Solved 8.1 upgrades says won't work with Pentium 4 Prescott 630

dirtyvu

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I went to update my father's old PC to 8.1 and I get the message that his CPU is not supported. That you need the combination of SSE2+NX+PAE.

He has a Intel Pentium 4 Prescott 630 3GHz. I looked it up and it should qualify for the upgrade. I ran CPUID and it says it has the SSE instructions (says MMX, SSE (1, 2, 3), EM64T).

I'm pretty sure it supports PAE (how do I check that???).

And in the BIOS, the Execute Disable Bit is turned ON (this is Intel's equivalent to NX?).

Is there any way to bypass this check and install the OS?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
Hello dirtyvu,

I was able to run my old p4 630 Prescott under Windows 8 Pro and it ran fine. So are you hinting that it worked on 8.0 and now is not upgradable to 8.1?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Update: And where are you getting this no-go warning/caution from?
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Yes, the system has been running Windows 8 since the beginning. But the 8.1 update from the Windows Store won't go. Says the CPU doesn't meet the qualification.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
Hi there
x-86 / x-64 -- are you downloading correct version

Cheers
jimbo
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Linux Centos 7, W8.1, W7, W2K3 Server W10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Monitor(s) Displays
    1 X LG 40 inch TV
    Hard Drives
    SSD's * 3 (Samsung 840 series) 250 GB
    2 X 3 TB sata
    5 X 1 TB sata
    Internet Speed
    0.12 GB/s (120Mb/s)
I don't get a choice. I go to the Windows Store. Click on the tile to upgrade and bam, I get the message saying I can't upgrade. Windows 8 was the x64 version.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
Yes, the system has been running Windows 8 since the beginning. But the 8.1 update from the Windows Store won't go. Says the CPU doesn't meet the qualification.

Hi dirtyvu,

Apparently, you are on the leading edge of (yet) another Win 8.1 discovery. So, are you trying to upgrade a Win8 installation that is Legacy or UEFI? If UEFI, do you currently have Secure Boot enabled?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
I'm pretty sure it supports PAE (how do I check that???).

You can download "coreinfo" to confirm those features are supported. In my example below, I placed the coreinfo exe file directly in my system32 directory to make it easier to run so I would not have to construct a pathname to the exe file (I'm just lazy):

Here are my results:

Microsoft Windows [Version 6.3.9600]
(c) 2013 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.


C:\Windows\system32>coreinfo [-c][-f][-g][-l][-n][-s][-m][-v]

Coreinfo v3.2 - Dump information on system CPU and memory topology
Copyright (C) 2008-2012 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - Windows Sysinternals: Documentation, downloads and additional resources


Intel(R) Pentium(R) CPU G2020 @ 2.90GHz
Intel64 Family 6 Model 58 Stepping 9, GenuineIntel
HTT * Hyperthreading enabled
HYPERVISOR - Hypervisor is present
VMX * Supports Intel hardware-assisted virtualization
SVM - Supports AMD hardware-assisted virtualization
EM64T * Supports 64-bit mode


SMX - Supports Intel trusted execution
SKINIT - Supports AMD SKINIT


NX * Supports no-execute page protection
SMEP * Supports Supervisor Mode Execution Prevention
SMAP - Supports Supervisor Mode Access Prevention
PAGE1GB - Supports 1 GB large pages
PAE * Supports > 32-bit physical addresses
PAT * Supports Page Attribute Table
PSE * Supports 4 MB pages
PSE36 * Supports > 32-bit address 4 MB pages
PGE * Supports global bit in page tables
SS * Supports bus snooping for cache operations
VME * Supports Virtual-8086 mode
RDWRFSGSBASE * Supports direct GS/FS base access


FPU * Implements i387 floating point instructions
MMX * Supports MMX instruction set
MMXEXT - Implements AMD MMX extensions
3DNOW - Supports 3DNow! instructions
3DNOWEXT - Supports 3DNow! extension instructions
SSE * Supports Streaming SIMD Extensions
SSE2 * Supports Streaming SIMD Extensions 2
SSE3 * Supports Streaming SIMD Extensions 3
SSSE3 * Supports Supplemental SIMD Extensions 3
SSE4.1 * Supports Streaming SIMD Extensions 4.1
SSE4.2 * Supports Streaming SIMD Extensions 4.2


AES - Supports AES extensions
AVX - Supports AVX intruction extensions
FMA - Supports FMA extensions using YMM state
MSR * Implements RDMSR/WRMSR instructions
MTRR * Supports Memory Type Range Registers
XSAVE * Supports XSAVE/XRSTOR instructions
OSXSAVE * Supports XSETBV/XGETBV instructions
RDRAND - Supports RDRAND instruction
RDSEED - Supports RDSEED instruction


CMOV * Supports CMOVcc instruction
CLFSH * Supports CLFLUSH instruction
CX8 * Supports compare and exchange 8-byte instructions
CX16 * Supports CMPXCHG16B instruction
BMI1 - Supports bit manipulation extensions 1
BMI2 - Supports bit maniuplation extensions 2
ADX - Supports ADCX/ADOX instructions
DCA - Supports prefetch from memory-mapped device
F16C - Supports half-precision instruction
FXSR * Supports FXSAVE/FXSTOR instructions
FFXSR - Supports optimized FXSAVE/FSRSTOR instruction
MONITOR * Supports MONITOR and MWAIT instructions
MOVBE - Supports MOVBE instruction
ERMSB * Supports Enhanced REP MOVSB/STOSB
PCLULDQ * Supports PCLMULDQ instruction
POPCNT * Supports POPCNT instruction
SEP * Supports fast system call instructions
LAHF-SAHF * Supports LAHF/SAHF instructions in 64-bit mode
HLE - Supports Hardware Lock Elision instructions
RTM - Supports Restricted Transactional Memory instructions


DE * Supports I/O breakpoints including CR4.DE
DTES64 * Can write history of 64-bit branch addresses
DS * Implements memory-resident debug buffer
DS-CPL * Supports Debug Store feature with CPL
PCID * Supports PCIDs and settable CR4.PCIDE
INVPCID - Supports INVPCID instruction
PDCM * Supports Performance Capabilities MSR
RDTSCP * Supports RDTSCP instruction
TSC * Supports RDTSC instruction
TSC-DEADLINE * Local APIC supports one-shot deadline timer
TSC-INVARIANT * TSC runs at constant rate
xTPR * Supports disabling task priority messages


EIST * Supports Enhanced Intel Speedstep
ACPI * Implements MSR for power management
TM * Implements thermal monitor circuitry
TM2 * Implements Thermal Monitor 2 control
APIC * Implements software-accessible local APIC
x2APIC - Supports x2APIC


CNXT-ID - L1 data cache mode adaptive or BIOS


MCE * Supports Machine Check, INT18 and CR4.MCE
MCA * Implements Machine Check Architecture
PBE * Supports use of FERR#/PBE# pin


PSN - Implements 96-bit processor serial number


PREFETCHW * Supports PREFETCHW instruction


Logical to Physical Processor Map:
*- Physical Processor 0
-* Physical Processor 1


Logical Processor to Socket Map:
** Socket 0


Logical Processor to NUMA Node Map:
** NUMA Node 0


Logical Processor to Cache Map:
*- Data Cache 0, Level 1, 32 KB, Assoc 8, LineSize 64
*- Instruction Cache 0, Level 1, 32 KB, Assoc 8, LineSize 64
*- Unified Cache 0, Level 2, 256 KB, Assoc 8, LineSize 64
** Unified Cache 1, Level 3, 3 MB, Assoc 12, LineSize 64
-* Data Cache 1, Level 1, 32 KB, Assoc 8, LineSize 64
-* Instruction Cache 1, Level 1, 32 KB, Assoc 8, LineSize 64
-* Unified Cache 2, Level 2, 256 KB, Assoc 8, LineSize 64


Logical Processor to Group Map:
** Group 0


C:\Windows\system32>

Note that the * (asterik) indicates that feature is supported and the - (dash) indicates it is not. If interested, you can download coreinfo here:

Coreinfo

However, I think MS needs to publish a "what's new" list for 8.1 CPU requirements because something has obviously changed. Good luck.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
Microsoft Windows [Version 6.2.9200]
(c) 2012 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

D:\>coreinfo [-c][-f][-g][-l][-n][-s][-m][-v]

Coreinfo v3.2 - Dump information on system CPU and memory topology
Copyright (C) 2008-2012 Mark Russinovich
Sysinternals - Windows Sysinternals: Documentation, downloads and additional resources

Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Intel64 Family 15 Model 4 Stepping 3, GenuineIntel
HTT * Hyperthreading enabled
HYPERVISOR - Hypervisor is present
VMX - Supports Intel hardware-assisted virtualization
SVM - Supports AMD hardware-assisted virtualization
EM64T * Supports 64-bit mode

SMX - Supports Intel trusted execution
SKINIT - Supports AMD SKINIT

NX * Supports no-execute page protection
SMEP - Supports Supervisor Mode Execution Prevention
SMAP - Supports Supervisor Mode Access Prevention
PAGE1GB - Supports 1 GB large pages
PAE * Supports > 32-bit physical addresses
PAT * Supports Page Attribute Table
PSE * Supports 4 MB pages
PSE36 * Supports > 32-bit address 4 MB pages
PGE * Supports global bit in page tables
SS * Supports bus snooping for cache operations
VME * Supports Virtual-8086 mode
RDWRFSGSBASE - Supports direct GS/FS base access

FPU * Implements i387 floating point instructions
MMX * Supports MMX instruction set
MMXEXT - Implements AMD MMX extensions
3DNOW - Supports 3DNow! instructions
3DNOWEXT - Supports 3DNow! extension instructions
SSE * Supports Streaming SIMD Extensions
SSE2 * Supports Streaming SIMD Extensions 2
SSE3 * Supports Streaming SIMD Extensions 3
SSSE3 - Supports Supplemental SIMD Extensions 3
SSE4.1 - Supports Streaming SIMD Extensions 4.1
SSE4.2 - Supports Streaming SIMD Extensions 4.2

AES - Supports AES extensions
AVX - Supports AVX intruction extensions
FMA - Supports FMA extensions using YMM state
MSR * Implements RDMSR/WRMSR instructions
MTRR * Supports Memory Type Range Registers
XSAVE - Supports XSAVE/XRSTOR instructions
OSXSAVE - Supports XSETBV/XGETBV instructions
RDRAND - Supports RDRAND instruction
RDSEED - Supports RDSEED instruction

CMOV * Supports CMOVcc instruction
CLFSH * Supports CLFLUSH instruction
CX8 * Supports compare and exchange 8-byte instructions
CX16 * Supports CMPXCHG16B instruction
BMI1 - Supports bit manipulation extensions 1
BMI2 - Supports bit maniuplation extensions 2
ADX - Supports ADCX/ADOX instructions
DCA - Supports prefetch from memory-mapped device
F16C - Supports half-precision instruction
FXSR * Supports FXSAVE/FXSTOR instructions
FFXSR - Supports optimized FXSAVE/FSRSTOR instruction
MONITOR * Supports MONITOR and MWAIT instructions
MOVBE - Supports MOVBE instruction
ERMSB - Supports Enhanced REP MOVSB/STOSB
PCLULDQ - Supports PCLMULDQ instruction
POPCNT - Supports POPCNT instruction
SEP * Supports fast system call instructions
LAHF-SAHF - Supports LAHF/SAHF instructions in 64-bit mode
HLE - Supports Hardware Lock Elision instructions
RTM - Supports Restricted Transactional Memory instructions

DE * Supports I/O breakpoints including CR4.DE
DTES64 * Can write history of 64-bit branch addresses
DS * Implements memory-resident debug buffer
DS-CPL * Supports Debug Store feature with CPL
PCID - Supports PCIDs and settable CR4.PCIDE
INVPCID - Supports INVPCID instruction
PDCM - Supports Performance Capabilities MSR
RDTSCP - Supports RDTSCP instruction
TSC * Supports RDTSC instruction
TSC-DEADLINE - Local APIC supports one-shot deadline timer
TSC-INVARIANT - TSC runs at constant rate
xTPR * Supports disabling task priority messages

EIST * Supports Enhanced Intel Speedstep
ACPI * Implements MSR for power management
TM * Implements thermal monitor circuitry
TM2 - Implements Thermal Monitor 2 control
APIC * Implements software-accessible local APIC
x2APIC - Supports x2APIC

CNXT-ID * L1 data cache mode adaptive or BIOS

MCE * Supports Machine Check, INT18 and CR4.MCE
MCA * Implements Machine Check Architecture
PBE * Supports use of FERR#/PBE# pin

PSN - Implements 96-bit processor serial number

PREFETCHW - Supports PREFETCHW instruction

Logical to Physical Processor Map:
** Physical Processor 0 (Hyperthreaded)

Logical Processor to Socket Map:
** Socket 0

Logical Processor to NUMA Node Map:
** NUMA Node 0

Logical Processor to Cache Map:
** Data Cache 0, Level 1, 16 KB, Assoc 8, LineSize 64
** Unified Cache 0, Level 2, 2 MB, Assoc 8, LineSize 128

Logical Processor to Group Map:
** Group 0

D:\>
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
Yes, the system has been running Windows 8 since the beginning. But the 8.1 update from the Windows Store won't go. Says the CPU doesn't meet the qualification.

Hi dirtyvu,

Apparently, you are on the leading edge of (yet) another Win 8.1 discovery. So, are you trying to upgrade a Win8 installation that is Legacy or UEFI? If UEFI, do you currently have Secure Boot enabled?

Well, it's an ancient computer. My car is younger than this computer. When I installed Windows 8, it was a clean installation (no upgrade) and I pretty much selected the default options.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
I don't get a choice. I go to the Windows Store. Click on the tile to upgrade and bam, I get the message saying I can't upgrade. Windows 8 was the x64 version.

A Prescott or an Original Core Duo chip won't run a 64 bit OS, I am running the 32 bit Preview, so I know it was made.

You'l have to get 8.1 on an ISO from somewhere.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8 Pro with Media Center/Windows 7
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus § DualCore AMD Athlon 64 X2, 2300 MHz (11.5 x 200) 4400+ § Corsair Value Select
    CPU
    AMD 4400+/4200+
    Motherboard
    Asus M2N-MX SE Plus/Asus A8M2N-LA (NodusM)
    Memory
    2 GB/3GB
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce 8400 GS/GeForce 210
    Sound Card
    nVIDIA GT218 - High Definition Audio Controller
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Hitachi 40" LCD HDTV
    Screen Resolution
    "1842 x 1036"
    Hard Drives
    WDC WD50 00AAKS-007AA SCSI Disk Device
    ST1000DL 002-9TT153 SCSI Disk Device
    WDC WD3200AAJB-00J3A0 ATA Device
    WDC WD32 WD-WCAPZ2942630 USB Device
    WD My Book 1140 USB Device
    PSU
    Works 550w
    Case
    MSI "M-Box"
    Cooling
    Water Cooled
    Keyboard
    Dell Keyboard
    Mouse
    Microsoft Intellimouse
    Internet Speed
    Cable Medium Speed
    Browser
    Chrome/IE 10
    Antivirus
    Eset NOD32 6.x/Win Defend
    Other Info
    Recently lost my Windows 8 on my main PC, had to go back to Windows 7.
Hi dirtyvu,

Wow! that was quick! Anyway, it seem like your CPU has been confirmed to support the specific feature that the upgrade assistant has specifically identified as lacking. So, if you are certain that the error message only pertains to the PXE feature, then my guess is that Microsoft simply got this one wrong when they developed their upgrade pre-check requirements. Moreover, I have also noticed that others, with older CPUs, are having issues with other features being reported as missing, when they are in fact there. With that said, I can only hope that people like yourself find a way to report this miscalculation to MS and/or hopefully MS is watching this thread right now and will fix their upgrade assistant. Good luck from here and hopefully they will fix this issue sooner than later. Good luck.

my2cents
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
A Prescott or an Original Core Duo chip won't run a 64 bit OS, I am running the 32 bit Preview, so I know it was made.

FYI, I have the exact same CPU and we both are running Win 8 x64.

You'l have to get 8.1 on an ISO from somewhere.

Now, that may be a way to bypass the upgrade assistant issue.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
I don't get a choice. I go to the Windows Store. Click on the tile to upgrade and bam, I get the message saying I can't upgrade. Windows 8 was the x64 version.

A Prescott or an Original Core Duo chip won't run a 64 bit OS, I am running the 32 bit Preview, so I know it was made.

You'l have to get 8.1 on an ISO from somewhere.

like my2cents said, we're running 64-bit Windows 8.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
@dirtyvu: Check out this thread where one forum member claims he was able to download the Windows 8.1 upgrade manually and apply it via a standalone installer. If accurate and true, maybe it would get you past that upgrade assistant issue but maybe not; however, it seems worth trying. Good luck. If this doesn't work, we can resume our communication about the other thingy.

http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/33279-cannot-update-windows-8-1-windows-8-a.html
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
I saw this in the comments on the blog page announcing 8.1
Windows 8.1 now available!
Chris_D October 18, 2013

I'm disappointed that Windows 8.1 increased the CPU requirements from Windows 8. It's mentioned in the fine print of Microsoft's system requirements, but that's not a change anyone would reasonably expect from a point release.

Specifically, I'm running 64-bit Windows 8 very comfortably on a Pentium D 820 CPU. The Windows 8.1 update appears in the Store but won't install because my CPU doesn't meet the new requirements. The specific extension that Pentium D is missing is called PrefetchW. It's an AMD-only extension that all Intel CPUs either ignore or don't support, and in the past Windows has always suppressed that extension for unsupported Intel CPUs. It's not clear why they chose this point release to quietly change that behavior.

If I reinstall the 32-bit version of Windows 8, I will be able to upgrade to Windows 8.1, but that's a major hassle. Boo to Microsoft for making an arbitrary technical change in a supposedly install-in-place release that will confuse likely thousands of users whose hardware can fully support Windows 8.1, if it weren't for Microsoft's sudden impulse to remove a small bit of legacy code and make life difficult. Microsoft isn't exactly boasting a giant user base for the Windows Store, so it's hard to imagine why they'd throw up roadblocks to encouraging 8.1 uptake.
I notice PrefetchW doesn't have a '*' in the CPU features list you posted earlier so perhaps it's the same issue?

The 'fine print of Microsoft's system requirements' mentioned above seem to be here:
Windows 8 system requirements - Microsoft Windows

It says:
To install a 64-bit OS on a 64-bit PC, your processor needs to support CMPXCHG16b, PrefetchW, and LAHF/SAHF

My guess is that you're out of luck for 64-bit, but switching to 32-bit should work... It's a pain though because you'll need to pretty much wipe it and reinstall the whole lot from a 32-bit ISO.

Edit: just checked back and the LAHF/SAHF thing may be a problem too.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
@DavidY,

Hi David Y,

I (personally) thiink the upgrade assistant just got it wrong in many cases for the following reasons:

dirtyvu is getting a warning that ONLY his PXE option is mising and it is not missing.

Many of the other upgraders (winth different older CPUs) are getting a warning that they have PrefetchW, and LAHF/SAHFmissing, and many are not missing either of those options.

So, if all hold true, why didn't dirtyvu get an additional notification that his PrefetchW was also missing because the upgrade assistant is apparently capable of providing multiple missing option notices?

The reason (I believe) is the upgrade (cross-check) database was possibly constructed incorrectly because it obviously isn't doing a real-time CPU option check.

I remember when I first considered upgrade my old P4 630 (same as Ops) to Windows 8 and the overwhelming consensus was that it would not work, so I just did a clean install of Windows 8, and it worked perfectly (just like dirtyvu did).

In summary, the CPU upgrade assistant is not accurately reporting all mising options 100% of the time so IMHO, the only way we'll know for sure is for someone to attempt a clean install to totally bypass the assistant. I wish I still had my old p4 630 rig so I could do that test but I gave it to the Salvation Army a few months ago.

However, if there is an upgrade issue here, I believe it will be somehow tied to the Secure Boot feature but I cannot say technically how and, BTW, your recommendation to switch to a 32 bit install is also a good alternative to consider.

my2cents
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    CPU
    Intel G2020
    Motherboard
    ASRock B75M-DGS R2.0
    Memory
    8GBs @ 1333 MHz
    Hard Drives
    Samsung 840 EVO
    PSU
    400w
    Internet Speed
    57/11
I think the error message about the processor isn't showing enough detail by not mentioning PreFetchW etc.

However looking at the different system requirements for Windows 8 vs 8.1, and at the info from dirtyvu's coreinfo results, it seems there is a definite change in the system requirements between 8 and 8.1, and that the required feature is just not present on the old Prescott.

Windows 8
  • ....
  • Free Internet TV content varies by geography, some content might require additional fees (Windows 8 Pro Pack and Windows 8 Media Center Pack only)
You can check to see if your PC meets the requirements for Windows 8 by running the Upgrade Assistant.

Windows 8.1
  • ....
  • Free internet TV content varies by geography, some content might require additional fees (Windows 8.1 Pro Pack and Windows 8.1 Media Center Pack only)
  • To install a 64-bit OS on a 64-bit PC, your processor needs to support CMPXCHG16b, PrefetchW, and LAHF/SAHF
  • InstantGo works only with computers designed for Connected Standby
If your PC is currently running Windows 7 or Windows 8 you can check to see if it meets the requirements by running the Upgrade Assistant.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
hmmm... that would be a shame if I have to install 32-bit windows 8 before I can move on to windows 8.1.

However, when I bought Windows 8 for the system and went to install it, I don't remember it asking me if I wanted to install 32-bit or 64-bit. It just started installing.

And here's another thing... My father's PC originally had a Windows 7 installation. I got the Windows 8 upgrade ISO. What would be the workflow in this case? Would I have to dig up the Windows 7 image (if there even is one)?

But it brings up a question... If this is an AMD-only feature, how do all the other Intel processors pass the check? And why would Microsoft forces a feature that only AMD supports?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 Pro
hmmm... that would be a shame if I have to install 32-bit windows 8 before I can move on to windows 8.1.

However, when I bought Windows 8 for the system and went to install it, I don't remember it asking me if I wanted to install 32-bit or 64-bit. It just started installing.
Yeah it doesn't ask you; it just downloads the installer of the same 'bit-ness' as the version you're running it from. So if your father had a 64-bit Windows 7, it downloads the 64-bit Windows 8 installer.

And here's another thing... My father's PC originally had a Windows 7 installation. I got the Windows 8 upgrade ISO. What would be the workflow in this case? Would I have to dig up the Windows 7 image (if there even is one)?
Assuming that's 64-bit, the Windows 7 image wouldn't help you.

What I would do (and it is a lot of hassle I'm afraid) is find a 32-bit machine, or if you don't have one, use something like Virtualbox to run a 32-bit operating system; for instance a 32-bit evaluation version of Windows 8.1 Enterprise. Don't use XP as you won't be able to create an ISO from there. Also I suspect this is a job for a more modern PC than your father's old one.

Then from that, you can use the webpage to download Windows 8 with just a Product Key (using the upgrade key you used to get Windows 8 in the first place). You can even try the trick described here if you want, to see if you can directly download the 8.1 ISO.
http://www.eightforums.com/installation-setup/33164-how-download-windows-8-1-iso.html

Once you have a 32-bit ISO, you'll need to do a clean install, wiping the operating system partition, so obviously make sure you have everything well backed-up.

But it brings up a question... If this is an AMD-only feature, how do all the other Intel processors pass the check? And why would Microsoft forces a feature that only AMD supports?
Don't know I'm afraid. :(
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1, 10
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