Can 32bit WinPE be used for _*both*_ 32bit && 64 bit deployments

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Guest

I was wondering if it was possible to use a 32 bit based WinPE to start a 64
bit Os install. There seems to be some disagreement within Microsoft on this.
Majority opinion is that it cannot be done and that a 64bit WinPE based
enviroment is needed to call the os install of x64 OS (xp/ws03) but yesterday
at WinHEC, I posed this question and was told emphatically that yes it was
possible. Here is log of QA.




Q: I asked a question on the pe(32)-> os 64 transition. Can I get a contact
to discuss further? I would like to see how this is done.
A: Best bet is to post your questins at
http://support.microsoft.com/newsgroups/?pr=1173

Q: Just to verify (previous answer seemed to contradict), 64bit OS can
only be installed in conjunction with PE based upon same OS bits. 32bitPE ->
32bit OS || 64bitPE->64bit OS. ?
A: No, you can use 32-bit WinPE to install x64. It's your choise.

Q: will the OPK for win x64 work for the other OS's?
A: Yes. You can use both a 64-bit and 32-bit WinPE to preinstall the OS.
 
See the following:
http://www.hardwaregeeks.com/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=1

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User
Microsoft Newsgroups

Get Windows XP Service Pack 2 with Advanced Security Technologies:
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:

| I was wondering if it was possible to use a 32 bit based WinPE to start a 64
| bit Os install. There seems to be some disagreement within Microsoft on this.
| Majority opinion is that it cannot be done and that a 64bit WinPE based
| enviroment is needed to call the os install of x64 OS (xp/ws03) but yesterday
| at WinHEC, I posed this question and was told emphatically that yes it was
| possible. Here is log of QA.
|
|
|
|
| Q: I asked a question on the pe(32)-> os 64 transition. Can I get a contact
| to discuss further? I would like to see how this is done.
| A: Best bet is to post your questins at
| http://support.microsoft.com/newsgroups/?pr=1173
|
| Q: Just to verify (previous answer seemed to contradict), 64bit OS can
| only be installed in conjunction with PE based upon same OS bits. 32bitPE ->
| 32bit OS || 64bitPE->64bit OS. ?
| A: No, you can use 32-bit WinPE to install x64. It's your choise.
|
| Q: will the OPK for win x64 work for the other OS's?
| A: Yes. You can use both a 64-bit and 32-bit WinPE to preinstall the OS.
|
|
 
No. IT is not supported to use 64 for 32, or 32 for 64 when running winnt32.
If you are using an image-based approach for deployment, sure.

1: x64 WinPE does not include a 32-bit emulation layer - so cannot run
32-bit setup.
2: X86 WinPE cannot run a 64-bit binary, so cannot run 64-bit setup. Whoever
told you the answer to your second question was incorrect. It will not work.

WM
 
Note that content is pretty dated - it was posted in 2003. Any references to
64-bit there are IA64, not X64.
 
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