X86 to X64 architecture


  1. Posts : 6
    Windows 10 Home
       #1

    X86 to X64 architecture


    A friend's computer was updated from Windows 7 Ultimate X86 to Windows 10 X86. I noticed that his system is X64 based architecture. Can he do a clean install/reinstall from X86 to X64 without losing his activation? If so, how?

    Thank you in advance.
      My Computer


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

    gokart said:
    A friend's computer was updated from Windows 7 Ultimate X86 to Windows 10 X86. I noticed that his system is X64 based architecture. Can he do a clean install/reinstall from X86 to X64 without losing his activation? If so, how?

    Thank you in advance.
    Yes.
    Windows 10 - Clean Install - Windows 10 Forums
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #3

    As far as I know the Digital Entitlement stored on the activation server is good for 32 bit or 64 bit, your choice. The only thing locked in is if It's Home or Pro, etc.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 1,366
    Windows 10 Pro x64
       #4

    You are correct that a clean install is needed, but you shouldn't run in to any issues, provided his current Windows 10 x86 is showing as activated.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 17,661
    Windows 10 Pro
       #5

    A small but for some users important additional piece of information: Windows activation and product key are also language independent, not only bit version independent, tied to Windows version and edition but not bit architecture and language.

    You can clean install an English 64 bit Windows 10 Home on a system currently running a digitally activated Swedish 32 bit Windows 10 Home, the activation is still valid. The same when clean installing with a product key: if you have a 64 bit English Windows 10 Pro install media and valid product key, you can use that product key to install a 32 bit French Windows 10 Pro instead.

    Kari
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 64
    Multiple systems on multiple computer
       #6

    As long as the PC has the token stored on the activation server, it does not matter which version ,language OR architecture will be installed. they all are gonna be valid.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #7

    Grizzly said:
    As long as the PC has the token stored on the activation server, it does not matter which version ,language OR architecture will be installed. they all are gonna be valid.
    If your Digital Entitlement is for 10 Home, and you install 10 Pro. Pro will not activate, and vice versa. Same deal for Home Single language. Install the regular Home or Pro and they won't activate.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 64
    Multiple systems on multiple computer
       #8

    You are right, I am sorry. I forgot that I had two different systems on one computer, that is why it worked so I assumed it works. My apologies...
    to recap: One can change a 32bit system into a 64bit system with the digital entitlement but not a Home to a Pro or vice versa.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 15,024
    Windows 10 IoT
       #9

    Grizzly said:
    You are right, I am sorry. I forgot that I had two different systems on one computer, that is why it worked so I assumed it works. My apologies...
    to recap: One can change a 32bit system into a 64bit system with the digital entitlement but not a Home to a Pro or vice versa.
    You can have more than one Digital Entitlement per device. You normally wouldn't but it can be done, or can happen by accident. I did the free upgrade from 8.1 Pro on my laptop. That got me a 10 Pro Digital entitlement. It was running 8.1 Pro via my MSDN key. It came with 8.0 Core. Latter on down the road I did a clean install. This time around the OEM 8.0 Core key was used automatically and 10 Home installed and activated with a Digital Entitlement. To get my 10 Pro back I just did a change key to the generic Pro key. It upgraded to then activated with the Pro Digital Entitlement. If the Pro entitlement hadn't already been on the activation server it would have failed activation. Now I use a PID.txt file with the Pro key to install Pro and bypass the BIOS key detection.
      My Computer


 

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