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I am trying to go from 32 bit Vista to 64 bit Windows 7.

The 32 bit Vista was installed by mistake. My system can handle a 64 bit OS. Now I have finally found the time to upgrade. But the 64 bit intallation DVD can't be read from my OS. Any Advice?

Do I need to boot from that DVD drive? Will that work?

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Short answer: and are correct — you cannot do an in-place switch from 32‑bit Vista to 64‑bit Windows 7. The 64‑bit installer cannot be launched from a 32‑bit OS, so you need to boot the machine from 64‑bit installation media and perform a fresh install. Below are practical, hands‑on steps and checks to make that transition smooth.

Start-up checklist (before you boot)

  • Back up everything: Documents, Desktop, Pictures, Music, Videos, browser bookmarks, and mail stores (Outlook .pst or Thunderbird profiles). Export product keys/serials and deauthorize apps (iTunes, Adobe). Consider a full disk image so you can restore if needed.
  • Confirm hardware: CPU must support x64 (most CPUs made since mid‑2000s do) and you usually want >=4 GB RAM to benefit from 64‑bit. Check the motherboard/vendor site for 64‑bit drivers for chipset, LAN, GPU, printers, scanners.
  • Have your Windows 7 product key and installation media ready and know whether your license permits installation (retail vs OEM/upgrade).

If the DVD media wont run inside Vista

  • Yes, you must boot from the DVD (or USB). Change boot order in BIOS/UEFI or use the one‑time boot menu key (common keys: F12, F11, Esc, F10, F2, Del depending on vendor).
  • If the drive wont read the disc, try the disc in another PC. If that fails or the drive is flaky, create a bootable USB from the Windows 7 ISO (tools like Rufus or the Windows USB/DVD tool work) on another computer and boot from that.

During install and first boot

  • Choose Custom/advanced install and format the Windows partition (clean install). After Windows is up, install chipset and network drivers first so Windows Update can pull additional drivers. Only 64‑bit drivers will work — 32‑bit drivers are incompatible.
  • Run Windows Update repeatedly, reinstall apps, restore your data, and verify peripherals (old printers/scanners may not have 64‑bit drivers).

Cautions

  • A clean install erases the OS partition — double‑check your backups.
  • If you rely on obscure hardware with no x64 drivers, consider compatibility before wiping the system.
  • If you want, create recovery media or an image of the current Vista system before proceeding.

If you give the exact PC model or the DVD error message, additional targeted tips can be suggested.

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Member Avatar for scudzilla

You'll have to boot the 64 bit DVD and clean install.(Backup your files first)

Member Avatar for JorgeM

There is no upgrade path from Vista x86 to Win 7 x64. The Clean install is your only option as suggested by scudzilla.

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