Windows 8 Upgrade: 32-bit to 64-bit

Not surprisingly, the release of Windows 8 has been accompanied by an avalanche of questions related to upgrading. And here’s a classic question: You’re running a 32-bit version of Windows XP, Vista, or 7, but you want to upgrade to a 64-bit version of Windows 8. How does that work?

Paul Thurrott

October 27, 2012

3 Min Read
ITPro Today logo in a gray background | ITPro Today

Not surprisingly, the release of Windows 8 has been accompanied by an avalanche of questions related to upgrading. And here’s a classic question: You’re running a 32-bit version of Windows XP, Vista, or 7, but you want to upgrade to a 64-bit version of Windows 8. How does that work?

If you’re familiar with the Windows 8 Upgrade Advisor, Microsoft’s web-based installer for Windows 8, you know that you can trigger this new, electronic install type by visiting the windows.com web site with a web browser from a previous Windows version. And from there, you can upgrade your existing Windows version to Windows 8 Pro. Or you can perform a clean install: Please refer to Clean Install Windows 8 with Upgrade Media for details.

Here are the big questions around this type of upgrade.

Use Upgrade Advisor to Upgrade from Windows 32-bit to Windows 8 64-bit

If you’re running a 32-bit version of Windows XP, Vista, or 7, and you wish to upgrade to the 64-bit version of Windows 8, can you do this via Upgrade Advisor? Will that work? (Or vice versa, though I can’t imagine anyone wanting to go from 64-bit to 32-bit.)

No.

Upgrade Advisor only provides you with the same platform type (32-bit/x86 or 64-bit/x64) as the system you’re currently using. So if you have a 32-bit version of Windows, and you use Upgrade Advisor to perform an upgrade or clean install, the resulting Windows 8 Pro OS you get will be 32-bit. (Ditto for those who start with a 64-bit version of Windows: You will get Windows 8 Pro 64-bit.)

Use Upgrade Advisor to make a 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 8 Setup disc or disk

What about those using Upgrade Advisor to make a bootable USB-based device or save an ISO? Can you then choose between 32-bit and 64-bit versions and download/create the version you want?

No.

Here again, Upgrade Advisor will only provide you with the same platform type (32-bit/x86 or 64-bit/x64) as the system you’re currently using. If you start with 32-bit, you get 32-bit.

Upgrade from Windows XP/Vista/7 32-bit to Windows 8 64-bit

So wait a second. Is there a way to actually upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows 8?

Yes.

Yes, there is. But you can’t do it electronically. Instead, you will need to purchase the retail Windows 8 Pro Upgrade media, which is currently $30 more expensive (or $69.99) than the electronic upgrade. This package provides both 32-bit and 64-bit media, so you can choose which to use. (In case this isn’t obvious, you can’t actually do an in-place upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version fo Windows 8. Only clean installs (“Custom” install type) are supported.

Upgrade or install Windows 8 Core

All this upgrade talk is about Windows 8 Pro only. What about the base version of Windows 8, which is really called Windows 8 Core? Can you upgrade or otherwise install that version?

Yes.

But you need to use the System Builder disc, which is more expensive ($99.99) than the retail Upgrade or electronic (Upgrade Assistant) version of Windows 8 Pro. Windows 8 Core is only aimed at new, low-end PCs. And in case it’s not obvious, Microsoft really wants everyone to be on Windows 8 Pro, not Windows 8 Core. This version only exists because PC makers demanded it.

You can purchase Windows 8 Core from NewEgg.com and other retailers in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. Unlike the retail packaging, you only get the one disc, and much choose between these two platform versions.

I do not recommend purchasing this version. There’s no good reason to spend more to get less.

About the Author

Paul Thurrott

Paul Thurrott is senior technical analyst for Windows IT Pro. He writes the SuperSite for Windows, a weekly editorial for Windows IT Pro UPDATE, and a daily Windows news and information newsletter called WinInfo Daily UPDATE.

Sign up for the ITPro Today newsletter
Stay on top of the IT universe with commentary, news analysis, how-to's, and tips delivered to your inbox daily.

You May Also Like