Laptop supports Win 7 64bit but only 32bit installs?

AMDfan · #1 11-06-09, 02:14 PM

Hey All,

I installed Win 7 on my desktop no problems and I love the OS. I tried to do the same on my laptop but sadly life is never so easy.

I followed the steps on the website to see if my laptop supports 64bit and found it does. Logically I ordered 64bit version, wiped my disc, and tried to install. After selecting language and keyboard layout all i get is the blue screen of death!

My friend has a 32bit disc which I have installed and will noe be using for 31days until I solve this problem.

Anyone have any suggestions what is happening? Are there requirements other than I have mentioned to install 64bit OS?

This is hugley frustrating as I wiped my laptop which was configured exactly how i like, and cant be arsed to get it working again exactly how i like for a maximum of 31 days.

Many Thanks
Ed

jdrom17 · #2 11-06-09, 07:57 PM

Specs of the laptop?

Any additional things plugged into your laptop while installing? If so, unplug them. Also if you can, maybe try removing a stick of RAM if it has 2.

AMDfan · #3 11-07-09, 08:35 AM

The specs are here:
http://packardbell.co.uk/showroom/no....010-1769.html
Its worrying for me that this laptop which contains the SU3500 CPU from the core solo line is quoted by packard bell in the link to contain a core duo CPU. Maybe I shouldnt have handed them all that money, lol!

Anyway, i am trying install with nothing else plugged in apart from CD drive as this laptop doesnt carry one. Also i could remove memory i guess but doesnt 64bit OS have a minimum requirement of 4GB?

Thanks guys
Ed

jdrom17 · #4 11-07-09, 02:20 PM

64bit does not require 4GB of RAM. All you need is 1GB to install.

I just mentioned that because back with Vista, on some PCs it would only install with 1 stick of RAM, but once it was running you could put the RAM back in and all was fine. No harm in trying if you can easily access the RAM.

And yeah, that's a low-power, single-core chip. Intel spec sheet. It claims 64bit support though, so it should work.

AMDfan · #5 11-08-09, 09:16 AM

jdrom17 thanks for the suggestions. I will try this solution but not just yet for reasons i'll explain now. I have tried performing an upgrade installation but this seems impossible from 32bit to 64bit. This means to try installation again, i have to go custom install, wipe the drive and resinstall. As i have this OS working perfect for 30 days and use my laptop every day I am trying to avoid this incase it doesnt work.

What I can do in the meantime is consider things like updating bios etc. Can anyone suggest a list of actions I can perform, which may eliminate the problem outlined in the initial post, but which dont require reinstalling the OS.... just yet anyway.

Will BIOS lead to problems? I cant even find a bios version on the packard bell site or motherboard details!

Thanks guys
Ed Coppen

jdrom17 · #6 11-08-09, 12:09 PM

I doubt a BIOS would fix it, and like you've found, lots of laptops don't have any updates unless there is a serious issue.

You could try this instead of using an external CD drive: http://store.microsoft.com/Help/ISO-Tool Assuming you have a 4GB+ USB drive.

Also you could try going into the BIOS and seeing if there's anything about 32bit/64bit, along with changing the SATA mode to IDE.

However, I would just say stick with 32bit. Probably run a bit better anyhow on that rather slow CPU. And it's not like the majority of programs are 64bit anyways.

ElrichMeister · #7 11-08-09, 02:18 PM

Yea you cant upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit, nor can you upgrade from say Vista Ultimate, to 7 Home premium, it needs to be same type of OS (32bit or 64bit) and same class of OS (Home Premium = Home Premium, Vista Business = Professional, Ultimate = Ultimate). Best bet is to just stay on the 32 bit OS

AMDfan · #8 11-08-09, 06:42 PM

Well I agree the simplest solution is to just run 32bit version. I looked into doing this but there is a no returns policy on versions bought using a student discount. Sadly this means I have to get my 64bit version running or pay more money.

I have looked in the bios for both IDE mode and 64/32bit settings. I had luck with the former but when I switched it to IDE the laptop failed to boot into windows. As to 64/32bit settings I found nothing.

When i try reinstalling I will boot .iso file via USB if you believe this is less likely to cause problems then with the external CD drive. As expressed before I wish to hold back on my reinstall attempt until I have heard all suggestions because I cant afford to set up 32bit windows again at the moment.

Thank you for all the suggestions so far. I will try all of these. If there are any other suggestions I can follow when I reinstall I would be grateful for them.

Thanks again

Ed

jdrom17 · #9 11-08-09, 07:27 PM

Yeah you can't change from AHCI to IDE and expect it to still boot Windows. I was suggesting it for when you're trying to reinstall.

AMDfan · #10 11-08-09, 08:16 PM

My mistake. I will try that too when i reinstall. Thanks for the help so far!

ElrichMeister · #11 11-09-09, 01:31 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMDfan

Well I agree the simplest solution is to just run 32bit version. I looked into doing this but there is a no returns policy on versions bought using a student discount. Sadly this means I have to get my 64bit version running or pay more money.

I have looked in the bios for both IDE mode and 64/32bit settings. I had luck with the former but when I switched it to IDE the laptop failed to boot into windows. As to 64/32bit settings I found nothing.

When i try reinstalling I will boot .iso file via USB if you believe this is less likely to cause problems then with the external CD drive. As expressed before I wish to hold back on my reinstall attempt until I have heard all suggestions because I cant afford to set up 32bit windows again at the moment.

Thank you for all the suggestions so far. I will try all of these. If there are any other suggestions I can follow when I reinstall I would be grateful for them.

Thanks again

Ed

You can install 32 bit or 64 bit with the same key i believe, just have to have the right ISO

Dizzious · #12 11-09-09, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMDfan

The specs are here:
http://packardbell.co.uk/showroom/no....010-1769.html
Its worrying for me that this laptop which contains the SU3500 CPU from the core solo line is quoted by packard bell in the link to contain a core duo CPU. Maybe I shouldnt have handed them all that money, lol!

Anyway, i am trying install with nothing else plugged in apart from CD drive as this laptop doesnt carry one. Also i could remove memory i guess but doesnt 64bit OS have a minimum requirement of 4GB?

The SU3500 is a Core 2 Solo. Packard Bell simply made a mistake by writing Duo instead of Solo in the specs - there is no such thing as an SU3500 Core 2 Duo chip - all SU3500 are the same Core 2 Solo. I am surprised they are allowed to do that, though - you would think that qualifies as false advertising.

64bit Win7 has the same minimum RAM requirements as 32bit. The only difference is that 64bit allows the computer to use more than 3.5-ish GB of ram.

I have always heard that hardware running on a 64bit OS eats up battery life a little quicker on laptops. I'm not too sure on the validity of that statement though.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AMDfan

Logically I ordered 64bit version, wiped my disc, and tried to install. After selecting language and keyboard layout all i get is the blue screen of death!

Sounds like maybe you need to install some hard drive controller (AHCI/Raid/sata) drivers.