Vista Home Premium Installation

I ran into a little problem while trying to install Vista Premium 64 bit on my system. I booted from the dvd and I was prompted that If I want to install the upgrade version I need to install from Windows. So I canceled the install and and tried installing through Windows and that didn't work either. I was given a message that said "To install Windows try booting from the install media". How do I exactly do that?

Hi pso 20,

Welcome to Vista x64 Forums.

Going from a 32 bit ot 64 bit version, or the other way around, requires a clean install. If you have a upgrade version of Vista, this gets complicated just a bit. This will show you how to do a clean install with your upgrade version of Vista.

Clean Install From Upgrade Vista

Hope this helps you,
Shawn

I guess I'm gonna have to back everything.

Sorry, yes for anything that you do not want to lose.

Here comes another noob question. How do I exactly back up everything. I know everything will have to be saved to dvd-r's but what should I use to do this?

pso 20,

Since you will be changing from the 32 bit to 64 bit version you will not be able to use any kind of complete PC backup. Your main option will be to just simply copy the files you do not want to lose manually to the DVD. This will show you how to backup and restore your emails from Windows Mail.

Windows Mail - Messages

Shawn

Can you even purchase an upgrade disk for 32-bit to 64-bit? Perhaps he just is trying erroneously to upgrade with a full-install 64-bit disk.

Hi Znod,

All of the 64 bit Vista DVD's are the same. Since the 64 bit Vista will use the same product key number as your 32 bit Vista, it will depend on if the 32 bit Vista is a upgrade or full version for what the 64 bit install will be to.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Do you know of a program that will back up software such as Office Ultimate and Adobe Master collection.

I recommend going to the store and buying one of the new 1 TB external hard drives and using it to back stuff up on. That way you can simply unplug the drive (after adding your files) before upgrading and then plug it back in afterward and transfer your files to the new OS.