Hey all,

I'm pretty newbish when it comes to OS installation, so I have a few points I think I need to consider. My headline is pretty explanatory- I have Windows 8.1 32-bit and I want to upgrade to 64-bit. Currently: 

• Have backed up all personal files onto my 1TB external
• No longer have a CD/DVD drive
• Am prepared to lose all info on my HDD
• Have no idea how to boot the 64-bit version onto my HDD without an optical disc view installed

So, if someone could help or instruct me how to be able to download a Windows installer onto the external, boot the installer from the external onto the HDD, and hopefully help me to pre-emptively make sure everything would be running post-install, I would be eternally grateful and am prepared to shower admiration on said helper. 

TL;DR: Need help <g class="gr_ gr_470 gr-alert gr_spell ContextualSpelling multiReplace" data-gr-id="470" id="470">installing</g> a 64-bit OS from an external onto my current HDD

Samasters

You could always install from a bootible USB.  It is easier & faster than installing the ISO from the external

So using a 64-bit USB installation, I can boot it from the USB and the drivers will still pick up the USB after the old OS is removed, in between the installation?

As I said, super-newb at this :/

Samasters

When you boot from the USB it will expand the files into a temp folder on your USB if there is space, or HD, and on reboot will complete the install from there.  When finished it deletes the temp folder

Just make sure in advance that the USB is bootible.

Can do. Would it be the same concept to use the external I have? My only USB I have nearby is a 4GB stick, not sure if it is big enough

Sam

WIn 8.1 64 bit is ~3.25 Gb so it should fit but it probably would not if you expanded it first. (you can install from the ISO on USB)