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SOLVED XP 32 bit to 7 64 bit

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Glaze132

Member
Joined
Oct 27, 2002
Location
Las Vegas, NV
I have been using xp for the last ~10 years and now I want to upgrade to windows 7. I recently built a newish computer and now my wife's computer crashed from different viruses/worms. We also have a vista 32 bit laptop that is starting to act up after 3.5 years of use. I have the xp disc and necessary keys to reinstall windows on both computers.
When I finish installing windows xp should install all the service packs and any recent security updates?
Should I install the 32 bit chipset/graphics/audio/LAN/etc. drivers before upgrading to 7?
We were able to find three upgrade keys for $120 compared to $100 for each install disc. It would save us a lot of money. I just want to know the best way about doing things.
My main goal is to get the best performance from the computers.
 
You can't upgrade directly from a 32bit OS to a 64bit OS nor from xp to 7. You are better off backing up any files you need and doing a fresh install.
 
It is possible to use the upgrade version of Windows 7 to upgrade from XP. However, Windows 7 64-bit will not be able to install over XP 32-bit. After you load the Windows 7 DVD it will have you select the drive that XP is installed on only to verify that you are upgrading from a valid MS OS. After that, the HDD will need to be formatted and Windows 7 will perform a clean install rather than an upgrade install. When they say it is possible to upgrade from 32-bit XP to 64-bit W7, they mean that it is a valid license to upgrade from. W7 64-bit needs to perform a clean install on a system that was previously 32-bit.
 
It is possible to use the upgrade version of Windows 7 to upgrade from XP. However, Windows 7 64-bit will not be able to install over XP 32-bit. After you load the Windows 7 DVD it will have you select the drive that XP is installed on only to verify that you are upgrading from a valid MS OS. After that, the HDD will need to be formatted and Windows 7 will perform a clean install rather than an upgrade install. When they say it is possible to upgrade from 32-bit XP to 64-bit W7, they mean that it is a valid license to upgrade from. W7 64-bit needs to perform a clean install on a system that was previously 32-bit.

So you are saying that I will be able to install windows 7 64 bit with an upgrade disc if I use windows 7 application to perform a clean install. Am I understanding you correctly?
I have backed up all the info I need but I haven't bought windows 7 yet.
 
1. buy windows 7 64bit
2. backup your files on XP to usb or something external
3. install windows 7 64 bit, which will destroy your windows xp install.
4. copy your files back from backup to your windows 7 64 bit when you login.

there is no upgrade from 32 to 64 bit OS.
 
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So you are saying that I will be able to install windows 7 64 bit with an upgrade disc if I use windows 7 application to perform a clean install. Am I understanding you correctly?
I have backed up all the info I need but I haven't bought windows 7 yet.

Yea, you should be able too. I upgraded my parents' 32-bit XP system to 64-bit Vista by doing a clean install from an upgrade DVD. I also did a clean install when I upgraded my 64-bit Vista system to 64-bit Windows 7 by doing a clean install.
 
If you bought the upgrade win7 family pack, it must see a previous OS installed whether its xp or vista. If it does not see a previous OS, the new key will not work. It's a PIA but thats what you get for what, 3 for 120 bucks.

I would not load xp with all the updates and such first. Just load xp or vista and than go right to loading win7. After that load all your drivers for the mobo and such. Again, this if you bought the family upgrade 3 pack of win7.
 
installing windows over a previous version is never a good idea, usually causes problems or slowdowns if it works at all. I have bought several copies of the windows 7 student discount version, which is susposed to be upgrade only but I've been able to install it on blank hard drives by using the 'custom install' option while installing. it has never asked for previous versions of windows and never failed activation. Your family pack version should be able to do the same. Try it.

You should also make a bare metal backup of your computer on to an external hard drive before starting, you can get free software to do this from the website of you hard drive manufacturer. most of them use a version of Acronis True image.
 
Awesome that sounds great that an upgrade can do a clean install. That is really what I wanted from the get go. I am glad it has worked 32 bit to 64 bit for you Juane. It looks like I'll get the family pack.
 
installing windows over a previous version is never a good idea, usually causes problems or slowdowns if it works at all. I have bought several copies of the windows 7 student discount version, which is susposed to be upgrade only but I've been able to install it on blank hard drives by using the 'custom install' option while installing. it has never asked for previous versions of windows and never failed activation. Your family pack version should be able to do the same. Try it.

You should also make a bare metal backup of your computer on to an external hard drive before starting, you can get free software to do this from the website of you hard drive manufacturer. most of them use a version of Acronis True image.

That's old thinking and if you have a student upgrade, win7 does NOT have to see a previous OS version. For ever other upgrade, it needs to see a previous OS installed. If you buy The upgrade family pack, you must have XP or vista installed first OR THE KEY WILL NOT WORK AND MS WILL TELL YOU TO POUND SAND IF YOU CALL THEM. upgrading win7 doing a custom install will format the drive and do a clean install anyway. This is not XP.
 
Yeah you can do full install from an upgrade disc and by having xp you are qualified for the upgrade EULA agreement. Also some student OEM discs will force you now to upgrade from within xp or vista. I worked on one machine with a disc provided which made you go into the OS, but that's not going to happen in your case.
 
That's old thinking and if you have a student upgrade, win7 does NOT have to see a previous OS version. For ever other upgrade, it needs to see a previous OS installed. If you buy The upgrade family pack, you must have XP or vista installed first OR THE KEY WILL NOT WORK AND MS WILL TELL YOU TO POUND SAND IF YOU CALL THEM. upgrading win7 doing a custom install will format the drive and do a clean install anyway. This is not XP.

I know it's not XP! yeesh. If you read carefully I said it SHOULD be able to fresh install not WOULD be able to. Since he does have XP and can just go ahead and do the upgrade thing if the fresh install trick does not work, so no harm done. Also are you 100% sure that the custom install trick only works for the student discount version?
 
I know it's not XP! yeesh. If you read carefully I said it SHOULD be able to fresh install not WOULD be able to. Since he does have XP and can just go ahead and do the upgrade thing if the fresh install trick does not work, so no harm done. Also are you 100% sure that the custom install trick only works for the student discount version?
In most cases a clean, custom install is possible with the family upgrade discs but not always, like in the case of having an NF4 raid. There are no drivers that will make it easy so an older install must have the previous drivers before 7 can actually load the drivers and see the disks to install on.
 
I know it's not XP! yeesh. If you read carefully I said it SHOULD be able to fresh install not WOULD be able to. Since he does have XP and can just go ahead and do the upgrade thing if the fresh install trick does not work, so no harm done. Also are you 100% sure that the custom install trick only works for the student discount version?

It makes no difference. When you upgrade XP to win7, You must do a custom install unless your upgrading from the same bit version of Vista. Which will keep your programs in tact.

So every time you upgrade from XP to Win7, no matter if it's 32 or 64 bit, You must do a custom install which formats and partitions the drive.

If you use the family 3 pack upgrade, it must see a previous version of windows on the system to allow the key to work after install.
 
Awesome thanks guys. I just have to wait on Amazon. I ordered early Monday morning and it still hasn't shipped. I am spoiled with Newegg and next day delivery (I live in Las Vegas in case you didn't notice).
 
Awesome thanks guys. I just have to wait on Amazon. I ordered early Monday morning and it still hasn't shipped. I am spoiled with Newegg and next day delivery (I live in Las Vegas in case you didn't notice).

Went to Valley high there myself back in 75 and lived behind the MGM Grand Hotel. Nice little town then, probably a lot bigger now.
 
Went to Valley high there myself back in 75 and lived behind the MGM Grand Hotel. Nice little town then, probably a lot bigger now.

My oldest sister graduated from Valley, too. But she did that in 1990 or '91. Yes, the town is much larger now with far too many foreclosed homes.
 
Got family in Pahrump. Usually stay there when I come to Vegas. The casinos seem much looser in Pahrump too. Never made a trip there without almost paying for it. :D
 
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