Upgrading Windows 8.1 Pro 32-bit to 64-bit

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OldGeek

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#143427 14-Apr-2014 21:19

I have tried to find a way to submit this question to MS through their NZ website but keep on getting thrown to FAQ lists that simply don't cover this area.

A couple of years ago I bought a bare-bones PC with a 64-bit processor and installed XP (32-bit) from the old PC it replaced. This was all I needed at the time. When MS offered an Win 8 PRO upgrade for $50 I took it. Naturally the 32-bit version of WIN 8 was installed. All seems kosher (ie activated etc).

Needs have changed and I have now installed more memory. I have also installed 8.1 (just recently with update 1 added). I would now like to move to the 64-bit version of 8.1 (to be able to address more than 3 gigs of memory). Probably the simplest option is to purchase an OEM version of 8.1. I accept that a clean install is necessary. However is there a better (cheaper, online) way?

nathan

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#1025171 14-Apr-2014 21:21

where was the Windows 8 license purchased?

OldGeek

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#1025174 14-Apr-2014 21:25

MS had an online offer when WIN 8 was released. From memory there was an ISO file that could be downloaded and installed.

nathan

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#1025194 14-Apr-2014 21:36

does the email have a link to the 64 bit ISO as well?

mattwnz

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#1025201 14-Apr-2014 21:42

OldGeek: MS had an online offer when WIN 8 was released. From memory there was an ISO file that could be downloaded and installed.

I recall with that, that it detected whether the system 'downloading' the software was 32 bit or 64 bit. So if you downloaded it on a 64 bit computer, it would have downloaded the 64 bit version. When I took up this offer I upgraded a 32 bit computer to 64 by downloading via another 64 bit computer. You would think that you could just switch between the two, eg download the 64 bit one, because it is still the same software, but I don't think you can.

OldGeek

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#1025791 15-Apr-2014 20:11

Just to clarify a few points:

The upgrade was done entirely from MS webpages and involved purchase of an 'upgrade' of any variant of ZP, Vista or 7 to Win 8 PRO. Forget about the ISO - that was something else I was doing at the time that is unrelated. From memory the upgrade involved running a program (probably an msi file) which downloaded and installed WIN 8 PRO. I had 32-bit WIN 8 PRO (now upgraded to 8.1) and I assumed this was the standard upgrade from 32-bit XP.

With extra memory now installed the memory limit of 32-bit Windows is the issue I am trying to address.

muppet

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#1025803 15-Apr-2014 20:53

Getting the ISO should be easy shouldn't it, they're very easy to find and verify as being legit (MD5/SHA1 SUM)

Can't you just do that and use the same key?

tigercorp

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#1025815 15-Apr-2014 20:58

muppet: snip

Can't you just do that and use the same key?

They were upgrade only keys and wouldn't work with a clean install.

I had the same problem as the OP (although it was a 32bit Vista install) and my workaround was to download and clean install the 64bit Win8 beta and then upgrade that using the purchased upgrade key. That worked fine.

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TwoSeven

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#1026007 16-Apr-2014 09:42

When I purchased my upgrade version of Windows 8 (from 7 to 8), there was an option to also purchase the CD - it was sent from the UK and contained two discs in a single paper wallet, one containing the 32bit version and the other containing the 64bit version. The license key that I use was the one given to my via the upgrade process. I suspect you may be able to get the CD from MS if you give them a call, might be a small charge for it though, if not, then someone there will be able to explain your options to you.

I don't think one can do an in-place upgrade either, from memory I think it has to be a fresh install.

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OldGeek

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#1027236 18-Apr-2014 10:49

Thanks for the responses - it looks like there is no way to install 64-bit windows using a 32-bit key - so in effect I have to buy Windows again. This is not surprising given that I started with 32-bit XP originally installed on now-retired hardware - I have had a good run from cheap licences (being the OEM copy of XP and the upgrade to 8).

My next question is what constitutes a 'clean install' required to install 64-bit Windows. When I upgraded XP to 8 (32-bit) I recall a 'clean install' being required but this simply meant C:\windows being renamed to c:\windows.old and a new c:\windows being created. However a Google search shows many articles that describe a 'clean install' as a 'format of the partition windows is installed to' which I presume is c drive given that the term 'format' is used. So - any ideas of what a 'clean install' is in the context on installing 64-bit Windows 8 or 8.1?

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#1027240 18-Apr-2014 11:08

can you clean install a generic win 8 64 and "upgrade" to your windows with the key. (ie an upgrade over a clean install)

against the rules but not against the law.

find something that it can upgrade from, then upgrade it.

simple

- or pay again.

OldGeek

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#1032216 27-Apr-2014 21:09

Just for the record......

I found a DVD that had the 64-bit WIN 8 ISO copied to it. From memory I created this when I installed (the 32-bit version of) WIN 8 PRO that came as part of a special online-only offer from MS for $NZ50 at the time (18 months or so ago?) it was first released.

I downloaded a utility that reported the 'activation code' used on the 32-bit version of 8.1 PRO that I had installed. I was able to do a clean install using this DVD and the activation code and I checked that I had the 64-bit version installed and that all the installed memory was visible. All I had to do then was run windows update and then the 8.1 upgrade. Just a matter of time. I am now re-installing all the apps.