upgrading from 32 bit to 64 bit

[khun.freek]

I have a MSI K9N Neo V2 motherboard, with AMD Athlon 64 X2 dual core 4800+ 2.51 GHz CPU. Still the old Hitachi HDD in there.

I have followed all the steps re. Windowscentral.com.

Everything fine, until apparently the last step, launching from the USB stick. I click 'setup', and get the message: This app can't run on your PC. To find a version for your PC, check with the software publisher.

So what's wrong, what is the problem?

Please help, i would really like to upgrade to 64 bit on this old warhorse.

TIA!

 

[Petrossa]

If you are re-installing Windows, which it sounds like, you need to start your PC up from that USB.
There is no upgrade from 32 to 64 bit - it requires a fresh install.

 

[Eximo]

You need to boot from the USB stick, not launch it from Windows. It literally can't run in a 32 bit OS as it states.

Keep in mind you will lose all program installations even if you don't wipe the drive. It can't import the 32bit registry or anything, so you might as well back up what files you want to keep and wipe it. Then just treat it like a new installation of Windows.

 

[khun.freek]

Thanks, but I tried that too, booting from the USB stick. It starts sort of normally, but a bit slower. I can see the led on the USB stick flashing, so something is going on there. But it stays a 32 bit OS.

 

[Eximo]

You should see Windows installing? Pretty hard to miss, lots of rebooting involved, and selecting what to do. And on an old computer running USB 2.0 it is going to be very slow to get into the installer.

I guess the real question is, are you still booting into your old copy of Windows after this? In which case, you haven't installed anything, just booted the installer and then closed it without installing?

 

[khun.freek]

You should see Windows installing? Pretty hard to miss, lots of rebooting involved, and selecting what to do. And on an old computer running USB 2.0 it is going to be very slow to get into the installer.

I guess the real question is, are you still booting into your old copy of Windows after this? In which case, you haven't installed anything, just booted the installer and then closed it without installing?

That's probably it. I'll give it another try. Thanks.

Didn't realize I had to clean the whole computer!

 

[khun.freek]

Another thing, if I clean the whole PC and start new booting from the USB stick, do I need another product key?

 

[mgallo848]

I tried looking for confirmation somewhere but I'm pretty sure that CPU won't work with Windows 10. I had same CPU in socket 939 years ago and it was not compatible with 64 bit version of Windows 10.

 

[khun.freek]

I tried looking for confirmation somewhere but I'm pretty sure that CPU won't work with Windows 10. I had same CPU in socket 939 years ago and it was not compatible with 64 bit version of Windows 10.

It's working with Windows 10 Pro, 32 bit, now. Better than Windows 7 Ultimate I had before.
This is an AM2 socket motherboard, maybe it's different.

Igorware 64 bit checker says cpu supports 64 bit.

 

[mgallo848]

it isn't the "64 bit" part of the name that's the issue. There's a "CPU instruction" that's missing that won't allow it to run Windows 10 64 bit. It's was several years ago when I had this issue so I don't remember where I read that info. (I ended up giving away that CPU, mobo and memory to a friend)

 

[khun.freek]

Update. I have used the same USB stick with Windows 10 64 bit to update my almost 8 year old Dell N4030 laptop. With an Intel Pentium cpu that is recognized as compatible 64 bit. Without formatting or removing the old Windows 7 Ultimate, lengthy but problem free installation.

So somewhere, somehow, people are wrong about the Athlon 64 X2 (AM2 socket) being compatible with Windows 10 64 bit. Unfortunately.

 

[mgallo848]

Update. I have used the same USB stick with Windows 10 64 bit to update my almost 8 year old Dell N4030 laptop. With an Intel Pentium cpu that is recognized as compatible 64 bit. Without formatting or removing the old Windows 7 Ultimate, lengthy but problem free installation.

So somewhere, somehow, people are wrong about the Athlon 64 X2 (AM2 socket) being compatible with Windows 10 64 bit. Unfortunately.

Sorry but wrong. Intel and AMD CPU's do not have the same set of instructions. Just because an old Intel CPU worked does not mean the AMD will.

 

[khun.freek]

Update. I have used the same USB stick with Windows 10 64 bit to update my almost 8 year old Dell N4030 laptop. With an Intel Pentium cpu that is recognized as compatible 64 bit. Without formatting or removing the old Windows 7 Ultimate, lengthy but problem free installation.

So somewhere, somehow, people are wrong about the Athlon 64 X2 (AM2 socket) being compatible with Windows 10 64 bit. Unfortunately.

Sorry but wrong. Intel and AMD CPU's do not have the same set of instructions. Just because an old Intel CPU worked does not mean the AMD will.

I understand that. I'm just saying that after a lot of googling,including forums and that Igorware app, I was convinced it would be compatible. And apparently many other people.

 

[mgallo848]

Here's the simplist way I can put it:

If your CPU does not support "CompareExchange128" then you cannot install 64 bit version of Windows 10, only 32 bit.

MOST (not all) older CPU's from the Athlon generation DO NOT support "CompareExchange128".

This isn't from googling and seeing what others "think" will work. Check and see if your CPU supports that specific instruction. If it doesn't, you're out of luck.

FYI: This is also true for Windows 8.1. Most Athlons could only run 32 bit version

http://www.pagestart.com/win10compexch128101315.html

https://www.pcworld.com/article/2058683/new-windows-8-1-requirements-strand-some-users-on-windows-8.html

 

[khun.freek]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate the time you took to address my question.

 

[mgallo848]

Thanks a lot. I appreciate the time you took to address my question.

Give Windows 10 32 bit a shot. It should work just fine on that CPU. You may have to go on a hunt for certain drivers though.

 

[khun.freek]

Yes, I've been using the Windows 10 32 bit version for about a month now. Replaced the GPU with a 2Gb card with HDMI, and added a PCI card for USB 3.0. It has 2x2Gb RAM already. Everything seems to be working ok, just would like it to be a bit quicker. All drivers have been updated with Wise Driver Care.

It lags sometimes, could be due to the old Hitachi HDD. Maybe I'll have it replaced with a Crucial SSD.

 

[mgallo848]

Maybe I'll have it replaced with a Crucial SSD.

^this. Best improvement you could possible make. (aside from a completely new system)