My Windows 7 install file, setup.exe, will not work.

[lucas22]

I'm trying to do a clean install of Windows 7 64 bit, using the 64 bit ISO burned to a USB drive. My computer currently is a Windows 7 32 bit and whenever I burn the .iso file I downloaded from
digital river to a USB, I boot up, change the Bios boot order to USB first priority and reboot. My drive does nothing and just boots up to normal Windows 7, and when I went to do some problem solving I found out that the Setup.exe file (used for installing Windows) is either corrupted or just me being an idiot. It says "This version of the file is not compatible with your version of Windows." So here I'm wondering if any of you guys can help me, and if you can - reply to here please. I have also tried several different ISO files that are x64 and I get the same message as earlier: "This version of the file is not compatible with your version of Windows."

Edit: Here's a picture of what's happening: http://i.imgur.com/6PgVCqU.png
One more edit: I've installed x64 Windows versions of my computer without this problem.
Thanks.

 

[i7Baby]

Why don't you use your Windows 7 64 bit disk?

 

[alz_solstice]

Hello Luca,

Are you installing the x64 in the same Local Drive with the 32-Bit? You cannot install that OS since there is already a 32-Bit OS installed on the same drive. You can install the x64 but in another Hard Drive or Partition. If you really want to install the x64 but on the same drive, you might need to reformat the drive first before installing it.

 

[Alec Mowat]

You need a USB Windows boot loader, I assume you used one?

 

[lucas22]

i7 - I lost mine when I moved.

alz_solstice - I always format my main drive (C when I use the install disk. Should I just use GParted if that would possibly work? I'm new to this kind of stuff- sorry if I'm wrong.

Alec - I used Rufus to extract the files from the .ISO to the USB, so I'm sure I used one. Once again I'm new to this kind of stuff, sorry if I'm wrong.

 

[alz_solstice]

I see why.

First, why not burn in a CD Drive? That's more effective rather than using a Thumb Drive. Try burn the Windows 7 .ISO on a CD and try to install it to your PC by booting it on the CD Drive.

Second, you have a Windows 7 32-Bit, you want to install Windows 7 64-Bit via Setup.exe. Of course, 32-Bit won't read your 64-Bit because they are not compatible.

 

[lucas22]

I see why.

First, why not burn in a CD Drive? That's more effective rather than using a Thumb Drive. Try burn the Windows 7 .ISO on a CD and try to install it to your PC by booting it on the CD Drive.

Second, you have a Windows 7 32-Bit, you want to install Windows 7 64-Bit via Setup.exe. Of course, 32-Bit won't read your 64-Bit because they are not compatible.

I tried to boot by USB, too. Though the autorun executes setup.exe.. which is for 64bit.

Not excuses- but I don't have CD's, and I like thumb drives better because they work better for me.

So I'm pretty much screwed, right?

 

[lucas22]

Oh and, I really need 64 bit for a few things. If windows 7 install here don't work I could use windows 8 install?

 

[alz_solstice]

Men, you don't get it do you? Ok, let's take this in an easy way.

Your Windows System is a 32-Bit Windows 7 right? You install 32-Bit programs, softwares, etc. Because you have a 32-Bit OS, you cannot install any 64-Bit programs. Not like 64-Bit because I think they can install 32-bit programs.

The bottom line here is, your Windows 32-bit OS doesn't want you to install the 64-Bit OS via running Setup.exe manually because they are not compatible. Same thing would happen if you install iTunes 64-Bit to your 32-Bit OS.

 

[Alec Mowat]

i7 - I lost mine when I moved.

alz_solstice - I always format my main drive (C when I use the install disk. Should I just use GParted if that would possibly work? I'm new to this kind of stuff- sorry if I'm wrong.

Alec - I used Rufus to extract the files from the .ISO to the USB, so I'm sure I used one. Once again I'm new to this kind of stuff, sorry if I'm wrong.

Men, you don't get it do you? Ok, let's take this in an easy way.

Your Windows System is a 32-Bit Windows 7 right? You install 32-Bit programs, softwares, etc. Because you have a 32-Bit OS, you cannot install any 64-Bit programs. Not like 64-Bit because I think they can install 32-bit programs.

The bottom line here is, your Windows 32-bit OS doesn't want you to install the 64-Bit OS via running Setup.exe manually because they are not compatible. Same thing would happen if you install iTunes 64-Bit to your 32-Bit OS.

Kinda.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/32-bit-and-64-bit-windows#1TC=windows-7

You can upgrade from 32 to 64, just not the otherway around, so that's not an issue. The issue is that the USB isn't booting correctly. The exe won't work in 32 bit, that won't prevent you from booting off the USB.

I would burn it to a DVD though, it's a lot less painful than using USB boot loaders.

 

[alz_solstice]

Oh btw, same thing will happen to Windows 8 64-Bit if you try to run it.

For the Thumb Drive installation, did you check if you have a boot.ini inside it? I think that's the file that allows you to boot to your thumb drive. If that file is missing, your PC won't boot on it.

 

[lucas22]

i7 - I lost mine when I moved.

alz_solstice - I always format my main drive (C when I use the install disk. Should I just use GParted if that would possibly work? I'm new to this kind of stuff- sorry if I'm wrong.

Alec - I used Rufus to extract the files from the .ISO to the USB, so I'm sure I used one. Once again I'm new to this kind of stuff, sorry if I'm wrong.

Men, you don't get it do you? Ok, let's take this in an easy way.

Your Windows System is a 32-Bit Windows 7 right? You install 32-Bit programs, softwares, etc. Because you have a 32-Bit OS, you cannot install any 64-Bit programs. Not like 64-Bit because I think they can install 32-bit programs.

The bottom line here is, your Windows 32-bit OS doesn't want you to install the 64-Bit OS via running Setup.exe manually because they are not compatible. Same thing would happen if you install iTunes 64-Bit to your 32-Bit OS.

Kinda.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-ca/windows/32-bit-and-64-bit-windows#1TC=windows-7

You can upgrade from 32 to 64, just not the otherway around, so that's not an issue. The issue is that the USB isn't booting correctly. The exe won't work in 32 bit, that won't prevent you from booting off the USB.

I would burn it to a DVD though, it's a lot less painful than using USB boot loaders.

Okay. I'll try that

Oh btw, same thing will happen to Windows 8 64-Bit if you try to run it.

For the Thumb Drive installation, did you check if you have a boot.ini inside it? I think that's the file that allows you to boot to your thumb drive. If that file is missing, your PC won't boot on it.

Here's a listing of the folders - no boot.ini file - http://prntscr.com/3dif1f

 

[alz_solstice]

I'm not sure if that really is the filename. But as I remember, that specific file that I'm telling is the one that allows you to boot thru Thumb Drive. Where did you download the .ISO?

 

[lucas22]

Downloaded from Digital Ocean.

 

[Alec Mowat]

I'm not sure if that really is the filename. But as I remember, that specific file that I'm telling is the one that allows you to boot thru Thumb Drive. Where did you download the .ISO?

USB loaders generally boot from GRUB and not DOS, I could be wrong.

Are you using EUFI or old BIOS?
https://github.com/pbatard/rufus/wiki/FAQ

It makes a difference on how to create the USB. You may need to disable Secure Boot in the BIOS settings as well.

 

[lucas22]

Alec - I'm not using UEFI, just a old bios.

Btw i'm trying to install on a laptop

 

[Alec Mowat]

Alec - I'm not using UEFI, just a old bios.

Btw i'm trying to install on a laptop

Did you confirm "Boot from USB" is set?

If not, try another USB boot program instead of Rufus. There's a few out there.