Solved Where Do You Get the 64-Bit Windows 8 ISO Download?

jdanniel

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Hello. I’m running Windows 8 Pro 32-bit and need some assistance upgrading to the 64-bit version.

When Windows 8 first came out, I purchased the $40 version via download. I was under the impression (and still am) that my product key will work for both the 32-bit versions and the 64-bit versions.

I have the 32-bit version. I’d like to try out the 64-bit version now. But I’ll be darned if I can figure out where and how to download it from.

I located a site that seems to have a legitimate, legal version to download.

Download Windows 8 ISO (x86 / x64) File Directly From Microsoft | Redmond Pie

The problem is this: At the bottom of that site, it says the following:

“It’s worth noting at this point that if you follow these steps on a 32-bit Windows 8 installation, the resulting ISO would be 32-bit as well. Vice versa holds true for 64-bit versions of Windows 8.”

Well, I went ahead and downloaded the package anyway, and installed it. I did not install it clean. I upgraded. It took a while, and when the installation was done, after checking system properties, the system is still 32-bit.

So, my question is: Where do I get a legal, legitimate copy of the 64-bit version?

That’s all I need right now. Thank you for your assistance. J. Danniel
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
Sorry if you already know this ... but you can't "upgrade" from the 32-bit version to the 64-bit version; instead, you would have to do a clean install of the 64-bit version, and then, reinstall all your apps.
 

My Computer

Hi Mark, thank you for replying.

Here is what is getting me confused. If you click the link I posted, nowhere does it provide this information. Microsoft isn't exactly specific about this. I can probably understand why--they might not want "average" users (I use the word "average" carefully) to download and install something they might not want or need. Or, it might be something they cannot install on their computer.

But I'm fairly knowledgeable, and do know what I want and why I want it. For someone like me, who wants 64-bit architecture, they aren't making this easy.

I am, yes, aware that if I install clean, I have to reinstall all of my software from scratch. I do this on various computers literally every month.

With that having been said, Mark, then let me ask this question: The ISO file that I did install from that link...if I do format my hard drive and install Windows 8 clean, then how will the installation let me choose which architecture to install?

Or, does it?

I hope what I'm asking makes sense. In other words, if I install clean, will I be given an option to choose between 32-bit and 64-bit?

If not, then the obvious next question is this: If this does NOT give me an option for 64-bit, then how on earth do I get 64-bit Windows installed on my computer?

Thanks for helping. Jd
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
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    Logitech wireless K800
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    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
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    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
It seems the only way to get a 64-bit ISO is to be in front of a computer that already is 64-bit. I can't do this in my own home? I don't get it.

Well, I do get it, but at the same time, I don't. I'm assuming the purpose of this is to prevent someone from getting the wrong architecture. But what about people like me, who do (for the most part) know what they're doing?

Jd
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
Do you have a friend's 64-bit PC that you could hop on long enough to download the 64-bit ISO?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
Unfortunately, I'm the computer expert among my friends, relatives, and co-workers. They wouldn't know a 32-bit or 64-bit system from an Oreo cookie. I'd have to spend a LOT of time on the telephone, guiding them through the process of finding the status of their OS in System Properties. Even if I had that type of patience, I doubt any of them would.

Good question, which I thought of, but this just ain't hapnin'. Jd
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
Well, I suppose that if you have any previous 64-bit Windows installation media laying around, you could install and activate it, then be able to download the 64-bit Windows 8 ISO. It's more work, but it'll work. :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
That's actually an excellent idea!

I have the original Windows 7 box with two discs in it: 32-bit and 64-bit.

I suppose I could install the 64-bit version of Windows 7, download the ISO for Windows 8, and then install the 64-bit Windows 8 clean that way.

That would work, wouldn't it? Thanks for the idea. I might try that!

Jd
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
or
You can order the backup DVD's, link in your email from MS.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    ME, XP,Vista,Win7,Win8,Win8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Other Info
    Notebooks x 3

    Desktops x 5

    Towers x 4
I know the problem has been solved because the OP has found Win 7 install media.

However I was wondering what would have happened if an alternative route would be to download and install the ISO version of the 64 bit Win 8.1 preview, and from there run the steps to download Windows 8 using a product key? Would that have worked? (Although I could see why an "Upgrade" routine wouldn't have been happy to "upgrade" from 8.1 to 8)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
Good news.

I clean-installed the 64-bit of Windows 7. I double-checked system properties to ensure it was, in fact, the 64-bit version.

Then, I downloaded Windows 8 while running Windows 7 64-bit. I created both an ISO file, and a USB stick.

I used the USB stick to clean-install Windows 8 64-bit. When it finished installing, I double-checked system properties to ensure it was 64-bit.

It is, so I'm now running Windows 8 64-bit.

Thanks for the help and suggestions, everyone. Now, to reinstall my software and see how that goes! Jd
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7 Home Premium
You're most welcome JD. I'm glad we could help. :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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