[SOLVED] Upgrade to 64bit

I currently have Win 7 Home Premium 32 bit. Is there a way to upgrade to the same version in 64bit with the license I have or must I buy a new license?

I do have a 64bit win7 DVD available.

Thanks

As long as you go from:
32-bit Home Premium to 64-bit Home Premium.
Or
32-bit Professional to 64-bit Professional

You can switch Bit Versions but you can't switch Windows Editions using the same key.

So I can just enter the same key that I used for my windows 32-bit with no problems (same edition, of course)?

Nice. I'll give it a try.

If for some reason the key doesn't work during Install. Wait until after the Install and then you can Activate from the bottom of Computer Properties page.

Shortcut key to open Computer Properties is "Windows Key + Pause".
Scroll to the bottom it should say "Activate Windows Now" or "Windows is Activated".

If Windows has been deactivated for some reason, it may say something along the line of "You may be a victim of piracy". I have actually seen this before and going through activation again straighten things out.

Thanks. I did purchase my win 7 home premium 32bit legally, I just wanted to make sure this was allowed by Microsoft. I don't want to go through the pain of reinstalling only to find out I need to buy a new key.

Sorry for being skeptical but... I'll come back and mark it as solved when it works!

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"You mark that frame an 8, and you're entering a world of pain."

- From 32 Home Premium to 64 Home Premium, your legitimate 32-bit key will work for 64.
- You computer CPU/mobo must be able to support 64-bit.
- You will need 64-bit drivers, 32-bit drivers won't work. Sometimes 64-bit drivers for older components were never released and unless W7 has generic ones these items won't work.
- It requires a complete reinstall so all programs will need to be reinstalled
- Also if your computer came with W7 preinstalled then it likely also included extra software from the manufacturer. This manufacturer specific stuff would NOT be included on a regular W7 DVD. Usually things like touchpad software, on screen volume indicators, trial versions of anti-virus and Microsoft office, etc. If you use these programs you will likely need to get them from the manufacturer or find a replacement.

It is a good idea to use Windows Easy Transfer to back up your user logons and your data, then that can easily be restored on the 64-bit install. This comes with W7, simply type easy transfer in the start search bar.

It worked! Thanks!

I forgot that I had purchased an upgrade version, so I had to reinstall Vista first and then Upgrade to win7 (64-bit). That was a pain, but it worked in the end!

I'm happy it worked out for you.

You should have been able to clean install (also known as fresh install) from the upgrade without needing Vista installed first. I myself and many others have done this ourselves.However you will still need the Vista license because an Upgrade is only legit if there is a qualifying older OS license available to upgrade from. So Vista is still needed for legal purposes but shouldn't be needed to install Windows 7.

Interesting! How would this work? Would I enter my Vista key during the win7 install and then my win7 key after?

That would have saved me a lot of time...

I thought that would be the way Windows 7 would install myself.

However once I received my upgrade copy, Windows 7 installed and never asked for anything as if it was the Full Version.

The only thing I know to say, there are full version keys and there are upgrade keys. Microsoft knows the difference and if you are ever audited, the upgrade keys must be presented with an older OS key.