Upgrade to Windows 10 on Bootcamp

Hi Kappy,

As I mentioned in my message, I tried the above links as they are interlinked to install 64-bit Windows 10. I am unable to be sure if they are right or wrong since I need to install Windows 7 first in order to receive the upgrade to Windows 10. However, for sure, above is unsuitable for 32-bit Windows 7 unless I did not notice some key points. That is reason I need the hands-on guidance from someone who successfully upgraded to 64-bit Windows 10 from 32-bit Windows 7.

Dear Cybmax,

Cybmax wrote:

I do not think you can upgrade a 32 bit Win 7 to 64 bit win 10 unfortunately 😟

RL: I am unsure if it is right or wrong since so far I did not reach the step asking for the product key when I installed the 64-bit Windows 7 (my package consists of two DVDs for 32-bit and 64-bit versions using the new Bootcamp. Even though it is true I will accept to run 32-bit Windows 10. However I need to solve the malfunction issue of trackpad - the new Bootcamp appeared not to help in this area.

I do assume that win 10 32 or 64 bit is the same "license", so if you have upgraded win 7 32 bit to win 10 32 bit successfully and activated, you COULD try to do a clean install of win 10 64 bit creating a new bootcamp partition. (As its the hardwareID of your computer that "remembers" your activation status after upgrading from a genuine windows 7/8/8.1 license).

RL: I would like to save the step installing the old Windows 7 but how can I install Windows 10 without the product key? If the hardware really remembers my activation status, I can deactivate the license on this machine and install it again and activate it. My license is retail version, not oem accompanying the pc and entitled me to do so.

C

Dear Loner,

I tried to search this community about the new Bootcamp use and see little successful story and believe I am not alone to have the issue. My issue should be a common one as all existing users of Windows 7 and 8.1 are entitled to upgrade to Windows 10. Apple publishing the upgrade of Bootcamp is fast this time as compared with previous version but probably it still has some bugs. Hope our feedback can help them to improve the Bootcamp further!

Dear Cybmax,

Cybmax wrote:

Well.. to get your "free copy" of windows 10, you have to upgrade a genuine activated windows 7/8/8.1 license. And from what i gather, if you have eg. windows 7 "home", you cant upgrade to a free version of Windows 10 PRO, but have to use Windows 10 Home.

RL: I never expect to upgrade to Widnows 10 Pro which requires a new license and tried to 64-bit Windows 10 Home since the processor of my MBA is 64-bit and more 64-bit software available on the market.

Common here is that you have to do the upgrade from windows. You have to start windows 7, then run the upgrade. And from what i gather you have already done that but on 32 bit? I am just assuming that if you boot windows 7 32 bit, and upgrade to windows 10, the windows 10 version will automatically be 32 bit aswell... but i have not tried this, so i cant say that with 100% certainty.

RL: I installed Windows 7 using previous Bootcamp successfully and the trackpad worked excellently. With 32-bit Windows 10, the trackpad failed to work at all. I need to use wired mouse in order to use it continuously. Once I got the good news from Apple, there is a new Bootcamp with new drivers for Windows 10, I immediately removed the partition and installed a clean Windows 7 on both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. None of them successful. On 32-bit version, after I installed Windows 7 and wanted to install the Windows support drivers, it failed to find it in the USB - version incorrect. On 64-version, I could not successfully install it due to digital signature error - no idea what it was. At the end of day, I now lose both OS Windows 7 and 10 with the new Bootcamp. I am searching the old Windows support drivers from previous Bootcamp in order to re-gain Windows 7 and await the future revised version of existing new Bootcamp for full support of Windows 10.

However, you could try to delete the bootcamp partition and make a new one with a clean install of windows 10 64-bit (keeping to the same version ie. "Home" or "Pro" depending on what your license is).

RL: I do not want to give up my entitlement of free upgrade of Windows 10 and buy Windows 10 for the product key instead.

The hardwareID key thing is something that is stored on Microsoft servers, so i dont know if you can "deactivate" it.. Guess you have to call microsoft about that.

RL: I got the incorrect meaning that the hardwareID is written in my hardware somewhere. I know how to deactivate it in Microsoft server. Someone advised me not to deactivate necessarily and thus I did not deactivate it before I removed my Windows 7.

I have not had any huge issues with the trackpad and windows 10 pro (64-bit), but i do have some sleep issues with the Intel HD5000 drivers that my Macbook Air (mid 2013) uses.

RL: Good to hear you do not have trackpad issue on Windows 64-bit version since Apple focus on the new Bootcamp for Windows 10 64-bit - Windows 10 32-bit version has not been fixed yet?. That is one of reasons to switch to Windows 10 64-bit version. I have done the Windows 10 upgrade on 6 units so far and all have major and minor issues except Microsoft Surface 3 and Samsung i3 new notebook. My sincere suggestion not to do the Windows 10 upgrade on old machines until your suppliers are ready to supply the necessary Windows 10 support drivers. Windows 10 does not have any marked improvement over Windows 8.1 that is worthwhile for the risk of the trouble.

C

Dear Cybmax & Loner,

Many thanks for the clarification that newly published Bootcamp 5.x version does not support 32-bit Windows 10. It only works on 64-bit Windows 10 with the latest Windows support software (drivers). I will try this approach again to see how this Bootcamp works with Windows 10.