The Windows Vista 64-bit upgrade from Windows Marketplace requires a 64-bit operating system.

# by Rob Mensching on Sunday, February 04, 2007 2:43 PM

Recently there were some reports of problems installing Windows Vista from Windows Marketplace. I followed up with a couple people who were kind enough to respond and it turns out all of them were having issues installing the 64-bit edition of Windows Vista. One of them also pointed out this thread where people are all seeing the same problem. The error message they all were seeing was the following:

Cannot extract Windows Vista Setup to your hard drive. Please ensure that you can create files and folders in the same folder where VistaSetupPrep.exe was downloaded.

Unfortunately, that error does not actually explain with the real problem is. Instead, you have to go to the log file that is created in your Temp folder called "Windows Vista Setup Preparation (NNNNN).log". Patrik, who reported problems on my blog first, provided me his log.

Preparing Windows Vista Setup...
Extracting setup files to: C:\Vista Ultimate 64bit UPGRADE\
Error 0x80070005: Failed to launch: C:\Vista Ultimate 64bit
UPGRADE\Vista\setup.exe
Exiting Windows Vista Setup preparation.

The 0x80070005 error translates into E_ACCESSDENIED. But access denied isn't exactly the problem either. If you run the setup.exe in the Vista folder you'll get the real error message. I don't have the exact text in front of me but it says something like: "This is not a valid 32-bit executable".

And now we have found the actually problem. The 64-bit Windows Vista install is actually a 64-bit install executable. Therefore, you must be running a 64-bit operating system (such as Windows XP 64-bit). Unfortunately, if you are running a 32-bit operating system you cannot upgrade to a 64-bit edition of Windows Vista with the bits currently available for download from Windows Marketplace.

Didi tried to capture this fact in a bright red warning at the top of the 64-bit page. It says something like:

Warning: You must have a 64-bit capable machine running a 64-bit Windows operating system to run Windows Vista 64-bit Editions. Learn more at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/editions/64bit.mspx.

Anyway, I'm on my way out the door to go snowboarding for a couple days for some much needed R&R. I just wanted to get this information out to those of you that have seen this problem. When I get back next week, I'll follow up with answers about other questions that have been asked here and things we're planning for the near future for Windows Marketplace.

41 Comments

Comment by Mike Dimmick on Sunday, February 04, 2007 3:53 PM

That's pretty lame considering that there are plenty of x64 systems out there running 32-bit versions of XP, either because XP x64 Edition hadn't been released when the system was built, that the free upgrade scheme was woefully short, or simply that driver support was poor to non-existent. The latter, plus worries about compatibility, left many to recommend that XP x64 Edition should be left only for developing and testing 64-bit solutions. The new OS, with a promise of better driver support, is probably tempting some to give the x64 version a try.

Comment by Rob Mensching on Wednesday, February 07, 2007 4:37 AM

Mike, I agree with you that the lack of upgrade path from 32-bit to 64-bit is less than ideal. Of course, it is possible to clean install a 64-bit Vista over top an existing 32-bit operating system but that requires booting from DVD. We have not connected all of the dots to make that possible from Windows Marketplace, yet.

Comment by Gary on Saturday, April 21, 2007 12:50 PM

I have the xp64 bit running and I still get the same error message. I down loaded the software three times and every time the same error message.

Comment by Gavin on Tuesday, May 08, 2007 5:56 PM

I also had that problem trying to install 64-bit Vista. I lost 5 days trying to figure it out until I read your post. Thanks a lot, you saved me a great deal of time!

Comment by James Plunkett on Wednesday, May 09, 2007 5:49 PM

I just bought a 'puter with an Asus P5NE-SLI motherboard, Intel E6600 processor, and Windows Vista. Imagine my surprise when I saw that it was a 32 bit Windows version! Is there any easy, painless, CHEAP way to upgrade to the full 64 bit version? I've been searching everywhere!!!

Thank you,
Jim

Comment by Jami on Friday, May 25, 2007 1:32 PM

Jim:

I bought the 64 bit disk from Microsoft for about $10 plus shipping. The downside is I found out that I cannot upgrade to 64 bit, but have to do a clean install. Two things are issues for me (and maybe others can relate). A clean install in the midst of projects sounds too risky. Second, once I install a clean 64 bit, will I still be able to run existing 32 bit apps without problems. i.e. Will I have to re-install all of my apps? And the list goes on.

I was under the impression that I could easily upgrade to 64 bit and any 64 bit apps would work accordingly, and since it was an upgrade, there would not be any clean installs or possible re-installs of apps.

Comment by Joe on Tuesday, June 05, 2007 11:43 AM

Where do you get the $10 32bit to 64bit disc if you already have 32bit?

Comment by greg on Wednesday, June 27, 2007 5:13 AM

Is the solution still a clean install or is there a way of installing from the resident 32bit vista OS i currently have installed?

Thanks
Greg

Comment by Pancho on Friday, July 13, 2007 12:47 PM

i have vista 32 upgrade .. but i didnt knew i needed 64 installation to get a 64 i bought the dvd disc on miscrosoft for 10 plus shipping so i could upgrade but now i know that i need to have 64xp so i can install.

what happens if i borrow vista premium 64 disc from a friend of mine .. i install it .. then i put my vista serial ?

would that work ?

Comment by Alan on Friday, October 05, 2007 5:33 AM

i have vista business 32 bit on a dell latitude D830 bought retail upgrade for 64 bit but same problem it wont upgrade and if i try to do a clean boot install it says i cant use my license unless i upgrade from inside the existing os

Comment by eric on Friday, October 12, 2007 5:59 PM

I have been through all of this. ms messed up. The retail lisence allows to buy 32 and install 64 upgrade. the 64 bit install does not allow clean install or upgrade from 32 bit xp or vista. (the 64bit dvd ms sent appears to be a full version.) it does not say upgrade on the disk.) remedy is: buy aditional hard drive. install 64 bit with out the key. install again as upgrade 2nd time and only then put in the key from the 32 bit. if it rejects your key because you already installed 32 bit. then call ms and they should give you a new key for the 64 bit install, which they did for me. yes they will ask for lot of proof of purchase and details. use windows easy transfer to copy your windows settings over to 64 bit. (I do not recommend) it does not copy every thing. I have both xp and vista on one computer on 2 seperete drives. I require a non destructive install. my bios has a boot menu and i pick the drive containing the windows i want. xp or vista. both windows drives boot as letter "c" .. single drive "boot menu" was not reliable and vista does not support it any way in home premium. be careful where saving files. A third drive would be best. Network attatched storage would be an exelent place to save all personal data files or a usb drive. this will also save the trouble of "access denied" when trying to access files in the "other windows". last answer all applications will have to be reinstalled. with all the keys again. unfortunately ms thinks it is installing on another computer... so prepare to call ms about all your retail INVALID keys, and hope they will reactivate them. oem keys will need the same. I have no idea how ms will deal with all these keys needing reactivated in the 64 bit version because it does not support any form of upgrade. as in installing over top of any previous version or existing vista. oh, and buy more ram for vista it really helps. 2 or more gig.

Comment by canadianbakin on Saturday, November 03, 2007 11:50 PM

if i use my 32 bit vista disc..uninstall vista 32bit and reformat drive..at that point, will my pc be able to read the 64bit exe so i can do a clean install? because at this point even though i have a 64bit cpu it wont let me read the executable because its 64 bit:/

Comment by Beaniiman on Tuesday, November 20, 2007 5:05 AM

Not sure about 64 bit but with the 32 bit upgrade you dont actually need to upgrade.

I took the 32bit upgrade and did a clean install without a key, then ran the upgrade over that install with the upgrade key. Worked like a charm. I would guess this would work for the 64 bit version as well.

Comment by fabrizio on Wednesday, December 05, 2007 8:10 PM

Many articles on how to take the 32-bit vista download and make a bootable ISO image using CDUTILS or the automated install kit, but they all need a copy of efsboot.com that is supposedly in the /boot/ directory of the vista install folder. That file ain't there for the 64-bit version... what's the correct way to make a bootable 64-bit Vista DVD?

Comment by Key on Thursday, December 27, 2007 7:12 PM

Does anyone realize how locked in we are? If you buy a new computer most likely you are forced into buying the Vista OS. What us lemmings don't realize is that hiding under the new Vista is a 32bit OS that promises an easy upgrade to a 64 bit OS that does not work, and you most likely don't realize this until you are preparing to upgrade. We are locked in peoples. Grrr peace..

Comment by Eric on Saturday, February 02, 2008 9:20 PM

If you purchased any Windows Vista 32-bit (anything not Ultimate) then on the inside there is a sheet that lists the website you go to in order to purchase the 64-bit disc for $10. You have to input all your information, to include your product key to confirm your order.
Website is...

www.windowsvista.com/1033/ordermedia

Comment by Gary on Monday, February 11, 2008 4:25 PM

I have a new PC that came with windows vista home premium 32bit on it. I don't have a disc. Will I be able to install an upgrade vista 64 bit to my PC?

Comment by Verwijderde bestanden on Tuesday, February 26, 2008 8:53 AM

Comment by LAB on Wednesday, March 26, 2008 2:45 AM

You don't need 64xp. All you have to do is do an upgrade with your Vista64 upgrade cd, and when it asks you to activate just click later. Once you have Vista64 on your machine(unactivated), install your Vista64 upgrade cd again and it will let you do a clean install, and once you have that installed again you can use your Vista32 bit key to activate it.

Comment by Shaun O'Reilly on Friday, March 28, 2008 11:50 PM

Think about it! Common sense tells me the following. When yo install al your software on the 32 bit OS, it will install 32 bit versions of the code. How is the 64Bit os upgrade magically going to upgrade all the 32bit apps? All apps would need to be re-installed with their 64 bit versions, right? Nothing will work! Therefore the need to do clean install, as an upgrade will be one BIG mess, unless it can run 32bit apps in a 32bit emulator or something.

Comment by Mike on Tuesday, April 15, 2008 5:58 AM

Vista 64 DOES run 32-bit apps. XP 64 did as well. My problem is I just bought a laptop with a C2D and Vista Home Premium 32-bit. I have Vista Ultimate 64-bit disc and I want to upgrade. I want to upgrade without losing the apps that came preinstalled on the laptop. If I lose them (via clean install of x64 Vista, for example) they're gone for good. That's not acceptable.

Comment by BrianD.Williamson on Thursday, May 01, 2008 8:59 PM

I don' t care if i lose the apps that come preinstalled on my new computer. It is a new system wich i haven't put much on yet, all i want to do is be able to upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit so i can install more memory and it will actually be useable. On the 32 bit version it will only recognize 3.3 gb whereas the 64 bit will recognize 8 to 16 gb depending on wich OS version you install. Really just want to know if it can be done at all?
If it will let me do a clean install from the cd that is fine. Please, please give the correct path to take.

Comment by Mike on Friday, May 02, 2008 1:52 AM

Partition your drive

Comment by Data on Friday, May 02, 2008 5:29 AM

the regular M.S. bull.
I lost my company 3 mill cause of networking issues with vista 32 home basic
I am now out to loose my job if I don't get these systems up in 72 hours regurdless of the tasks
Anyone wants to help me clean install 35 computer without a slipstreem?
:( Very Angry Data :(

Comment by Tim Bauer on Monday, May 19, 2008 6:56 PM

I am considering purchasing a laptop with vista ultimate 32 bit os, has 2 gigs of ram. Will I be able to install 64 bit os, xp pro or vista ultimate

Comment by Manfred on Saturday, May 31, 2008 10:20 AM

Which o.s comes pre-installed doesn't matter.What does is your hardware.My p.c came with 32bit Vista,but it has 64bit processors.I have a copy of 64bit Ultimate,but am a bit leary about installing it because I don't want to lose all my shit.

Comment by Ben on Sunday, June 01, 2008 6:29 PM

Data: I assume you installed home basic at a company that has a domain. You SHOULD get fired.

Comment by Gwagner30 on Friday, June 27, 2008 8:29 PM

Installing a 64-bit version of Windows Vista on computer that is running a 32-bit version of Windows Vista
If you have purchased an Upgrade license together with a Windows Vista DVD, you must use one of the following methods.
Method 1
Purchase a full version of the 64-bit version of Windows Vista.
Method 2
1. Remove the 32-bit version of Windows Vista.
2. Install Windows XP.
3. Install the 64-bit version of Windows Vista by using an installation method that is listed earlier in this article.
If you have purchased a full license together with a Windows Vista DVD, follow these steps:1. Back up all the data and settings by using Windows Easy Transfer. Windows Easy Transfer is available on the Windows Vista DVD. However, you must use the version that is on the Windows Vista DVD for your currently installed 32-bit version of Windows Vista.
2. Insert the 64-bit version of Windows Vista into the system DVD drive, and then restart the computer.
3. Start Windows Vista Setup from the DVD when you are prompted.

Note You must start Windows Vista Setup by starting the computer from the Windows Vista 64-bit DVD. The installation package will not run on a 32-bit operating system.
4. When you are prompted during Windows Vista Setup, remember to select Custom as your installation choice.
5. When the installation is complete, you can restore the data from its backup location.

Comment by Eric G on Wednesday, August 20, 2008 8:54 AM

I am going to buy an HP w/Vista 32bit OS due to some software I need that will not run on the 64 bit version. I just want to make sure that I will be able to upgrade to the 64bit version later if I chose, or when the software becomes compatible with 64bit down the road. I have read everything you all said about the topic but am not exactly clear on how to do it for in my case. My computer will be 64 compatible.
Spects:
2.4 3G L2 Cash or one with 6G L2 cash (Have not decided yet)

4G RAM
320G Hard drive
256MB NVIDIA GeForce 9200M

And all the other little good stuff.

What are the steps I will have to take in order to upgrade my 32bit Vista to the 64bit Vista version???

Thank you everybody!!!

Comment by Dan on Sunday, August 24, 2008 7:34 AM

I purchased a new PC Intel Quad core with Vista 64 Home Basic. On delivery, the PC did not detect the hard drive. I attempted to use the Recovery DVD, but the online reseller did not send the product code. Then the reseller demanded pictures of the case to show no sticker.

Being as this was Friday, no help until Monday. So to make sure the PC worked, I installed Vista 32 bit Home Premium from my laptop recovery DVD.

When the reseller sends the product key, I assume this will be for the Recovery disk, not an upgrade disk. Can I install the 64 bit with 64 bit Recovery DVD? Should I even try? Or is the best and easiest course to start over - format the hard drive and install Vista 64?

Thanks

Comment by Dan on Sunday, August 24, 2008 8:27 AM

My first question seems to have disappeared.,

I purchased a new Quad Core PC with Vista 64 Home Basic from an online seller. When the PC arrived it did not detect the hard drive. I tried the recovery DVD only to discover they did not send the product code sticker. The reseller demanded pictures of the case then took the weekend off (this was on Friday evening). So I installed Vista 32 Home Premium from my laptop recovery DVD to make sure the PC worked. It does.

When the reseller finally gets around to sending my product code from what I've read I cannot upgrade from the Vista 32 bit Home Premium. Is that correct? Is the best, easiest, or only course to format the hard drive and clean install from the 64 recovery DVD?

Thanks

Comment by al on Thursday, August 28, 2008 9:50 AM

I think I'll just wait till ms stops all this, and focus my time on alternative's! I've waisted enough time and money on ms.

Comment by Felicia on Thursday, August 28, 2008 6:20 PM

I have window vista on my computer but I want to install windows vista ultimate. I put the dvd in but nothing happens. What should I do? Do I uninstall window vista? Please help me figure this out?

Comment by Robert Lewis Bagley, II on Saturday, September 27, 2008 11:46 AM

Does this mean, I can't upgrade my 32 bit Vista to 64 bit?

Comment by Navneet Bhardwaj on Monday, November 03, 2008 2:13 AM

can i upgrade from 64-bit vista home premium to 32-bit vista business or 32-bit vista ultimate

Comment by schu on Thursday, November 27, 2008 1:13 PM

When I enter my 32-bit product key (on the back of my laptop) on the vista 64-bit cd order page I get this error:

We're sorry, the following error(s) have occurred:
No Offer Found

What's up?

Comment by Gary on Thursday, December 18, 2008 7:00 PM

That error comes up if you have a pre-installed version of Vista. I received the same error. That page only works properly if you purchased a retail package of Vista.

Comment by Beata T Stephenson on Friday, January 02, 2009 12:32 PM

I brought a vindows vista home basic and I didn't now that it was a DVD and I only have a cd system what do i do? Because i can't take it back to the store will not take it.

Comment by Gary Feigelman on Thursday, April 02, 2009 7:06 PM

I understand that you can only update 32 bit to 32 bit and 64 for bit to 64 bit. I was sold a cpu with Vista Home Premium on it. I was using it for work and had plenty of issues. My only two options were Vista 64bit Upgrade or Vista 64bit Business upgrade. This has beena major headache all around

Comment by Ken Howe on Sunday, April 26, 2009 11:10 AM

I puschased Vista ultimate full edition and installed it, but then I found out that I could not find the drivers or internet connection,,, so I reinstalled vista premium ,so everything is going OK now ,but Microsoft should have sorted this out before releasing vista, So now I have followed someones idea of getting a replacment Vista disc for the cost of $30 dollars including postage
Best Regards Ken

Comment by anish on Monday, July 13, 2009 11:05 PM

hi.i lost my windows vista business 64 bit cd..i hav got the licence at the back of my laptop..but now i need the cd..can u plz help me so that i can download it free??

RobMensching.com /Blog because setup isn't just xcopy

The Windows Vista 64-bit upgrade from Windows Marketplace requires a 64-bit operating system.

41 Comments