Majority of new icore business laptops with 32bit

I think that HP has messed up with the 64 bit availability in pre-configured models for the new core i5/i7 Probooks and Elitebooks. 64 bit is only available (in preconfigured models) in the Elitebooks xxxxW (workstation class). All other models, even though that some of the stock configurations are factory equipped with 4GB RAM, which 32 bit cannot utilize fully, are not available with 64 bit!!!

I want to buy one of the new core i5 probooks. Probook 6440b is almost perfect for my needs. Problem is that by default it is available only with windows 7 pro 32 bit. Of course, probook 6440b supports win 7 pro 64 bit. Unfortunately in my country (Greece) you cannot custom configure your future HP laptop, but even if you could, the price premium would be quite high.
If I understand correctly, the Win7 pro product key for the 64 bit version is the same as 32 bit version. So, in theory, one could use this same key, along with 64 bit drivers downloaded from HP site, to install win 7 pro 64. Unfortunately HP (in Greece, at least) is not providing win 7 installation disks, and I cannot use the original windows 7 disks because the key works only with HP OEM Win 7.
So my only option is to buy windows 7 from Microsoft, which is not a good option because of the significant added cost.

What can I do; Is there a way to find HP win7 pro 64 installation disks (English language); Are HP in USA/UK, or other countries, providing such disks;

 

There is a way to do this, don't worry. I'm sure you don't need an additional CD. Just wait for more members to come comment on this

 

i can sell you my probook 6440b with win 7 64bit and 4gb memory..

 

Well, thank you for your offer, but unless it has a Greek hardware keyboard, I cannot use it.

Do you have HP windows disks? These would be quite useful.

 

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=428068

You can find download link there. Windows product key is not tiered to language or cpu type at all.

 

im just kidding though..the probook is on its way back to HP warehouse..

i didnt receive any CD when i got the probook. just battery, ac adapter, and a couple of useless pieces of paper

 

Thank you for your answer.
Correct me if I am wrong, but the product key is tied with HP hardware and HP OEM windows. In this way, OEM Windows versions are tied with the manufacturer, and cannot be ported to another.

 

Why you returned your 6440b? Weren't you satisfied? What was its flaw?

I know that HP, along with lots of others manufacturers, doesn't provide Windows installation disks.

 

build quality is much lower than my expectation (at least for a notebook at close to $1500). but this is a very subjective matter.

 

The key on the stick under your laptop isn't tiered to hp. The preinstalled one is.

 

I always do fresh install using key provided by company. The only hassle is having to call in to do verification over the phone.

 

Do you mean that I can grab the standard MS Windows 7 pro 64 bit CD and install it with the product key found under my laptop (which is for 32 bit, but they say that 32 bit key is the same as 64 bit one)?

Wow, that is great news for me! Now I can purchase this probook that HP has been pre-configured with Win 7 32. I don't mind the hassle to call in Microsoft for verification!

Thank you very much both of you!

 

That is precisely what I did last week when I re-imaged my 8440p to 64-bit Windows 7. All in all, it was a pretty painless process, though it would have been easier had HP included a Win 7 64-bit disk

 

I suppose your 8440p were initially equipped with win 32 bit, correct?

 

Look at the sticky Vista thread here in HP forum, the ABR (activation backup and recovery) tool's newest version works with Win7 also.

Same thing can be done manually at the command prompt, if proper files are saved from the original installation.

 

Thank you for your tip, but I believe that this procedure talks about clean install of the same operation system.
In my case, I want to install a different operation system, I want to upgrade Win 7 32 bit to 64 bit.

 

Product key isn't tiered to cpu type and language at all. ABR backuped certificate can be used on both version of windows as well.

 

It's still Windows 7, you just need to install same version: Home Premium, Professional or whatever, amount of bits doesn't matter here. It will work.

It wouldn't work if you tried to transfer activation from Vista to Win7.

 

They don't anymore? I have the older 8510p myself and back then HP highend business lines were shipped with XP Pro 32 and 64, Vista Business 32 and 64. Yes, that is 4 sets of discs.

 

Yeah, it actually came with XP Pro (under a "Downgrade License" or something like that). For a whole number of reasons, that wasn't going to work for me.

Yeah, I was pretty surprised. It came with the XP Restoration disks and Win 7 32-bit. Fortunately, I have an MSDN license, so I just downloaded and burned the Win 7 x64 ISO to a DVD and went to town.

 

I have W7 through MSDNAA myself.

It is strange that HP is shipping these 4GB ram notebooks with 32bit OS.

 

Unfortunately according to Microsoft it does matter

It seems that what I was hoping isn’t possible after all.

There were a number of forum members that reassure me that my initial misconception about the need of OEM Win 7 was dead wrong, they have told me that by using the OEM product key you may install with the standard (retail) windows 7 CD, so OK with that matter.

To check the other matter, whether product key is the same for 32bit and 64bit versions, I phone Microsoft. The very polite person from Microsoft help center informed me otherwise. The OEM product key is different for 32 bit and 64 bit. For the retail version of windows is possible to install using the same key 32 bit or 64 bit, but this is not the case for OEM product key. OEM product key is only for the version of windows that are preinstalled in the laptop. If the version is 32 bit you are stuck with 32 bit, unless you buy the win 7 upgrade package. :-(

I only hope that the man in the help center was misinformed. Can any member confirm this? Has any member used the windows 7 OEM 32 bit key to upgrade to 64 bit?

 

He told you the official truth.

Unless OEM provides you with install media for both 32 and 64 bit OS, you are officially stuck with the one you had preinstalled.

It doesn't mean the key doesn't work.

And the ABR doesn't really require a key at all, it uses the preinstalled one. It's still the cleanest way to do full reinstall.

 

Again, thank you for your info.
I will buy the 6440b with win 7 pro 32 bit and after backing up the whole disk I will clean install win 7 pro 64 bit and follow your advice. Hopefully I will succeed registering win7 pro 64bit with ABR or by using 32 bit product kit found in the bottom of the laptop.
This will save me quite a lot of money!
Thank you all for your answers. I will keep you informed with the results.

 

I am not sure what the question was, but:

CD keys relate to edition, not architecture.

If CD key is associated with Home Premium, it will only work with Home Premium. It will worth in both 32 bit and 64 bit architecture but it needs to be Home Premium

 

The question now is if this is also the case for CD key found in the bottom of the laptop, i.e. if OEM product key is the same for 32 bit and 64bit.
Microsoft helpdesk said no, but as KLF wrote, this is probably just the ‘official’ truth.

In reality maybe you can use this key (found on the sticker in the bottom of the laptop) to install any architecture, 32bit or 64bit, whatever you want (of the same win edition, of course).

 

I thank you all for your help!
I bought a probook 6440b and followed the instructions given by you and they all worked.
Below you can find what I did/tried:

1. I downloaded windows 7 CD. I chose ISO file and use the eicfg_removal_utility for allow to choose any version (in my case professional version)

2. Probook 6440b comes preinstalled with the 32 bit version of windows 7 pro. Using the two programs ( ABR & WinActivator) I took backup of the activation files.

3. I installed windows 7 64 bit using product key found in the sticker on the bottom of the laptop. I followed the activation by phone procedure and windows activated normally. So the MS guy that warned me otherwise was in error, and yejun and bozeefus and KLF were correct.

4. Just for testing I reinstalled win 7 pro 64bit twice and activated them using the activation backup files with the ABR & WinActivator programs. Windows activated normally. I checked the activation by validating it in the Microsoft web page.

SUMMARY:
It is easily possible to change the windows 7 32 bit to windows 7 64 bit, providing you remain in the same edition (home/pro/ultimate) by using either the two above mentioned programs or by using the product key and activating by phone.