(solved) Problems Installing Windows 7 Options

[dropdeadfred]

I'm having problems installing Windows 7 and could really use some advice. I'm pretty OK with PCs, but this has baffled me.

My hardware -

AMD Athlon 64 X2Dual Core Processor 3800+ 2.01GHz
4Gb RAM

I'm running Windows Vista Ultimate 32-Bit, as an upgrade from XP Home Edition.

I want to move to Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit.

I know I cannot upgrade from Vista Ultimate 32 bit to 7 Home Premium 64 bit. In any case I want to do a clean install of 7. So, I have purchased a full, authentic, DVD copy of 7 - it is NOT an upgrade version. So what I'm trying to do is format my hard drive and do a clean install.

The problem is this - I cannot get to a point where I can either run the 7 DVD or format my hard drive and do the install.

I've gone into BIOS setup and set the computer to BOOT from my DVD drive, but it won't do it. In my BIOS I have three preferences for booting - I've set them all to boot from the the DVD drive and still it won't work. When I get to the point where it says 'To boot from DVD drive press any key' I furiously press keys but nothing happens. (Note - could this be due to me using a wireless keyboard? I really can't see that it is, since I use the same keyboard to get into and navigate through the BIOS setup.

The DVD drive itself is absolutely fine - I can run stuff from it through Windows, burn discs etc etc.

I've tried putting the XP disc back in to see if I could do a clean install of XP, but the option to install XP is greyed out - presumably since Microsoft assume that no-one would want to go from Vista to XP.

Help!

[Calpitor]

Try a wired keyboard. Whether it makes little or no sense you may well be pleased with the results.

[Jelly Bean]

I'm running Windows Vista Ultimate 32-Bit, as an upgrade from XP Home Edition.

I want to move to Windows 7 Home Premium 64-Bit.

I am afraid to say you CANNOT upgrade from a 32 bit OS to Windows 7 64 bit OS.

It has to be 32 bit to 32 bit and 64 bit to 64 bit.

[dropdeadfred]

Hi,

Thanks for your replies. I've worked it out now.

The one about the wired keyboard was the closest to being right. It was a keyboard issue - I couldn't force it to boot from the DVD. The solution was going into the BIOS and enabling USB keyboard from the options. Then I was able to press a key to force DVD boot.

And thanks for the other reply. I knew I couldn't upgrade from 32 to 64-bit, hence me doing a complete, clean, new install.

Anyway, I've now got Windows up & running.

Cheers, and thanks,
Steve