Upgrading Win7 Home Premium 32-bit to Win7 Home Premium 64-bit

[DrMike9]

I just purchased a Thinkpad X201 that came preinstalled with Win7 Home Premium 32-bit installed and I would prefer to run the 64-bit version. Is there any way I can inexpensively get the necessary DVD(s) and will the current product key on my laptop validate the 64-bit version? I understand that this will require a clean install but as MS normally provides both the 32-bit and 64-bit version of Win7 with there standard OEM sets I was hoping that Lenovo could provide me the necessary DVD(s) at little or no cost (shipping?).

[bananaman · Accepted solution]

Hi DrMike9, and welcome to the Lenovo User Community!

You can do it! Check this support page out:

http://www-307.ibm.com/pc/support/site.wss/document.do?sitestyle=lenovo&lndocid=MIGR-74752

Hope this helps!

[DrMike9]

Thanks bananaman. I will contact Lenovo Support tomorrow.

BTW, I appreciate crazy volunteers.

Mike

[lead_org Microsoft MVP Contributor]

alternatively you can download the legal version of the 64 bit ISO from notebookreview forum ('google notebookreview win 7 iso download).

Then use that to install the version of the win 7 you want, and you can activate that OS with the serial key that you have received with your laptop on the sticker under the laptop.

[dinucamildragos]

I did the same thing few weeks ago, updating from Win 7 Home Premium 32-bit to 64-bit architecture because I upgraded my RAM and 32-bit architecture is not using more than 2,87GB even if you have 6GB of RAM installed.

Unfortunately, the product key on my laptop (valid for 32-bit OS preinstalled) did not also validate the newly installed 64-bit version. I have to mention that I installed the 64-bit version from a Win 7 64-bit DVD copy, identical to original disc.

So I used a Windows 7 Loader and everything worked just fine. Have you called to Lenovo and they confirmed that the key must also work on 32-bit and 64-bit version as well?