Upgrade 32 to 64 bit

CaptainKern · 07-07-2014 05:33PM #1

I had a windows 8 computer but the hard drive crashed and I had to get a new one. HP never gave me a recovery disk. I only have a Windows XP disk. Microsoft allow a free download of the W8 iso with a product key with I believe can be found in the bios. However, you can only Download a 32 bit W8 from a 32 bit OS, which XP is. What I need help with is installing a 64 bit W8 with access only to a 32 bit PC. I am not looking to pirate it or pay for a new copy.

Overheal · 07-07-2014 07:48PM

CaptainKern wrote: »

I had a windows 8 computer but the hard drive crashed and I had to get a new one. HP never gave me a recovery disk. I only have a Windows XP disk. Microsoft allow a free download of the W8 iso with a product key with I believe can be found in the bios. However, you can only Download a 32 bit W8 from a 32 bit OS, which XP is. What I need help with is installing a 64 bit W8 with access only to a 32 bit PC. I am not looking to pirate it or pay for a new copy.

Recovery disks are not really standard issue any more with a new PC purchase. The Hard Drive has the recovery partition. This is for lots of reasons, not the least of which many new laptops dont even have optical drives, and using the recovery data built into the machine when you buy it you can create a recovery device onto a disc or to USB.

Your XP disc is completely unnecessary and obsolete.

The Installer is available here from MSFT: http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows-8/upgrade-product-key-only but this won't work for OEM keys such as yours. Unfortunately without the recovery media, you will probably need to order new media from HP

As for the casual reader: do you have recovery media created for your Windows 8 laptop? Press the Start/Windows Key and type "recoverydrive.exe" to begin the process now.

gctest50 · 07-07-2014 07:55PM

CaptainKern wrote: »

I had a windows 8 computer but the hard drive crashed and I had to get a new one. HP never gave me a recovery disk. I only have a Windows XP disk. Microsoft allow a free download of the W8 iso with a product key with I believe can be found in the bios. However, you can only Download a 32 bit W8 from a 32 bit OS, which XP is. What I need help with is installing a 64 bit W8 with access only to a 32 bit PC. I am not looking to pirate it or pay for a new copy.

One (lazy!) way to do it :

This is the 64bit Windows 7 :

http://msft.digitalrivercontent.net/win/X17-58997.iso

Install that on it - it won't need a product key

It will run without any product key for a few weeks.

then the Windows 8 installer will install 64bit Windows 8 for you

CaptainKern · 08-07-2014 05:34PM

Is the a Windows 8 Standard 64 bit iso available? Again, I'm not looking to pirate it.

Overheal · 08-07-2014 07:37PM

CaptainKern wrote: »

Is the a Windows 8 Standard 64 bit iso available? Again, I'm not looking to pirate it.

The ISO, not exactly. The installer I linked to will prompt you the option of mounting it to a disc or USB though.

gctest50 · 08-07-2014 10:05PM

CaptainKern wrote: »

Is the a Windows 8 Standard 64 bit iso available? Again, I'm not looking to pirate it.

If you want to use the installer

( it will still only get 32bit iso if you use a 32bit pc though )

These are Installation-Only keys - you will need your real key to use it.

Windows 8 (core): 334NH-RXG76-64THK-C7CKG-D3VPT

Windows 8 PRO: XHQ8N-C3MCJ-RQXB6-WCHYG-C9WKB

The keys above will let you install 8.1, but that's all it does. After installation is complete, you will still have to activate with your own Windows 8 key.

Upgrade 32 to 64 bit

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