Windows 8.1 (64bit) question

[Tyee]

Before Windows 8.1 gets into final stage i would like to clear a doubt. I bought this HP laptop about 6 months ago with Windows 8 32bit OS. I have a genuine license for the same. For testing out 8.1 Preview i downloaded its ISO and installed it on separate partition. I am working on it from a month now and really liked the new features and changes done. I would like to update it to my existing windows 8 laptop when Microsoft releases the final version of Win 8.1.

Now the question i have is as i said my laptop is having 32bit OS and i would like to upgrade it to 64bit OS? Will it be compatible? If yes, will my existing license will work on the same?

Thanks for your helps.

[Zacharia]

Nope, it is not possible to update from any 32bit Windows to 64bit. You must have the 64bit installed on your system to upgrade to another 64bit version.

[Tyee]

You must have the 64bit installed on your system to upgrade to another 64bit version.

Is that the only option in this situation? You mean i should now buy or install Windows 8 64bit first to get to 8.1 64bit?

[Barsha]

Nope, you don’t need to do any of such thing dude. However it is true that you cannot upgrade from 32bit OS to 64bit OS. So instead of buying Win8 64 bit, simply get Windows 8.1 64 bit. And instead of performing upgrade go for clean install. You will not need to buy Win 8.1, just download its ISO file, burn it to a DVD and perform clean installation.

Remember that doing clean install will remove everything from your existing system hence don’t forget to backup your data.

[Tyee]

You will not need to buy Win 8.1, just download its ISO file, burn it to a DVD and perform clean installation.

That sounds a perfect solution. Thank you very much Barsha. I’ll do that. Help appreciated.