64-bit architecture not recognized

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  1. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
       #1

    64-bit architecture not recognized


    Hello,

    I recently upgraded my Windows 8.1 64-bit laptop to Windows 10 via a clean install. Windows 10 installed the 32-bit version, even though I downloaded the 64-bit version of the upgrade tool. I attempted to upgrade to the 64-bit version using the Windows Media Creation Tool. I downloaded the 32-bit tool and selected the 64-bit upgrade option. Then, I completed another clean install from a DVD. Windows 10 installed the 32-bit OS again.

    I decided to revert back to Windows 8.1 64-bit via another clean install, but I received an error message at Getting files ready for installation: 13%. I have tried this multiple times with the same result.

    Microsoft Tech Support hung up on me 45 minutes into our call after getting just about as far as I did. I have attached my CPU-Z report to this thread.

    Please help!
    64-bit architecture not recognized Attached Files
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 14,046
    Windows 11 Pro X64 22H2 22621.1848
       #2

    Did you select the 64 bit version when running Media Creation Tool? Just because it was the 64 bit version does not mean it will automatically download the 64 bit version of Windows 10. You need to choose that and I think the default is 32 bit.

    Run it again and look. Make sure you select the right Edition nd Architecture.

    64-bit architecture not recognized-mediacreationtoolx64.jpg
      My Computers


  3. Posts : 4,453
    Win 11 Pro 22000.708
       #3

    The "bitness" of the MCT must match that of the OS it is run under. It has nothing to do with the bitness of the Win 10 upgrade that you download.

    You have 3 choices of bitness for the download: 32 bit, 64 bit, or a single download that contains both. If you download the 64 bit version (only), there's no way that you can get a 32 bit installation.

    If you want the free upgrade to activate, you have to install it as an upgrade over a qualifying OS (7 or 8.x). You can subsequently do a clean install, and it will activate on the same hardware. (The hardware hash that identifies the machine resides on Microsoft's activation servers.)

    It's not possible that what you posted is exactly you did.

    You could get the correct ISO from another source:

    Tech Bench

    Let me repeat: you have to install the free Win 10 upgrade over a qualifying OS to get it to activate.

    I hope that you can find a way to re-install 8.1 so that you can do that. Too bad that you didn't image the 8.1 installation before proceeding with the OS upgrade.

    Good luck
      My Computers


  4. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Ztruker said:
    Did you select the 64 bit version when running Media Creation Tool? Just because it was the 64 bit version does not mean it will automatically download the 64 bit version of Windows 10. You need to choose that and I think the default is 32 bit.

    Run it again and look. Make sure you select the right Edition nd Architecture.

    64-bit architecture not recognized-mediacreationtoolx64.jpg

    I thought I had made that mistake at first. I went back and re-downloaded the 32-bit tool and made sure that I chose the 64-bit upgrade. The installation completed, but I was left with the 32-bit version again.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #5

    bobkn said:
    The "bitness" of the MCT must match that of the OS it is run under. It has nothing to do with the bitness of the Win 10 upgrade that you download.

    You have 3 choices of bitness for the download: 32 bit, 64 bit, or a single download that contains both. If you download the 64 bit version (only), there's no way that you can get a 32 bit installation.

    If you want the free upgrade to activate, you have to install it as an upgrade over a qualifying OS (7 or 8.x). You can subsequently do a clean install, and it will activate on the same hardware. (The hardware hash that identifies the machine resides on Microsoft's activation servers.)

    It's not possible that what you posted is exactly you did.

    You could get the correct ISO from another source:

    Tech Bench

    Let me repeat: you have to install the free Win 10 upgrade over a qualifying OS to get it to activate.

    I hope that you can find a way to re-install 8.1 so that you can do that. Too bad that you didn't image the 8.1 installation before proceeding with the OS upgrade.

    Good luck
    I'm downloading the 64-bit ISO now. I'll burn it to a flash drive and attempt to install on my clean drive.
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #6

    tridentone said:
    Hello,

    I recently upgraded my Windows 8.1 64-bit laptop to Windows 10 via a clean install.
    Setting aside the confusion in the bit level for a moment.... how do you do an "upgrade" via a "clean install"? It's either one or the other - an upgrade or a clean install, it can't be both. And to change bit levels it has to be a clean install. Now....if you do a clean install of Windows 10 before you do an in place upgrade, your Windows 10 will not activate, unless you purchase a unique product key for it.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #7

    NavyLCDR said:
    Setting aside the confusion in the bit level for a moment.... how do you do an "upgrade" via a "clean install"? It's either one or the other - an upgrade or a clean install, it can't be both. And to change bit levels it has to be a clean install. Now....if you do a clean install of Windows 10 before you do an in place upgrade, your Windows 10 will not activate, unless you purchase a unique product key for it.
    Sorry for the confusion. It was an upgrade originally. At the time of the upgrade, I was running Windows 8.1 64-bit. The upgrade gave me Windows 10 32-bit.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 3,257
    Windows 10 Pro
       #8

    That's not possible. You can't upgrade to a different "bitness", the OS is fundamentally structured differently, and it just won't work. The installer will tell you so.
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 10
    Windows 10
    Thread Starter
       #9

    Mystere said:
    That's not possible. You can't upgrade to a different "bitness", the OS is fundamentally structured differently, and it just won't work. The installer will tell you so.
    I can tell you that it is possible because it has just happened to me. I'm not sure how or why. I was running Windows 8.1 64-bit, I upgraded to Windows 10, I now have a 32-bit OS that I cannot get rid of.

    64-bit architecture not recognized-screenshot.png
      My Computer


  10. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #10

    tridentone said:
    I can tell you that it is possible because it has just happened to me. I'm not sure how or why. I was running Windows 8.1 64-bit, I upgraded to Windows 10, I now have a 32-bit OS that I cannot get rid of.
    What is possible is that you don't understand what happened. It is impossible to upgrade to a different architecture. PERIOD.
      My Computer


 

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