How to Upgrade to 64 Bit Windows 10?

[FireVortex720]

Hey guys,
I have a 64 bit capable CPU(i3-3220) and I recently stuck in a 2GB stick of RAM to complement my current 4GB system RAM(before Win 10 upgrade). I upgraded to Win 10 and my system is still 32 bit, so I technically have 6GB RAM, but only 3.41GB is usable RAM...
How can I upgrade my Windows 10 version to 64 bit to use all the RAM?
Thanks!

 

[geofelt]

You can't upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit.
You need to do a clean install of windows 10 64 bit.
Because there will be a new registry, your apps will need to be reinstalled.
Your activation code is still ok.

 

[NerdIT]

How and where did you get your copy of Windows 10? -through the windows update or downloaded ISO or what?

We'll start there and figure it out!

Please list your system specs to further help troubleshoot.

Thanks

P.S Ahh i misread, yeah if you WERE running a 32bit OS, and made the USB Media for Windows 10 on that system using Microsoft's tool, it will be 32bit 10.

You must be running a 64 bit operating system when creating the USB with tool, or download x64 ISO and remake USB and do a fresh install

 

[FireVortex720]

You can't upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit.
You need to do a clean install of windows 10 64 bit.
Because there will be a new registry, your apps will need to be reinstalled.
Your activation code is still ok.

How and where did you get your copy of Windows 10? -through the windows update or downloaded ISO or what?

We'll start there and figure it out!

Please list your system specs to further help troubleshoot.

Thanks

I got Win 10 from Windows Update, not through the official site.

OS - Windows 10 Pro 32 Bit
CPU - Intel i3-3220
RAM- 4GB
Mobo - Intel Desktop Board DH61BF(gonna upgrade to ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0)
Graphics - Going to put an R9 270X once I figure out how to get 6GB RAM
PSU - CoolerMaster Thunder 600W
HDD - 500GB WD Caviar Blue

 

[FireVortex720]

How and where did you get your copy of Windows 10? -through the windows update or downloaded ISO or what?

We'll start there and figure it out!

Please list your system specs to further help troubleshoot.

Thanks

P.S Ahh i misread, yeah if you WERE running a 32bit OS, and made the USB Media for Windows 10 on that system using Microsoft's tool, it will be 32bit 10.

You must be running a 64 bit operating system when creating the USB with tool, or download x64 ISO and remake USB and do a fresh install

Ahh ok can I use the key that I used to validate Windows 7, my original purchase?

 

[James Mason]

How and where did you get your copy of Windows 10? -through the windows update or downloaded ISO or what?

We'll start there and figure it out!

Please list your system specs to further help troubleshoot.

Thanks

P.S Ahh i misread, yeah if you WERE running a 32bit OS, and made the USB Media for Windows 10 on that system using Microsoft's tool, it will be 32bit 10.

You must be running a 64 bit operating system when creating the USB with tool, or download x64 ISO and remake USB and do a fresh install

Ahh ok can I use the key that I used to validate Windows 7, my original purchase?

Your key only works to activate windows 7 actually, so you have to install windows 7 pro/enterprise/whatever you had 64bit and use the key, and then do an upgrade to windows 10.

 

[geofelt]

You can go back to windows 7 if you do so within 30 days.
Otherwise, Your windows 7 license is gone, replaced by windows 10.

Windows activation is equally good for 32 bit or 64 bit.
You should be able to download a iso for windows 10 64 bit and do a clean install.
I think the 64 bit install will know enough to activate properly.
I have not done this yet.

Or, do a clean install of windows 7 pro 64 bit and use your old activation code.
Then upgrade to windows 10 and you will get the 64 bit version.
If your original windows 7 pro was oem, it is tied to the motherboard, so I would be careful about changing the motherboard.
Why do you need to change motherboards?

If your original windows 7 pro was retail or update, you can freely move to a new motherboard.

 

[FireVortex720]

You can go back to windows 7 if you do so within 30 days.
Otherwise, Your windows 7 license is gone, replaced by windows 10.

Windows activation is equally good for 32 bit or 64 bit.
You should be able to download a iso for windows 10 64 bit and do a clean install.
I think the 64 bit install will know enough to activate properly.
I have not done this yet.

Or, do a clean install of windows 7 pro 64 bit and use your old activation code.
Then upgrade to windows 10 and you will get the 64 bit version.
If your original windows 7 pro was oem, it is tied to the motherboard, so I would be careful about changing the motherboard.
Why do you need to change motherboards?

If your original windows 7 pro was retail or update, you can freely move to a new motherboard.

When I tried to put my R9 270X on my mobo, it was blocking the SATA ports.

In regards to the first method in your previous post, once I directly install Win 10 64 bit, how will I activate it?

 

[NerdIT]

Start with Windows 7 64bit installed/activated
Do an upgrade to 10 through windows update.
-this will carry your activation key from 7 and apply to 10. Write it down.
Use the tool from Microsoft to create Win10 USB installation media
Boot from USB and format drive/fresh install
Plug in code that you wrote down
Done
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