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  • 1.  32 bit or 64 bit Win 10

    Posted Aug 13, 2015 05:05 PM
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    When I created my VM, it was from my old Win 7 laptop which was running a 32-bit version of Windows. Clearly, I have a nice fast shiny 64-bit Mac, and would prefer to use the 64-bit version of Windows 10. But can I? Or will it throw a wobbly installing 64-bit Win 10 over 32-bit (albeit virtualised) Win 7?

    Or should I install it as a fresh VM (which in itself will cause me extra work as I will need to reinstall my Win 7 apps too)? Presumably if I give it my Win 7 product key, I'll be OK licence-wise?

    Cheers

    Stuart



  • 2.  RE: 32 bit or 64 bit Win 10
    Best Answer

    Posted Aug 13, 2015 05:27 PM
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    Hello Stuart,

    Microsoft has never allowed in places upgrades from a 32 bit Windows OS to 64 bit, it's not an available option.

    If you want to upgrade to 64 bits, then you must do a clean install.

    If I'm not mistaken then your options are to:

    - upgrade using the iso method ( Trying to Upgrade to Windows 10 on Fusion but hitting the SVGA bug? Here's the simple workaround | VMware Fusion Blog - … ) after which you'll have a 32 bits copy of Windows 10. Activate it and then you can do a clean install.

    Download the 64 bits variant and perform a clean install. Note that you cannot clone the VM, it has to be the same VM as (virtual) hardware GUIDs are used during the Windows activation.

    Of course you can take snapshots and backups of your VM.

    PS: There's one side remark. Microsoft has made it clear that you can only upgrade to the same windows version (Eg. Windows 8 Pro to Windows 10 Pro). I'm not 100% sure if they consider 32 bits Pro a different version from a 64 bits Pro.

    More info: Windows 10 FAQ & Tips - Microsoft

    --

    Wil



  • 3.  RE: 32 bit or 64 bit Win 10

    Posted Aug 13, 2015 06:00 PM
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    Hmm. Not straightforward! Bit of a "meh" to have to stick to the 32 bit version, but on the other hand the 64 bit version is going to cause me extra grief. I guess that I will end up sticking with the 32-bit version.

    The GUID issue means that I have to do the install - whether clean 64 or update 32 - into the existing VM. Is that right? Snapshots essential, of course, whichever way I play it.

    Cheers

    Stuart



  • 4.  RE: 32 bit or 64 bit Win 10

    Posted Aug 13, 2015 07:00 PM
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    Hello,

    That's correct. Microsoft calculates a signature of your hardware based on things like a hardware GUID. This signature is what it stores on the activation servers so that you can re-activate your virtual machine from a clean install.

    As this is a virtual machine, your virtual hardware is pretty much made up of the configuration as is stored in the .vmx file.

    --

    Wil