Windows 10: Windows 10: Save As and other issues creating files with 32-bit apps

I have a brand new Dell desktop with Windows 10. I transferred my documents and app data from a Windows 7 system and began reinstalling the apps. Almost everything would install, but several programs wouldn’t operate correctly.



For example, I successfully installed the 32-bit version of Office 365, but neither WORD or EXCEL would operate properly. In particular, they would not do a Save or Save As. I uninstalled Office and reinstalled the 64-bit version that worked properly. Notepad, which I believe is 64-bit, works fine.



I then discovered that most of my 32-bit apps could not do Save As. Photoshop, Thunderbird (mail client), Quicken, etc. Icloud would not even open. I could not even run QuickBooks because the installer was not able to create the license file. Searching the Web I found many posts about people not being able to do “Save As” from a wide variety of programs, although they were all treating then as a problem with the app itself.



Based on my searches and own experience, this seems to be a problem with Windows – not all the apps. Given how many people had this issue, I hope there is a patch that can be downloaded or a work around. Anyone know how others resolved this?

:)

 

Downgrade Windows 10 64 bit to 32 bit

You will have to download Windows 10 32 bit in the edition you have installed, create a bootable copy, then perform a clean install.

Step 1: How
to download official Windows 10 ISO files

Step 2:

• How to: Perform a custom installation of Windows

 

How to install windows 10 32 bit on window 10 64 bit.

First determine if there are 32 bit compatible drivers available for all your hardware. Also, if you have more than 4 GBs of RAM installed, it won't be recognized by 32 bit Windows 10.

If you have all pre-requisites, then you can download the corresponding 32 bit edition then perform a custom install over your 64 bit install:

Step 1:
How to download official Windows 10 ISO files

Step 2:
How to: Perform a custom installation of Windows

As a precaution, backup the 64 bit install in case something goes wrong:

• How
  to: Create a system image in Windows 10
• How
  to restore a Windows 10 system image to an existing or larger storage device
  

Personally, I would setup a virtual machine instead with a 32 bit copy of Windows and run the necessary apps there.

Please note, you will need to enable 16 bit mode in Windows 10 32 bit in order to use those older 16 bit apps:

How to Enable 16-bit Application Support in Windows 10 - groovyPost

 

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.