Windows – “This CPU is not compatible with 64-bit mode.” – Installing Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit on a netbook with a 64-bit Intel Atom CPU

64-bitlaptopnetbookoperating systemswindows 7

I tried installing Windows 7 Ultimate SP 1, 64-bit on a netbook (Lenovo IdeaPad S110), which has the Intel Atom N2800 (1.86 GHz) as its processor, but I get the following error message when the Windows 7 installation DVD is loading:

Screenshot says "Attempting to load a 64-bit application, however this CPU is not compatible with 64-bit mode".

It says "Attempting to load a 64-bit application, however this CPU is not compatible with 64-bit mode".

The Intel Atom N2800 is a 64-bit CPU according to its webpage.

I am wondering why the Windows 7 installer shows this error message, despite this. Is there something I must configure first before installing Windows 7, 64-bit? Or is the netbook not compatible with a 64-bit OS?

I am trying to format the netbook and install Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit, instead.

Other details:

  • The netbook has 2 GB RAM.
  • The netbook initially had Windows 7 Starter (32-bit) installed.
  • I checked the CPU's specs with CPU-Z. It detects that the processor is indeed Intel Atom N2800, but it does not say that the processor is 64-bit (AMD64 or EM64T):
    enter image description here

Best Answer

Check your bios settings. Some of the processor features may be disabled there.

In particular look for one called 'No Execute' (Sometimes shortened to NX) which should be enabled.

The fact that CPU-Z does not show EM64T is significant. Since item says it does support it, it seems logical to conclude that the bios is not enabling that feature. Given that the machine only supports 2GB of memory, Lenovo might not have deemed it necessary to upgrade the bios to enable this feature.

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