Windows 10 - architecture switch from 32-bit to 64-bit

[TheGuy]

Ok thanks that is good to know.

 

[ProAsm]

A simple way to get the product key is copy and paste the following into Notepad and save it as GetKey.vbs
Then double click on it.

Set WshShell = CreateObject("WScript.Shell")
MsgBox ConvertToKey(WshShell.RegRead("HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\DigitalProductId"))

Function ConvertToKey(Key)
Const KeyOffset = 52
i = 28
Chars = "BCDFGHJKMPQRTVWXY2346789"
Do
Cur = 0
x = 14
Do
Cur = Cur * 256
Cur = Key(x + KeyOffset) + Cur
Key(x + KeyOffset) = (Cur \ 24) And 255
Cur = Cur Mod 24
x = x -1
Loop While x >= 0
i = i -1
KeyOutput = Mid(Chars, Cur + 1, 1) & KeyOutput
If (((29 - i) Mod 6) = 0) And (i <> -1) Then
i = i -1
KeyOutput = "-" & KeyOutput
End If
Loop While i >= 0
ConvertToKey = KeyOutput
End Function

 

[Arthur]

Reporting back - I did successfully switch from 32-bit to 64-bit. No problems.

So over the years, my upgrade path has been...

Win 7 Pro 32-bit --> Win 8 Pro 32-bit --> Win 8.1 Pro 32-bit --> Win 10 Pro 32-bit --> Win 10 Pro 64-bit

Am now running Win 10 Pro 64-bit on an SSD. What a difference. Should've gotten an SSD earlier.

Cool. Thanks for the update.

 

[Jim West]

A simple way to get the product key is copy and paste the following into Notepad and save it as GetKey.vbs
Then double click on it. [...]

Will save your code snippet for future reference. I got my Win 10 product key by using Belarc Advisor.

At first when planning to switch architecture, I thought the product ID was the product key. Fortunately realized they're not the same.

 

[Jim West]

Cool. Thanks for the update.

After the fresh install of Win 10 64-bit, I've now re-installed all my software. No driver issues, no software issues.

Looking back on what my custom built desktop PCs used for the OS...

DOS > Win 3.1 > Win 95 > Win 98 > Win 2K > Win XP > Win 7 > Win 8 > Win 8.1 > Win 10

Am wondering if DOS was 8-bit. The change from 16-bit to 32-bit occurred from Win 3.1 to Win 95.

Interestingly, Win 7 was the last time I paid for a license. (Excluding Win running on my OEM devices.)

 

[Jim West]

How to: Switch from 32 bit versions of Windows to Windows 10 64 bit

For anyone that might be interested in switching architectures, here's a wiki how-to that provides considerable detail and information...

How to: Switch from 32 bit versions of Windows to Windows 10 64 bit

 

[skimread]

Has anyone tried a clean install using same product key?

 

[Jim West]

Yes (if I understand your question) I used the Win 10 32-bit product key when switching architecture to Win 10 64-bit, with the Media Creation Tool. This with the Retail edition of Windows.

Note that if Win 10 32-bit is already activated, you won't need a product key. You'll be prompted to enter a key but it's possible to skip that and carry on with the clean install. I entered the Win 10 32-bit key, and installation carried on, but the key is generic.