Windows 10: Windows 10 won't load CPU not supported

The biggest choice in having Win7 or Win8.1 64-bit installed is whether one wants to wipe the HDD to do a clean install of the 32-bit version, or if having the 32-bit version installed a clean install requires wiping the HDD to install the 64-bit version. Upgrades over an installed OS have to stay with the same type, i.e. 32-bit or 64-bit.

 

Recall that with the free Win 10 upgrade, you need to install Win 10 as an upgrade once to get 10 to activate. (I believe that it has to be a complete upgrade, keeping files, settings, and applications.) After that, a clean install may be done on the same hardware, and it'll activate. I think that includes a clean install of the same version is a different "bitness". (E. g., install Win 10 Pro 32 bit as an upgrade, and activate. I believe that a clean install of 10 Pro X64 would activate on the same hardware.)

 

Berton I agree with you on the choice to be made. I want to upgrade my Windows 7 Pro SP1 (X64) to Windows 10 Pro (X64).
bobkn, I believe I have my answers.
1. downloading the Home edition will cause no foul. I can get the Win 10 Pro in 64 bit ISO
2. If I want to download from Windows 10 Insider offer, I am forced to wait until Windows gets around to checking compatibility next month.
3. I could do a clean install of 32 bit Win 10 if all else fails and expect it to be compatible. This is my last choice since I would have problems with converting files from X64 toX86.

Thanks everyone. I had seen some of your comments in other searches. Others were new to me. All were appreciated. I will mark this solved.

 

I had a similar problem with older home built Intel based 32 bit computer. Message provided related to processor not capable of running specific subset process designed for error checking. System had only 2 gb memory and an older video board. Decided to let it be and left windows 7 ultimate on it. Sometimes incompatible means incompatible.

 

magilla, that is always an option. I've only had Windows 7 for 1 year+ and I haven't really gotten comfortable with it yet. However, I've been told that Win 10 is way better than 7,8 or 8.1, with the best of XP & 7 incorporated. I sincerely hope that Win 10 does away with the'Library' file system.

 

urwotur: I don't think you have to wait, the ISO upgrade will do a compatibility appraisal of your system. It sort of has to, doesn't it?

So go ahead and download the Win10 Pro using the corresponding bit-Depth Media Creation Tool.
Windows 10

Select create media to install on another machine, the select ISO
(the wording might be different, but to just get the ISO, do NOT select
upgrade this PC now
create a USB Flash
burn a DVD

You could of course any of those options.

Make a system image of your machine

Extract the contents of the ISO to a new folder (7-Zip works well)

Navigate to that new folder and run setup

side note: Libraries are still in Win10 - I find them very useful. You might try setting up a few document locations in the Documents Library - I have a few folders docBooks, docTech, docManuals, docForums, docDevelop, ..... on different partitions, but I can see what's in any of them in my Document Library.

It helps, but my library catalog is never completely up to date or all that well organized *Wink

 

I had similar problem with an old Dell Dimension 9250 with a Pentium D 830/4 GB memory.
I upgraded from XP Prof to Win 7 Prof 64, Win 8 Prof 64. When tried to upgrade to Win 10 Prof, it failed with some error code.
Finally, I cleanly installed Win 8.1 Prof 32 and was able to upgrade to Win 10 Prof 32.
I tried to cleanly install Win 8.1 Prof 64 but failed due to missing feature in the Pentium D processor.

It is just as well in 32 bit mode because the motherboard can only accommodate 4 GB memory.

I added a 128 GB SSD, Win 10 Prof 32 is running well for my wife! For a 10 years old computer, that is not bad!

 

I'm not sure what you mean by "converting files from X64 to X86". Data files are unaffected by the bitness of the OS.

Executables are a different story, of course. Most of mine are 32 bit, in 64 bit Windows, but they'd have to be re-installed after a clean install of the OS anyway.