Question

Difficulty: EasyOS Installation and Upgrade Methods

A computer technician needs to change a desktop computer's operating system from a 32-bit version of Windows 10 to a 64-bit version of Windows 10. Which of the following installation methods must the technician use to complete this upgrade?

  1. A
    An in-place upgrade using 64-bit Windows installation media
  2. A clean installation after backing up all user data and settingsAnswer
  3. C
    An edition upgrade using the Windows Change Product Key feature
  4. D
    An application compatibility update executed from within the existing operating system

Answer

A clean installation after backing up user data is required to switch from a 32-bit architecture to a 64-bit architecture.
Direct in-place upgrades between 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) architectures are not supported by Microsoft Windows. Transitioning to a 64-bit OS requires backing up user data and performing a clean installation from bootable 64-bit installation media.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the migration requirement
The target requirement is changing OS architecture from 32-bit (x86) to 64-bit (x64).
Windows does not support direct in-place architecture upgrades.
2
Determine valid upgrade path
A clean installation (custom setup) must be selected.
System files, registry structures, and driver models are fundamentally different between 32-bit and 64-bit architectures.

Key Concept

Upgrading from a 32-bit OS to a 64-bit OS always requires a clean installation. User files and applications must be backed up and restored manually or via migration tools.
Estimated Time:45s
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