Operating System

How to Upgrade Windows 7 32-bit to 64-bit Version: A Step-by-Step Guide

By converting Windows 7 from 32-bit to 64-bit, you will notice the differences between 32-bit Windows 7 and 64-bit Windows 7. The 64-bit version of Windows 7 can support up to 2 TB of RAM, and it also allows you to run multiple programs at the same time.

In all versions or editions of Windows (XP/Vista/7/8/10, Home/Pro/Ultimate/Enterprise), no Upgrade option can directly upgrade to 64-bit.

There is only one solution to upgrade Windows 7 from 32-bit to 64-bit, and that is to do a clean install of a 64-bit operating system.

The clean installation process will delete all the programs you have installed on your computer, and all the files in the system will also be deleted, so be sure to make a backup before doing this.

In this article, we want to explain how to upgrade from a 32-bit to a 64-bit version of Windows 7.

Check the current hardware’s compatibility

The first step to upgrading Windows 7 from 32-bit to 64-bit is to check the hardware compatibility.

By doing this, you can find out whether your system can be upgraded or not.

To make sure that you can install Windows 7 64-bit on your system the first thing is to check the system type of your computer then, if your system type is X64, you can upgrade Windows 7 32-bit to 64-bit.

Note: If your system type is x84 based, you cannot upgrade your windows processor.

Follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Start menu.

2. Search your system information.

3.  Hit Enter.

4. Find the typing system.

Verify CPU and driver compatibility

In order to make sure that you can upgrade 32-bit Windows 7 to 64-bit without formatting, another way to check this is to confirm CPU compatibility and driver compatibility.

Follow the steps below:

1. Download Coreinfo tool from Microsoft.

2. See if the processor include Physical Address Extension (PAE), No-eXecute (NX), Streaming SIMD Extensions 2 (SSE2), CMPXCHG16b (CX16).

3. To make it, type coreinfo in the command line window.

4. Hit Enter.

5. Press Ctrl + F.

6. Type PAE, NX, SSE2, CX16 one by one.

To find out if drivers such as sound cards and graphics cards are compatible, you should go to your computer manufacturer’s support website and see if you can find 64-bit versions of the drivers.

Backup files to external hard drive to prevent data loss

To ensure that you can upgrade Windows 7 from 32-bit to 64-bit, we suggest you take a backup copy of the files in your system, you can use an external hard disk.

AOMEI Backupper Standard software can help you a lot in the field of backup.

Using this tool, you can create a backup file from any folder or file you want, and you can also use any device such as a USB flash drive, external hard drive, cloud drive, and network drive to store files.

After upgrading Windows 7 from 32-bit to 64-bit, you can use the support version you prepared and restore your files.

You can also use this tool to permanently protect the data on your computer in Windows 7 64-bit.

This program makes backup copies of your files on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis.

Download this software and also prepare an external hard drive with enough space to store backup files.

Follow the steps below:

1. launch AOMEI Backupper Standard.

2. Click Backup.

3. Select File Backup subsequently.

4. Select Add Folder or Add Files to click what you want to backup.

5. Select the folder-shaped button to click the external hard drive as backup destination. 

6. Confirm this operation.

7. Select Start Backup to backup files to external hard drive in Windows 7.

Upgrade Windows 7 32 bit to 64 bit

You can use an installation media to ensure the upgrade of Windows 7 from 32-bit to 64-bit.

To do this, first, create an installation media for Windows 7 and then install the 64-bit processor on your Windows 7 system with the mentioned steps.

Follow the steps below:

1. Go to the Windows 7 USB DVD download too.

2. Select Browse to find your ISO image files.

3. Select Next.

4. Select USB as your media type.

5. Insert USB flash drive and choose it.

6.Select Begin copying.

7. Plug in your USB flash drive.

8. Set boot priority to this drive in BIOS.

9. restart your computer and hit any key to boot from it.

10. Wait for a while until the Windows 7 installation files are fully loaded, then the main interface will be displayed

11. Set up the language and other preference

12. Select Install Now in the next window.

13. Accept the license terms.

14. Select Next.

15. Click Windows 7 installation type: Custom.

16. Select Drive Options

17. Delete the system partition and other system-related partitions

18. After that, choose the unallocated space and use it to install 64-bit Windows 7.

Activate Windows 7 64 bit to reuse product key

Also, if the product key has already been activated in Windows 7 32-bit, you must activate the 64-bit version of Windows 7 with the mobile phone.

To do this, follow the steps below:

1. In the search box, type slui.exe

2. Press Enter.

3. Select Show me other ways to activate now in the Windows activation interface.

4. Select Use the automated phone system.

5. Click on the nearest location.

6. Select Next.

8. Get the confirmation ID by the given phone number.

9. Enter the installation ID and confirmation ID.

10. Select Next to start the activation process.

Last Words

By doing the solution mentioned in this article, you can easily convert the 32-bit processor to 64-bit in Windows 7.

Have you used the mentioned method?

What other method do you know to change the 32-bit to 64-bit processor in Windows 7?

Share your thoughts and experiences with us.

Sarah Kmz

Sara is a talented author and technology enthusiast with a passion for writing about Windows tips and tricks. She was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and has always had a love for all things related to technology. After completing her degree in Computer Science at the University of Washington, Sara began working as a software developer. She quickly discovered that she had a talent for writing and decided to combine her two passions by starting a blog about Windows tips and tricks. Sara's blog quickly gained popularity and she became known for her clear and concise writing style, as well as her ability to explain complex technical concepts in a way that was easy for anyone to understand. Her blog has become a go-to resource for Windows users looking to optimize their experience and make the most out of their technology. In addition to her work on her blog, Sara is also a prolific writer of technical articles for a number of different publications. Her writing has been featured in numerous technology blogs and websites, and she is widely respected in the industry for her expertise in the field. When she's not writing or working on her blog, Sara enjoys hiking, reading, and spending time with her family and friends. She is also an avid traveler and is always looking for new places to explore and new experiences to have. Overall, Sara is a talented writer and technology expert who is dedicated to sharing her knowledge with others. Her passion for both technology and writing has made her a respected figure in the industry, and she continues to inspire and educate others through her work on her blog and beyond.

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