit) just to do that, as the money would be better spent on an OEM Copy of Windows 10 64 Bit.
I may as well have the FREE Version of Windows 10.
Somewhere in the back of my mind, I seem to remember reading that MS doesn't bother to Check for Qualifying Software before Installation.
So what I am now wondering is, could I load my Upgrade Version of Windows 7 (64 Bit) straight onto my Hard Drive in the same way that I would be able to do, With an OEM Version of Widow 7 (64 Bit)
In any event I want to do a Clean Install of Windows 10 so I don't mind re installing, what ever is required.
You can upgrade XP Pro 32-bit to Windows 7 Pro 32-bit(you don't need XP installed) and then do the free upgrade from Windows 7 Pro 32-bit to Windows 10 Pro 32-bit. Make sure each OS is activated before going to the next step. If you want to use the 64-bit version of 10, you can now do a refresh reinstall of Windows 10 Pro 64-bit by booting from the install DVD/USB flash drive you made with the Media Creation Tool. Make sure 10 is activated after the reinstall.
Using the 64-bit version of Windows 7 Pro should also work, but I'd do a clean install of 10 Pro 64-bit either way. It's not clear from your post what you have. Do you have both an upgrade version of Windows 7 32-bit and an OEM version of Windows 7 64-bit? If so you're better off upgrading the upgrade version of 7 to 10 because you'll be under Retail licensing for 10 rather than OEM licensing. Retail licensing will allow you to move your copy of Windows 10 to another computer. OEM is tied to the machine forever.
You could do this installing the 64 bit version of 7, and then upgrade to the 64 bit version of 10. As mentioned though, you should be able to just do a clean install of 10 64 bit. Install the same version you have now, just 64 bit. When prompted for a key, click skip. It should activate. I've done the free upgrade, and then clean installed after on that same PC, did the skip, and it activated. I just haven't switched from 32 bit to 64 bit in the process.
