W10 32 bits to 64 bits


  1. Posts : 15
    Windows 10 Pro
       #1

    W10 32 bits to 64 bits


    Hello,

    I just noted that my Toshiba U300 laptop had a 32 bits operating system. It's now Windows 10 that I got with the free upgrade. My question : what's the easiest way to do a free W10 64 bits clean install ?

    More details ... When I bought this laptop, it had Vista installed with 2Gb memory, which explains the 32 bits windows. It's now 4 Gb memory. I then upgraded to W8 with the pre order deal which gave me an upgrade product key. I never noted this was a 32 bits. If it's not too complex, I'd like to move to 64 bits.

    I called Microsoft and they told me I had to go back to W8 as it's the only product key I have. Will I be able to clean install W8.1 from W10 with an upgrade key or will I have to restore the laptop to W8.1 and then clean install W8.1 64 bits ?

    Is there a way to go directly to W10 64 bits clean install ? I had in mind that Microsoft was keeping the information as this laptop was allowed to use W10 without having to enter the key. If it's not the case, the free W10 upgrade could mean big troubles for a lot of people in the future when they want to touch the OS.

    Thanks J Guy
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #2

    All you have to do is clean install the same version and edition of Windows 10 64-bit. Skip entering a product key when asked. It will activate itself based on the digital entitlement now stored on Microsoft activation servers.

    Version = Home, Pro, Education, Enterprise, etc.
    Edition = "regular" Windows 10, "N" edition, Single Language edition.

    If you don't have your Windows 8 product key written down, I would run showkey plus from this forum first to retrieve it and write it down - just in case.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #3

    This is a really old PC with pentium T2130 cpu according to web specs.

    If that is your cpu, it does not support 64bit.


    Toshiba Satellite U300 Specs - CNET


    CPU-Upgrade: Intel Pentium T2130 CPU
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 15
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Cereberus,

    The processor is a T5450, Core 2 Duo processor, 1.66 ghz, which is 64 bits. Not the fastest processor but good enough for light use like mail and web surfing.

    LavyLCDR

    Thanks for all the details. I'm ok with the version which is Pro and I've learned that edition is also critical ! I experienced problems when I tried to force the Windows 10 upgrade by upgrading with the Media Creation Tool. I never had the right edition. I finally gave up and waited the official Microsoft invite to upgrade.

    In System, I see a product ID : 00330-80000-00000-AA131. I imagine the last 5 digits mean French Canadian and probably Pro. Yesterday, I downloaded the Media Creation Tool again and as it was done with the laptop itself, I imagine I had the right one. I had all options set by default with, French (there was no French Canadian), Pro and 32 bits. When I changed to 64 bits, I got a pop up window saying that I will not be able to upgrade for free with this version ! So that's a bad start ... it may work but it may not work as Microsoft said. I'll see ...

    Thanks J Guy
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 488
    Windows 8 Pro x64
       #5

    jgveill said:
    Cereberus,

    The processor is a T5450, Core 2 Duo processor, 1.66 ghz, which is 64 bits. Not the fastest processor but good enough for light use like mail and web surfing.
    It amazes me that we are at the stage where a CPU with any kind of multi-core CPU is only "good enough" for light use like email and web surfing. A DuoCore of this era may be slower than what we now have, but it should be still good enough for damned near anything.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #6

    jgveill said:
    Cereberus,

    The processor is a T5450, Core 2 Duo processor, 1.66 ghz, which is 64 bits. Not the fastest processor but good enough for light use like mail and web surfing.
    Always worth chcking. Hope it works fine.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 15
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #7

    Jody Thornton said:
    It amazes me that we are at the stage where a CPU with any kind of multi-core CPU is only "good enough" for light use like email and web surfing. A DuoCore of this era may be slower than what we now have, but it should be still good enough for damned near anything.
    I said good enough because I can use it without problems as you said, but patience is required. With vista, performance was really good and I should probably have sticked to Vista. W8 was more asking and W10 is even worst. It's quite slow when resuming from sleep. It takes 2-3 minutes before being able to to something and for this I had to be very careful on automatic services. I changed many to manual, to minimize starting and resuming delay.

    You are right I could do anything but I don't cause I also have a 6 cores desktop which has no problem at all with load and W10.

    J Guy
    Last edited by jgveill; 19 Jan 2016 at 14:05.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 15
    Windows 10 Pro
    Thread Starter
       #8

    While searching information on product ID I found something new on W10 activation. With version 1511 and higher, the activation process has been modified and we now have a Digital Entitlement. You can see this in Update & security, Activation. Till next July, Windows 10 can be activated with a W7 and W8 key, valid for free upgrade. I imagine that those having their digital entitlement by July will be able to clean install without problems in the future.

    Everything can be found here : Activation in Windows 10 - Windows Help


    With that, I don't expect any problem to clean install with 64 bits. Thanks for the answers.

    J Guy
      My Computer


 

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