How to upgrade Win7 From 32bit to 64bit using your original license key

The reason I am doing this post is because some OEM Vendors still install Windows 7 32bit on Retail Systems, however you can get more performance on your system if you used a 64bit OS instead, it is unfair to users to bear the system limitations.

What this guide is good for?

• You want a bloatware free Windows 7 Install at the same time you don't want to purchase another Windows 7 License.
• You want to upgrade your original 32bit Windows 7 to 64bit Windows 7
• You lost the original recovery partition and do not have the recovery cd and yet you don't want to buy the recovery cd or a new Windows 7 License.

NOTE: This will only work for Laptops or OEM Desktops preloaded with OEM Windows 7 as these Systems has a special SLIC 2.1 BIOS which enables OEM Activation.

Do not message me HERE on how to make this work on Systems that do not have OEM Windows 7 preloaded with it.

Lets take for example the Acer Aspire 4530 Laptop (Tested).

Special Treat for Acer Aspire 4530 owners only update to my custom BIOS containing SLIC2.1 here to get the upgrade at no cost.

For laptops preloaded with Windows 7 you don't need to do any of the above.

On a Windows 7 Client 32bit OS it can only utilise up to 2.8GB of RAM regardless of the Total RAM available.

(Maximium usable RAM is 3GB in all 32bit Windows 7 Editions)

However on a Windows 7 Client 64bit OS it can support up to 3.8GB of RAM

(Assuming you have the maximum 4GB installed)

The performance difference is significant 1.0GB difference.(the missing 0.2 is due to 9100MG Integrated Graphics).

Start Here for Windows 7 Preloaded Laptop

Backup All Your Important Data Before Proceding !

1. Firstly google and prepare all the 64bit Windows 7 Drivers you need.
2. Next take any retail copy of Windows 7 (or download an uncracked version from Bittorrent. There is no need to get a retail CD-Key as we will be using OEM CD-Key) and install the type you own.

Example if you have a Windows 7 Home Premium License Sticker, install the Windows 7 Home Premium Version.

• Uncheck Automatically Activate When Online, and Do Not type in any Product Key.

After installing and setting up the OS, download the Acer 2.1 OEM Certificate and put it inside :

C:\Windows\system32\OEM

If you don't have the folder, create it.

Then open up a Command Windows with Windows 7 Administrative Permission and Enter the Commands below(Make sure the filename of the xrm-ms is correct).

slmgr.vbs -ilc C:\Windows\System32\OEM\Acer.xrm-ms

Next, choose one of the Acer OEM Keys shown below the version you have installed in your system:

Note the OEM Keys are NOT UNIQUE meaning EVERY Acer Laptop which has Windows 7 Preloaded is using one of the following CD-Keys, depending on the version of Windows 7.

Then Activate

Then install the 64bit drivers (Very Important, No computer is usable without the correct drivers!).

You are done.

Note: The Activation is done offline, you do not need any internet connection to do this.

Use this keyfinder to check your current OEM License Key and match it to the appropriate OEM Certificate, for Acer you will find that it is one of the keys I listed above.

The Correct Way to install Wireless Adapter Drivers

The question is how do you actually install a Wireless Adapter Driver with the maximum feature possible?

This blog entry will show you the way to install Wireless Adapter Driver in Windows to utilise the maximum feature possible.

1)After you reformated the Harddisk and clean installed Windows, do not be in a hurry to install the Wireless Adapter Driver's "Setup.exe". If you execute Setup.exe immediately before Windows has the chance to detect it and install the Windows Driver from Microsoft Updates, the virtual miniport adapter will not be pushed into the system.

By defaults Windows will autodetect the Wireless Adapter just go into Device Manager and Click "Detect Hardware"

Why do we do this?
This is because if you follow this method Windows will create a Virtual Device WiFi Miniport Adapter.
It is a new Windows 7 feature that allows your laptop to act as a Wireless Access Point (AP).
It will create a New Virtual Adapter Connection as shown below.

If you get a extra "2 or 3" behind your default Wireless Network Connection (which means your Virtual Miniport Adapter shows up as 3 or 4), that means the last time you removed the Wireless Adapter Driver it wasn't cleaned up properly, resulting in  "Wireless Network Connection 1" occupied by a Non-Existent Device in the Windows Registry.
Do a search in Regedit.exe and remove it if you find it irritating.

After that to update the Device Driver to the latest version do the following:

Extract the Latest Wireless Adapter Driver to a location.

Make sure the inf file exist.

Update the driver through device manager.

Point the update location to the driver location.

Don't buy Macbooks

Guess what?
The new Acer Aspire 4741G 14" with the GT 330M Nvidia GPU (Discrete) cost around 1.5K (SGD) (Specs wise it is equivalent to a Macbook Pro 15") or less but a Macbook Pro 13" with an inferior Core 2 Duo CPU + inferior G 320M Nvidia GPU (Integrated) also cost 1.5K SGD so if this isn't a sign for an obvious ripoff then what is?
Moreover the AS4741G comes with a 60% Gamut Display screen as well.

New Updates:
Seen the new Macbook refresh laptops?
They just added another reason not to buy a Crapbook.
The 13 inch Macbook are still using Core 2 Duo endangered species processor (dangerously obselete if you consider all the new WinTel laptop comes with at least a Core i3) and the most powerful Graphics on the 15 inch Macbook Pro is what? GT 330M GPU ?!
The 11 inch Alienware Gaming Netbook has a GT 335M GPU which even more powerful than the most powerful 15" Crapbook Pro at the fraction of the cost.
Seriously Apple seems to targeting suckers in the computing market.
So you guys who didn't buy a updated Macbook and bought a new WinTel Laptop model, rejoice your current laptop's performance is probably way more powerful and cheaper than the crapbook.
As long as you learn about proper usage and take care of it, you will probably be happier than if you bought a Crapbook.

Lets look at 3D Mark 06 Benchmarks (I usually hate to do this)

Macbook Pro 13 Inch Refresh (Assuming it is a low end model costing 1200 USD)

Lets look at Acer Aspire 4740G (Cost 800USD Converted)

Shader Model 2.0 Score: 1723(MBP13) vs 1422(AS4740G)

Shader Model 3.0 Score: 2013(MBP13) vs 1431(AS4740G)
CPU Score: 2113(MBP13) vs 2246(AS4740G)

So you pay 400USD more for Good Graphics and a penalty in the CPU area?
I am sure for 400USD more we deserve better.

A lot of people complain about lousy unresponsive Windows PCs but it is actually the OEM's fault.
They bundled their computer with so much crapware everything slows down, so doing a clean install will solve everything. It isn't a PC problem but an OEM problem and it is definitely solvable if you follow the previous link.
My sleek Windows 7 installation never lags or crash just like the way it is suppose to be.

here are additional reason why not to buy one.
1)They use propriety EFI so there is no "modded" BIOS/EFI to activate Windows, you have to buy one or use a loader that might break at some point or stick to OS X.


2)They overheat while gaming at the expense of the pretty looking shell.
There are people who game using Macbook Pro and it overheats while gaming in Windows.
They are little or no vent holes. They choose form over function.
There is no such thing as: This laptop is not meant for gaming.
The only thing is if the specs sucks you won't enjoy the game.
Gaming is simply running your CPU & GPU at 100% and see if the thermal module can handle the heat effectively.

3)An equivalently priced Windows System is a lot cheaper than a Macbook, and you can even get a better one cheaper considering they haven't refresh specification according to market conditions in a long time.

4)Their battery is not removable so you have to sent it back to Apple to replace batteries than buy one off ebay. Either that or you have to dismantle it yourself.

5)They don't offer low voltage processors. I am a great advocate of low voltage processors because
1)Nowadays unless you are gaming low voltage processors are great for energy savings
2)Low Heat Output
3)Cheap

6)What struck me was most of these buyers are uninformed on what they are getting, probably on word that they cannot get virus etc: Advertising.
See how Apple calls their sale people:Mac Evangelist.
See how Apple calls their tech support: Genius Bar.
Apple like to abuse the English Vocabulary you as can tell by using different words to describe the same thing.
This is bad because in the world we are living in is not so based on facts and capability but dictated by how advertising gets into the minds of people.

7)OS X sucks when it comes to low level customization, power users will find a lack of control. There is no administrative tools/Control Panel to give you very high, low level control over the OS(Except Terminal but it is not GUI). It is like Ubuntu except Ubuntu is free software (cost as well as source code).
OS X also took code based on BSD while not returning much to the free software community.
OS X looks great at the sales counter but functionality sucks.
I hope I don't have to repeat this.

I hope real word can get around about the ugly truth about Apple. To me it is a marketing company nobody should buy from. Please tell your friends and family, do not let this get any worse.
The reason I am writing this is I don't want to see low-cost Windows System OEM get shutdown due to low sales because people believe Macs are better and buy them.
I still want my choice of cheap & powerful computers to exist! Not cheap Macs with lousy specification, so if my Acer dies I will still be able to get a cheap & powerful replacement(not necessarily an Acer, Lenovos and some HP & Dell are cheap too).

I hope there are many OEMs continue to be around so:
1)I can choose
2)Competition drive down cost and keep OEMs on their toes
3)We all benefit from cheap stuff

If Macs or any single OEM rules:
1)They control pricing.
2)No more cheap computers.
3)New parts specification may not deliver as fast because there are no competition for sales (Apple can afford not to update for a long time because "they are not PC" so they are different and not subjected to compete, and people are still suckers for them however any PC OEMs selling laptops with 9600M GT probably won't be gettting any sales).
4)We will be paying a whole lot more than what it actually cost (so those company profit and execs go on holidays sponsored indirectly by us).

I do not advocate any brands (Acer Laptop sucks as well I bought it because it was cheap), my final advice to anyone who want to buy anything is:

1)Do real research from a neutral party about your needs, and find market pricing standards, don't be lazy and ask the Salesperson/Mac Evangelist because they have an intention to make you buy their products so what they say will definitely contain falsehood.
I am not just saying about Apple Sale Representative, this applies to any Laptop salesperson.
I have seen people doing sales with ZERO knowledge of what they are selling.
They will give you any promise to make you take out your wallet. It is during after sales that their horns emerge.
Also do not ask your hippy Apple fanatic friend about anything.
Their minds have been altered by Apple Marketing to know any real facts.
Ask someone who really know what every line of a computer specification means.

2)Get a competitively priced computer no point paying extra for nice looks, when a computer is meant to be used not admired.
Things that matter:

• Size, Weight
• Specification
• Price Point
• Battery Life

3)There is no such thing as brand quality.
Laptops are really made by ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) not HP or Dell or any other company. Example of ODM: Compal, Quanta...
Example:
The HP Elitebook is made by Compal, HP only pasted their stickers and label on them.

Dissemble Acer Aspire 4740G

I have dissembled the Acer Aspire 4740G and clean up the internal crap from Acer.
Here is the preview of the temperature improvements
Dissembled Picture:

Look at the shody application of thermal paste it is a total mess

Close up view of the mess Acer Made (Too much thermal gunk inhibits thermal transfer)

After I cleaned up all the thermal crap.The chip surface is mirror shine.

I used Brasso to remove the tarnish Copper Stain on the heatsink and made it mirror shine as well.
(After using Brasso I used Isopropyl Alcohol to clear up all traces of Brasso)

Temperatures Before Clean Up

Temperatures After Clean Up:

The famous MSI Kombuster Temperature Graph