Upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit version of Windows 10

Microsoft gives you 32 –bit version of Windows 10 if you upgrade from the 32-bit version of windows 7 or 8.1.but you can change to the 64-bit version, assuming your hardware supports it.

Is Your PC 64-bit Capable?

The main thing is first, you have to check whether the CPU of your system is 64 bit capable or not. To, do that, go to start menu and open the settings menu, select System and choose about. Look at the right of “System type.”

If you find “32-bit operating system, x64-based processor,” that means your system contains 32 bit version of windows 10 but your CPU runs 64-bit version. You can’t upgrade to the 64-bit version if you have an x64-based processor, and 32-bit CPU.

Does Your CPU Have the Required Features?

Even though the systems are 64-bit compatible, some of the first 64-bit CPU’s doesn’t have required features to run 64-bit versions of Windows 10. Windows 10 requires especially PAE, NX, and SSE2. Microsoft has further information here. PCs will also need support for CMPXCHG16b which doesn’t include some of the first consumer 64-bit processors.

If your CPU doesn’t support these things the 64-bit version of Windows rejects the installation. If you want to check before you start the installation process, download and run CPU-Z.

If it is supported, “SSE2” will appear below the instructions. “AMD64” or “EM64T”  should specify PAE is supported. “VTX-x or “VT-d” always specifies that NX is sustained.

On some previous computers, you might have to allow NX (also called as XD) in the computers BIOS. If you are getting errors regarding your CPU, that it is not supporting during the install process, then Visit your computer’s BIOS and look the options titled there something like “eXecute Disabled (XD)”, “No eXecute bit (NX)”, “No-Execute Memory Protect”, “EVP (Enhanced Virus Protection)”,  “Execute Disabled Memory Protection”, “EDB (Execute Disabled Bit)”, or something similar. Search below the “Advanced” tabs or “Security” tabs somewhere in your BIOS for this setting.

Does Your PC’s Hardware Offer 64-bit Drivers?

You may think whether your computer’s hardware is working properly with a 64-bit version of windows, even if your CPU and motherboard support the correct features.64-bit versions of windows require 64-bit hardware drivers but it doesn’t work on your current windows system which uses 32-bit versions.

Modern hardware provides 64-bit drivers, but very old hardware no longer supports this and manufacturers have ever offered 64-bit drivers. For checking this, you can view the manufacturer’s driver download web pages for your hardware and check whether 64-bit drivers are available. But you should not download it from the manufacturer’s WebPages- they might include windows or automatically downloads the update. But in old hardware,  for instance, an old printer may not provide 64-bit drivers.

You can find out certainly both ways by installing the 64-bit versions of windows. If it is not supporting your CPU, it will allow you to know. You can see the hardware drivers after installing it but before you can’t find them and if the hardware of your system doesn’t work then you can lower the 32-bit version of windows 10.

Do the Clean Install

To get the 64-bit version of Windows 10 from the 32-bit one, you have to perform a clean installation. There is no advanced path.

Warning:This process may erase all your data and files, so before continuing this Backup your important files.

First, you have to upgrade the windows 10 if you still don’t upgrade to Windows 10. Previously if you are using a 32-bit version of Windows 7 or 8.1 then you will get 32-bit version of windows 10 by upgrading PC. The upgrading process gets Windows 10 license for your PC. Check whether your Windows 10 is activated as shown below, Settings> update security>Activation.

Presently, if you are using windows 10 version, then download the windows 10 media creation tool from Microsoft.

Choose “Create installation media for another PC” and apply the tool to burn a disc or create a USB drive with Windows 10. When you click on the wizard, you have an option either you want to create 32-bit or 64-bit installation media. Then choose 64-bit architecture.

Next, reboot and boot your computer from the installation media. Select “Custom install”, to install Windows 10 and overwriting your current version of windows. When you will be asked to insert a product key, skip the procedure and continue. Total you have to skip two of these procedures. After reaching the desktop, Windows 10 will repeatedly check in with Microsoft and activate itself. Now you can run 64-bit edition of Windows on your PC.

You May Also Like:How To Recover Deleted Files From Windows 10