How can I see if I have x64 Edition or Windows x32/x86 on Windows 10/8.1? In Windows 8, 8.1 or new Windows 10 you can quite easily see if you have x64 or x32/x86 Edition ergo 32-Bir or 64-Bit OS. To see this, open the Control Panel. In Windows x64, there are two System folders. One is C: Windows System32 and other C: Windows SysWOW64. Latter for 32bit programs and drivers. None of these are true for Windows XP 32bit (also called x86) version. Before you go inspecting your Windows version, first have a look at your CPU whether it is 32bit or 64bit.
Microsoft gives you the 32-bit version of Windows 10 if you upgrade from the 32-bit version of Windows 7 or 8.1. But you can switch to the 64-bit version, assuming your hardware supports it.
If you had a 32-bit versions of Windows 7 or 8.1 installed on your PC and upgraded to Windows 10, Microsoft automatically gave you the 32-bit version of Windows 10. But, if your hardware supports using a 64-bit operating system, you can upgrade to the 64-bit version of Windows for free.
Make Sure Your Processor is 64-bit Capable
First thing’s first. Before even thinking of upgrading to 64-bit Windows, you’ll need to confirm that the CPU in your computer is 64-bit capable. To do so, head to Settings > System > About. On the right-hand side of the window, look for the “System type” entry.
You’ll see one of three things here:
If you see the first entry on your system, you don’t really need this article. If you see the second entry, you won’t be able to install the 64-bit version of Windows on your system at all. But if you see the last entry on your system—“32-bit operating system, x64-based processor”—then you’re in luck. This means you’re using a 32-bit version of Windows 10 but your CPU can run a 64-bit version, so if you see it, it’s time to move on to the next section.
Make Sure Your PC’s Hardware Has 64-bit Drivers Available
Even if your processor is 64-bit compatible, you might want to consider whether your computer’s hardware will work properly with a 64-bit version of Windows. 64-bit versions of Windows require 64-bit hardware drivers, and the 32-bit versions you’re using on your current Windows 10 system won’t work.
Modern hardware should certainly offer 64-bit drivers, but very old hardware may no longer be supported and the manufacturer may have never offered 64-bit drivers. To check for this, you can visit the manufacturer’s driver download web pages for your hardware and see if 64-bit drivers are available. You shouldn’t necessarily need to download these from the manufacturer’s website, though. They are likely included with Windows 10 or automatically will be downloaded from Windows Update. But old hardware—for example, a particularly ancient printer—simply may not offer 64-bit drivers.
Upgrade by Performing a Clean Install
You’ll need to perform a clean install to get to the 64-bit version of Windows 10 from the 32-bit one. Unfortunately, there’s no direct upgrade path.
Warning: Back up your important files before continuing and also make sure you have what you need to reinstall your programs. This process will wipe your whole hard disk, including Windows, installed programs, and personal files.
First, if you haven’t upgraded to Windows 10 yet, you’ll need to use the upgrade tool to upgrade. You’ll get the 32-bit version of Windows 10 if you were previously using a 32-bit version of Windows 7 or 8.1. But the upgrade process will give your PC a Windows 10 license. After upgrading, be sure to check that your current 32-bit version of Windows 10 is activated under Settings > Update & security > Activation.
Once you’re using an activated version of the 32-bit Windows 10, download the Windows 10 media creation tool from Microsoft. If you’re using the 32-bit version of Windows 10 at the moment, you’ll have to download and run the 32-bit tool.
When you run the tool, select “Create installation media for another PC” and use the tool to create a USB drive or burn a disc with Windows 10. As you click through the wizard, you’ll be asked whether you want to create 32-bit or 64-bit installation media. Select the “64-bit (x64)” architecture.
Next, restart your computer (you did back everything up, right?) and boot from the installation media. Install the 64-bit Windows 10, selecting “Custom install” and overwriting your current version of Windows. When you’re asked to insert a product key, skip the process and continue. You’ll have to skip two of these prompts in total. After you reach the desktop, Windows 10 will automatically check in with Microsoft and activate itself. You’ll now be running the 64-bit edition of Windows on your PC.
If you want to go back to the 32-bit version of Windows, you’ll need to download the media creation tool—the 64-bit version, if you’re running the 64-bit version of Windows 10—and use it to create 32-bit installation media. Boot from that installation media and do another clean install—this time installing the 32-bit version over the 64-bit version.
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Windows 10 is available in 32-bit and 64-bit versions. You will find below the difference between the two versions and the steps to upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows 10.
Upgrade From 32-bit to 64-bit Windows 10
If you are running 32-bit version Windows 10 on your computer, you are eligible for upgrade to 64-bit Windows 10 using your existing Windows 10 licence.
While you won’t be getting any additional feature by upgrading from 32-bit to 64 bit Windows 10, you will certainly notice a difference in performance.
The 64-bit version of Windows 10 can handle up to 2TB of RAM, which allows it to run several Apps at the same time.
In comparison, the 32-bit version can handle only up to 3.75 GB RAM and does not allow you to run 64-bit gaming Apps on your computer.
How to Check if your Computer Supports 64-bit Version Windows 10
Before going ahead with the steps to upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows 10, you need to make sure that the processor on your computer is capable of supporting 64-bit programs.
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1. Click on the Start button > Settings Icon.
2. On the Settings screen, click on the System tab.
3. On the next screen, click on About in the left pane. In the right-pane, scroll down and check the entry System Type under “Device Specifications” section.
Your device is compatible with 64-bit programs if the entry next to “System Type” reads X64-based processor.
If it says x86-based processor, your computer is not suitable for upgrading to 64-bit Windows 10.
Next, check Installed RAM entry to make sure that your computer has enough RAM to run 64-bit programs.
Although, the minimum requirement for upgrading to 64-bit version is 2 GB RAM, 64-bit Windows 10 is more suitable if your computer has a high RAM capacity (over 4GB RAM).
Verify Driver Compatibility
If your computer is only a few years old, it should already have the required 64-bit drivers.
However, it still a good idea to make sure that the drivers for graphics and the sound cards on your computer are compatible with 64-bit version.
You can do this by visiting the device manufacturers website to see if you can find 64-bit version drivers.
Steps to Upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit Version Windows 10
There is really no easy way to upgrade your computer from 32-bit to 64-bit version of Windows 10.
The only way to get 64-bit version of Windows 10 running on your computer is by performing a clean Install of Windows 10 on your computer.
This means, you need to reformat your hard disk, install the 64-bit version and reinstall back all the programs and files that you had on your computer.
Hence, the process to upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows 10 can be divided into the following 4 steps.
1. Backup Files on Your Computer
The clean installation of 64-bit Windows 10 is going to wipe out all the files and programs located on the hard disk of your computer.
Hence, it is important that you make a backup of your computer to an external drive using steps as provided in this guide – How to Backup Windows 10 Computer
2. Create Windows 10 USB Installation Drive
First make sure that you have an empty USB Drive of 8 GB capacity and follow the steps below to Create Windows 10 USB Installation Drive.
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1. Connect the USB Drive (8 GB) to the USB Port of your computer.
2. Next, download Windows 10 Media Creation Tool to your computer from Microsoft’s Website.
3. Once MediaCreationTool.exe File is downloaded to your computer, right-click on the File and select Run As Administrator option in the contextual menu.
Note: you can just double-click on the File in case you are already signed into Admin Account.
4. When prompted, enter your Admin Password.
5. On the next screen, select Create Installation Media for another PC and click on Next.
6. On the next screen, uncheck Use Recommended Options for this PC, select Language, Edition of Windows 10 and the Architecture of your computer and click on Next.
7. On the next screen, choose USB Flash Drive as the download destination for Media Creation Tool and click on Next.
8. Next, select the Removable Drive where you want to download the Media Creation Tool and click on Next.
Wait for Windows 10 Installation Drive to be created and close the Media Creation Tool once the process has been completed.
3. Install 64-bit Version of Windows 10 on Your Computer
The final step is to install the 64-bit version of Windows 10 on your computer using Windows 10 USB Installation Drive that we just created.
First make sure that your computer is not connected to any external drives and follow the steps below to Install 64-bit version Windows 10 on your computer.
1. Insert the Windows 10 USB Installation Drive into the USB port of your computer and Restart your computer.
2. Your Computer should start with Windows Logo (See image below).
Note: In case your Computer does not start with Windows Logo, you will have to change the boot sequence on your computer, in order to make it boot from USB Drive.
3. On the Windows Setup screen, select Language, Time & CurrencyFormat, Keyboard Layout and click on Next.
4. On the next screen, Click on Install now option (See image below).
5. Skip the option, in case you are prompted to enter your Windows Product Key.
6. Accept Licensing Agreement and click on Next.
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Best free simulation pc games. 7. On the next screen, click on Custom: Install Windows only (advanced) option.
8. On the next screen, select the Drive where you want to install 64-bit version Windows 10 and click on Next.
9. Follow the next set of on-screen directions to complete the installation of 64-bit Windows 10 on your computer.
4. Install Updates on your computer
After the installation of Windows 10 is completed, make sure that you manually download the updates and drivers for your computer by following the steps below.
1. Click on the Start button > Settings Icon.
2. On the Settings screen, click on Update & Security.
3. On the next screen, click on Windows Update in the side-menu and click on Check for Updates button (See image below).
4. Wait for Windows 10 to Check For available Updates and Drivers.
If some of the drivers are not available through Windows Update, take a look at the website of the manufacturer of your computer to download and install available 64-bit drivers to your computer.
Benefits of 64-bit Version Windows 10X32 Or X64 Windows 10 64
As far as the features are concerned, there is practically no difference between 32-bit and a 64-bit versions of Windows 10.
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However, the 64 bit Windows 10 should offer productivity benefits as it allows you to open multiple browser tabs and run multiple programs at the same time.
X32 Or X64 Windows 10 Windows 10
Hp dc7900 manual. Also, the 64-bit version allows you to run Gaming Apps and programs designed to run on 64-bit systems.
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In comparison, 32-bit Windows 10 can only make use of 3.75 GB RAM, which limits the number of simultaneous applications that you can run on your computer.
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