Annoying - bought Win8.1 64-bit instead of 32-bit. Swap?

[Watchman]

As per the title - I need a legit copy of 32-bit Win8.1 32-bit however I've just bought the 64-bit one by accident (mouse-tourettes), opened it, and started to install it all very blithely until the installation bombed-out.

I doubt Ebuyer will swap it for me, based on the fact that I've opened it.

Anyone fancy a swap? Needs to be legit, with DVD, licence and be able to activate.

[Watchman]

Laptop isn't capable of using 64-bit Windows.

[Watchman]

Vaud said:

Take a look at this:

http://www.howtogeek.com/186775/how-to-download-wi...

You should be able to create a 32bit media to install, given you have a legit key.

Thanks for that. Sadly it won't work for me though. The DVD I bought from Ebuyer is an OEM disc. Still cost 80-odd quid though. Very annoying.

[Watchman]

No, it's a dual core Pentium 1.7GHz. Got to be 6 years old now but my work laptop is also a Dell of that vintage and runs fine with 4Gb and an SSD under Win 8.

Wouldn't have bothered had XP support not expired.

[Watchman]

Anyway, back to my OP.

I've approached Ebuyer to see if I can swap it but as I've opened it, I think I'll have trouble. It's annoying though because I'm a relatively educated user (work in IT although no longer a techie) then what hope do "normal" users have when they get the notifications from XP that it's no longer supported? I agree that it is potentially naughty of Ebuyer to sell OEM versions to the public - an argument I'll be leaning on over the next few days.

[Watchman]

theboss said:

I thought all dual-core Intel CPUs were x86-64 compatible but it appears some of the early mobile Core family of CPUs of circa 2006-2008 were not. Seems odd but then 64-bit Windows was far from prevalent in those days. I'd bin it as well FWIW.

Win 8.1, an SSD and some memory are considerably less than half the price of a new laptop, and it'll perform perfectly well enough.

[Watchman]

Sheepshanks said:

I think it's a bit bonkers to throw a couple of hundred quid at an old laptop - and I say that as someone typing this on a 7yr old ThinkPad. You can get new laptops for that much now and they'll perform perfectly adequately.

I'll get better performance doing it this way, and considerably cheaper than a cheap laptop.

[Watchman]

Look, I'm not about to post *my* CV up here but I *know* that for the money I've spent, it will be quicker than any other option.

Which isn't what I really want to talk about anyway...

... Ebuyer has declined my request to swap the software because I've opened it. It's in their Ts and Cs apparently. So I'm looking into a couple of alternatives which may involve calling MS at some point and moaning at them for having spent the money and got FA for it.

Edited by Watchman on Tuesday 19th August 08:33

[Watchman]

Mr E said:

Apologies if this has been covered and I've missed it.

When I bought my last copy of windows, the license key was generic.
If windows 8.1 is the same, can you not just download the 32 bit version, dump it on a USB and install?

I believe I have a couple of options in regard of this now. I'll give it a go over the next few nights and report back.

Thanks.

[Watchman]

Do you just come here to criticise? So far you're less than helpful.

[Watchman]

Sheepshanks said:

I don't think there's a helpful post in the whole thread but the OP isn't helping himself by appearing to know better than anyone else. The original post probably breaks the posting rules on at least two counts.

An easy solution (one I've done several times) is to forget Windows 8 and buy the identical laptop off eBay with Win7 installed and validated. It should be possible to get one for less than the OEM Win8 cost and if you like you can chuck the laptop away and just use its HDD.

It might even be possible to get one with Win8 - I agree with the Win8 supporters, it's a good OS but it is very different and tough to pick up if you're only dipping into it now and again.

Because I don't want to change the laptop (your suggestion) I know better than *anyone* else?.. particularly as I've taken several other VERY helpful suggestions on-board and I'm actively running with them. Oh please.

Oh, and which posting rules are you concerned about?