Windows 10: Windows 10 64-bit upgrade

So i wanted to upgrade my windows 10 to 64 bit, then i connected my external hdd to my laptop, it got multiple drive, and when i want to upgrade it, it says that the files on my usb drive will be deleted, idk what that means, does it means that all of the files in my drive will be deleted or one of the drive, im confused, because all of the files are very important




:)

 

Windows 10 Upgrade 32-bit to 64-bit

So, Windows 10 Upgrade is being rolled out worldwide, and I have 'reserved' my upgrade.

Currently my computer is running Windows 7 Pro 32-bit. I'm planning to 'upgrade' it to Windows 10 64-bit (via fresh install, of course).

After reading many references, these will be the steps I'll do:

1. Let the "Get Windows 10" app upgrade my OS to Windows 10 32-bit
   
2. Note the activation key
   
3. Download the Installation Media for Windows 10, but choosing 64-bit instead
   
4. Perform a clean install
   
5. Reactivate using the activation key in Step #2
   

(Of course I'll backup my data first.)

However, I still have some questions:

1. On Windows 7, the activation key does not differ between 32- or 64-bit versions. Is it still so with Windows 10?
   
2. Will I be able to download a different architecture on Step #3?
   
3. Is there anything I need to prepare beforehand?
   

Thank you for your assistance.

 

Upgrade to Windows 10 64-bit

First, note that you can *not* upgrade from either Windows 7 or 10 32-bit to 64-bit. There is no way to change the "bitness" of any version of Windows by an upgrade.

Since that means you have to do a clean installation, there's no sense in doing it in two steps. Just clean install 64-bit Windows 10.

 

Upgrade to 64-bit Windows 10

I'm confused. In your OP you stated:

There is one way, and one way ONLY to go from 32 bits to 64 bits. You must do a clean install of the 64 bit OS. PERIOD. Now, if you have already upgraded that computer to Windows 10 and it is activated, there is one step and one step ONLY that you must do - clean install the same version of Windows 10 64bit. PERIOD. If you want to start with 64bit Windows 7, you certainly can (provided you have a Windows 7 product key), but that will still have to be a clean install of Windows 7 64 bit, so it accomplishes nothing to do so.

If you did, as in your OP you stated, already upgrade to Windows 10 once on that computer, then you can clean install Windows 10 64bit without a product key by clicking "Skip" or "Do this later" when it asks you for a product key.

This is how you clean install Windows 10:
Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums