Windows 10: Windows 8.1 32bit to Windows 10 64bit

Hi all, this is my first post here

I've updated 2 machines from 7 64 bit and 8.1 64 bit to Windows 10 64 bit ok.

However... I have a Dell Inspiron 530 from 2007 which originally came with Vista Home 32 bit.

I took advantage of the cheap Vista > 8 upgrade a few years ago (£25?) and then the free 8 > 8.1 upgrade.

So... currently this machine is running 8.1 32 bit. I've read that a product key is valid for both 32 and 64 bit Windows.
If this is the case, once I successfully upgrade to Windows 10 32 bit, will I be able to extract the product key and re-install 10 64 bit from scratch and re-input the extracted key?

The only reason I want to do this is to increase the RAM on this old machine.

:)

 

Can I upgrade from Windows 8.1 32 bit to Windows 10 64 bit without wiping my files?

Hi,

No.

The free Upgrade is Windows 8.1 32bit > Windows 10 32bit.

Or 8.1 64bit > 10 64bit.

There is no upgrade path from 32bit to 64bit in any Windows Operating system as they are different architecture.

That is done with a clean install, which is not allowable while you are doing the free upgrade.

Cheers.

 

32bit or 64bit compatible

I currently use an 8.1 operating system which is 32bit, the laptop has a 64bit processor, if I choose just to upgrade to windows 10 from 8.1 can I upgrade to 64bit Win 10 (from the 32bit 8.1) or would it have to be to 32bit win 10. I Assume if I do a
clean install I can do it to 64 bit windows 10?

 

I would like to know this as well. I have already upgraded all of my machines, but I found that several of them were running 32-bit Windows 7. I used the 32-bit media creation tool just to make sure there were no compatibility issues. If I decide in the future to do a clean install of windows 10, I would like to be able to use Windows 10 64-bit.

 

If you want to go from 32 to 64-bit you will need to do a clean install.

 

If you are clean installing the 64 bit version of Windows 10 over the activated legal
upgrade version of the 32 bit version of Windows 10 you don't need a key at all.

Luckily for you that crappy Pentium Dual-Core E2160 is a 64 bit CPU! *Wink

 

I realise I need to clean install to go 32>64

What I'm asking is whether I cam extract the product key from a 32 bit install then clean install 64 bit with that key.

The machine is currently running 8.1 32bit. I've got the reserved icon and that's still pending, however...

I tried using the 32 bit media creation tool and doing an in-place upgrade. It was going through the motions until an error along the lines of "Windows cannot change the reserved space" (or some-such). Then rolled itself back to 8.1

I then tried a 64 bit install from USB - when asked for product key I input the key I extracted with Belarc but was rejected as not valid.

The original key on the machine's sticker is for 32 bit Vista. I paid for the upgrade to 8 with media centre (no longer have the email confirmation). Then the free 8.1 update through the store.

 

You do realize you will lose access to Media Center if you upgrade to Windows 10, right?

 

You don't need ANY key!

 

I've just noticed that at some point going to 8 or 8.1 I was upgraded to Pro not Home.

Would this be why the extracted key wasn't valid? (I was using a Win 10 Home USB ISO).

Currently using Media Creation Tool to download 10 Pro ISO.

> Yes, I realise I'll lose Media Centre, but it isn't used on this PC any more.

> "You don't need ANY key" - my bad, I missed that part of your post *Wink

> "Luckily for you that crappy Pentium Dual-Core E2160 is a 64 bit CPU! *Wink" - Actually it's a bit-less-crappy E6750 and with the SSD I swapped-in last year, it's surprisingly sprightly *Smile