Displaying the depth of my ignorance. Something that should be simple, but haven't found a way yet.
Burning my social security card, my bra, my connection with win XP.  So sad, Win XP has been a workhorse but have to go with win 10 as the XP world recedes into antiquity.
Attempt to install from legitimate MS downloads doesn't work. Trying to install the 64 bit version, but XP 32 bit refuses to allow the installation to go forward because the installer is not a legitimate 32 bit XP file. Can't boot from the ISO file on DVD either. Maybe install 32 bit win 10 then get to 64 bit from there?
Thanks for any advice.
 
John
 

You cannot install Windows 10 from within Windows XP. The upgrade will only install from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, and only for the same bit size, i.e. Win 10 x 64 will only upgrade install from Win 7 x 64 or Win 8.1 x 64. You are going to have to do a clean installation and then reinstall all of your programs. If you bought the upgrade version (as opposed to the full retail version) you are not licensed to use that media to upgrade from XP at all. Google "clean install Windows 10 from upgrade" and you may find a workaround.

slartabartfast
You cannot install Windows 10 from within Windows XP. The upgrade will only install from Windows 7 or Windows 8.1, and only for the same bit size, i.e. Win 10 x 64 will only upgrade install from Win 7 x 64 or Win 8.1 x 64. You are going to have to do a clean installation and then reinstall all of your programs. If you bought the upgrade version (as opposed to the full retail version) you are not licensed to use that media to upgrade from XP at all. Google "clean install Windows 10 from upgrade" and you may find a workaround.

Yup, unfortunately that is true.  I loved XP, but when the time came, I had to clean install Windows 7, as there was no path for that upgrade.  A lot of Windows technology changed after XP, and unfortunately that left XP in the dust regarding upgrade compatibility.
 
I still have XP running on an old laptop, and also as a virtual machine on one of my PC's for old time's sake.  Comes in handy to run old software that won't install under Win 10

Your MB also has to support 64 bit to install 64 bit OS!
 
I still have WinXP desktop & laptop. Don't use either one anymore and probably worthless to sell. Waited too long.

JohnKenn
Attempt to install from legitimate MS downloads doesn't work. Trying to install the 64 bit version, but XP 32 bit refuses to allow the installation to go forward because the installer is not a legitimate 32 bit XP file. Can't boot from the ISO file on DVD either. Maybe install 32 bit win 10 then get to 64 bit from there?
Thanks for any advice.
 
John

Please give PC specs, at least make/model of PC or motherboard.  Somebody here should be able to tell you if it can do 64-bit.

If you want the 64 bit version, you can't install 32 bit OS and "upgrade" to 64 bit OS.  It will take a new "clean" (reformat hard drive) installation to install the 64 bit (and you don't install it from within an OS).
 
Before you go any further, verify that the current hardware you have is fully Windows 10 compatible.  Many older Win XP machines hardware is not compatible, or only partially.  Even some Win XP machines were not upgradeable, to Win 7 or 10 due to hardware.  One device that must have Win 10 drivers is the sound.  The XP drivers and even Win 7 drivers for the sound are not compatible with Win 10.
 
Another compatibility issue is your recording interface hardware.
 
Its possible everything you have is compatible with Win 10, but do your homework and verify first.  AND, make a full hard drive backup (disc image) of the XP drive to some other drive, in case you want to go back.  

Guys,
 
Appreciate the advice and thought this may be the case. MS website alerted that the Media Creation Tool wouldn't work with XP and then redirected to the appropriate link for the ISO file it said would work. No luck and couldn't get it to boot from the DVD for a clean install.
 
Then the ancientness of the computer itself. AMD quad core Vostro 400 maybe 10 years old. Sad thing is XP works so well, sound card solid. Just can't upgrade the newer plugins. Will check motherboard compatibility, but may as well use the thing as is until it dies and get a newer rig.
 
Thanks again for the help.
 
John

fireberd
If you want the 64 bit version, you can't install 32 bit OS and "upgrade" to 64 bit OS.  It will take a new "clean" (reformat hard drive) installation to install the 64 bit (and you don't install it from within an OS).

 
Very true!  I faced this issue when upgrading from Windows 7 32-bit to Windows 10 64-bit on a 64-bit hardware enabled PC.  In this case there was an upgrade path, but it was convoluted.  I first had to download and run the Win 10 32-bit installer for the upgrade, and complete the upgrade to claim my Microsoft "digital entitlement" for Windows 10.
 
Then I had to download the media creation tool for Windows 10 64-bit, put it on a USB stick, wipe my PC, and clean install the 64-bit version.
 

fireberd
One device that must have Win 10 drivers is the sound.  The XP drivers and even Win 7 drivers for the sound are not compatible with Win 10.
 
Another compatibility issue is your recording interface hardware.

 
Definitely check this out, jumping to Windows 10 from XP era hardware will likely be an issue.  I got lucky that my FireWire audio interface that runs Windows 7 (latest available) drivers works just fine on Windows 10.  In some cases the driver models for Windows 7, 8, & 10 share enough tech that it just works.  But leaping from XP to a modern OS, all driver bets are off.

fireberd
Its possible everything you have is compatible with Win 10, but do your homework and verify first.  AND, make a full hard drive backup (disc image) of the XP drive to some other drive, in case you want to go back.  

Great advice!

JohnKenn
Guys,
 
Appreciate the advice and thought this may be the case. MS website alerted that the Media Creation Tool wouldn't work with XP and then redirected to the appropriate link for the ISO file it said would work. No luck and couldn't get it to boot from the DVD for a clean install.
 
Then the ancientness of the computer itself. AMD quad core Vostro 400 maybe 10 years old. Sad thing is XP works so well, sound card solid. Just can't upgrade the newer plugins. Will check motherboard compatibility, but may as well use the thing as is until it dies and get a newer rig.
 
Thanks again for the help.
 
John

Another thought is that you might be able to install Windows 7.  That would also require a wipe and clean install, but you would still need to determine 32-bit vs 64-bit question and locate the correct Windows 7 drivers for your hardware first.
 
https://www.amazon.com/s/...55%2Ck%3Awindows+7+oem
 
Windows 7 will be supported until 2020.  Maybe you can plan for a new rig in 3 years?
 
I ran Windows 7 32-bit for a while on an old Pentium 4 32-bit single core that started life on XP.  So I would think the quad core would be fine with that.

Thanks Abacab. Was toying with the win 7 option since it would be compatible and the drivers work. Will save the win 10 adventure for the next new rig.