Switch to 64bit. My system has two hard drives.

R

rldupree

New member
I have an HP Quad Core computer that came with two hard drives. I installed Windows 7 32 bit a year ago. The disk also came with a 64 bit version but the upgrade required a clean install.

If I decide to install the 64 bit version, do I lose everything on both drives?
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Home Premium 32bit.
Basically yes. However if you have some folders just for storing files on the second drive they should remain.
If you do a fresh O/S install I would format the 'c' drive.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
HomieJunker
OS
W7 Prof 64 bit
CPU
i7-3770k
Motherboard
Sabertooth Z77
Memory
G.Skill Sniper 1866 16 GB
Graphics Card(s)
Evga GTX 770
Sound Card
Sound Blaster Z
Monitor(s) Displays
Asus VG278HE
Screen Resolution
1920 x 1080
Hard Drives
4 Seagate Barracudas 250 GB
2 Intel® X25-M 160GB
PSU
Corsair H1000X
Case
Lian-Li A77B
Cooling
Phantek 120 dual fans
Keyboard
Corsair K70 RGB
Mouse
Logitech G502
Internet Speed
FiOS Quantum
Antivirus
Avira
Browser
Chrome
If you install the 64bit OS onto the Disk/partition that currently has the 32 bit OS on it then you will lose all data and programs on the 32bit version, it should not effect the other drive at all.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
    ChillBlast - Custom to my design
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 [Latest Release and Release Preview]
    CPU
    Ryzen 9 5950X, 3.8 - 5.2 MHz
    Motherboard
    Asus Prime X570-Pro
    Memory
    64GB [2 x 32GB] DDR4 3200MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    4GB NVIDIA GEFORCE GTX 1650 Ti
    Sound Card
    On-board SPDIF to 5.1 System + HDMI [5.1 system]
    Monitor(s) Displays
    32" UHD 32 Bit HDR Monitor + 43" UHD 4K 32Bit HDR TV
    Screen Resolution
    2 x 3840 x 2160 @60Hz
    Hard Drives
    1TB M2 SSD OS, 500GB Fast Access SSD, 2 x 8TB Data + Various Externals from 1TB to 4TB, 10TB NAS
    PSU
    NZXT C750 80 PLUS Gold 750W Modular PSU
    Case
    Workstation Case [Matt Black]
    Cooling
    NZXT Kraken X63 280mm CPU Cooler +2x Quiet Case fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech Wireless MX Keys & K400 + others
    Mouse
    Logitech Wireless MX Master 3S
    Internet Speed
    920 MB Down 50 MB Up
    Antivirus
    BitDefender Total Security Pro
    Browser
    Chrome (always run latest Non-Beta)
    Other Info
    Also run ...
    Laptop - Quad 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64
    Nexus 7 Android tablet x2
    Samsung 10.2" tablet
    Blackview TAB 8 4G Android Tablet c/w Keyboard
    Wacom Intuos Pro Medium Pen Pad
    Wacom Intuos Pro Small Pen Pad
    Wacom Expresskeys Remote
    Loopdeck+ Graphics Controller
    Shuttle Pro v2 Control
  • Computer type
    Laptop
    System Manufacturer/Model Number
    Dell XPS 17 10750H
    OS
    Windows 11 Pro x64 Latest RP
    CPU
    Intel I7 10750H 5.0GHz
    Motherboard
    Dell XPS
    Memory
    32GB [2x16GB] DDR4 2933 MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    nVidia GTX1650Ti 4 GB GDDR6
    Sound Card
    Stock [Realtek] 4 Speaker
    Monitor(s) Displays
    17" IPS UHD+ Infinity Edge Touchscreen
    Screen Resolution
    3840 x 2400
    Hard Drives
    2TB M2 NVMe, 4TB External + various 500GB & 1TB External NVMe (also have access to spinner HDD from
    PSU
    Stock
    Case
    Stock XPS Aluminium & Carbon Fibre
    Cooling
    Stock - Active Fan Control
    Keyboard
    Backlit + Various Logitech
    Mouse
    Stock Track Pad + Logitech MX Trackball
    Internet Speed
    72 MB Down 18MB Up
    Browser
    Chrome
    Other Info
    Also run ...
    Laptop - Quad 8GB - Windows 10 Pro x64
    Nexus 7 Android tablet x2
    10.2" tablet
    Sony Z3 Android Smartphone
    Wacom Intuos Pro Medium Pen Pad
    Wacom Intuos Pro Small Pen Pad
    Wacom Expresskeys Remote
    Loopdeck+ Graphics Controller
    Shuttle Pro v2 Control Pad
    10TB NAS
As big of a pain as it is to reinstall your software, a clean install is, by far the best.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Home built
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate 32 bit
CPU
Intel(R) Pentium(R) 4 CPU 3.00GHz
Motherboard
ASUS P4P800-VM Motherboard Chipset: Intel 865G + ICH5
Memory
2.50 GB RAM
Graphics Card(s)
NVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS
Sound Card
SoundMax Integrated Digital Audio (Chip)
Monitor(s) Displays
ViewSonic VX 1962 wm
Screen Resolution
1680 X 1050
Hard Drives
Seagate Barracuda 7200.10 80 GB
ST380215A ATA Device 18.6 GB
Western Digital "My Book" external hard drive 750 GB
Cooling
Fan based
Keyboard
Microsoft Comfort Curve Keyboard 2000 v10 USB
Mouse
Logitec optic USB
Internet Speed
3.01 Mb/s download 0.64 Mb/s upload
Are you ready to replace 32 bit with 64 bit, or do you want to test 64 bit to compare it with 32 bit?

If you want to test it, then I'd create a partition on the other HD to install 64 bit, unplug the 32 bit during install, set the target HD as first HD to boot in BIOS setup. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/2672-partition-volume-shrink.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/93322-partition-wizard-use-bootable-cd.html

After install, plug back in the 32 bit HD, boot it via BIOS one-time Boot menu key which every computer/mobo has. bootkeys

You'll have up to 120 days during which you can extend the activation of 64 bit to decide which one you want to keep to activate permanently. You're entitled to either 32- or 64-bit with each license, but only one install of either. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/875-activation-trial-period-extend-up-120-days.html

If you want to keep 64 bit, for example, move the data you want to save from the 32 bit HD to the 64 bit one, then wipe the HD, repartition/format to use as a data or storage drive. You can then activate 64 bit.

If you want to keep 32 bit, just move the data off the 64 bit HD to the 32 bit one and wipe it, repartition and format to use as data or storage drive. Experiment finished.
 
Last edited:
rldupree said:
I have an HP Quad Core computer that came with two hard drives. I installed Windows 7 32 bit a year ago. The disk also came with a 64 bit version but the upgrade required a clean install.

If I decide to install the 64 bit version, do I lose everything on both drives?
Click to expand...

Hi rldupree, welcome to Seven Forums.

You will only loose your data on the Win7 32bit partition.
The other hard drive won't be affected.

If you only have one partition on the Win7 32bit hard drive and you keep all your personnal data on that partition, you will need to move all your personnal data to another partition before you install Win7 64bit.

If you want to test the Win7 64bit, you can do as gregrocker suggested.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
76~2.0
OS
Windows 7 Ult x64 - SP1/ Windows 8 Pro x64
CPU
Intel Core i5-3570K 4.6GHz
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-Z77X UD3H, f18
Memory
8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 Corsair Vengeance CL8 1.5v
Graphics Card(s)
Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X OC 1GB DDR5
Sound Card
Onboard VIA VT2021
Monitor(s) Displays
22" LCD Dell
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
Samsung 840Pro 128GB SSD,
Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB cache, Seagate Barracuda 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB cache,
PSU
Corsair HX650W
Case
Cooler Master Storm Scout
Cooling
Corsair H80 2x12cm Noctua NF P12 , 2x14cm case fans
Keyboard
Logitech Wave
Mouse
CM Sentinel
Internet Speed
Dismal
Antivirus
Avast
Browser
Opera Next
Other Info
Haswell laptop: HP Envy 17t-j, i7-4700MQ, GeForce 740M 2GB DDR3, 17.3" Full HD 1920x1080, 16GB RAM, Samsung 840 Pro 128GB, 1TB Hitachi 7200 HDD,
Desktop: eSATA ports,
External eSATA Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm,
External WD USB 500GB
Copy all the data you want to save to the second drive. Then, disconnect it from the system, and do a clean install on the primary drive. Once it is up and running, reconnect your second drive, and rearrange your drive letters, if you want.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
Just a heads up from a not-so-noob-noob: I fresh installed x64 Home Premium and the setup wiped my C partition, my Data partition and my OEM system restore partition. Play it safe, physically unplug the 32bit disk before attempting x64 install.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba Satellite L500
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64 OEM --> RTM clean install
CPU
Intel T4400
Motherboard
? - laptop inbuilt ?
Memory
4Gb
Graphics Card(s)
? - Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family ?
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
? + extended to a 42" LG55PC plasma tele!
Screen Resolution
1366 * 768
Hard Drives
320Gb 5500rpm
PSU
?
Case
?
Cooling
?
Internet Speed
3Meg, when it works.
Other Info
A LOWLY LAPTOP!
The OEM restore partition would be useless in this situation because it wouldn't restore the desired OS. It is a dumb idea to rely solely on a partition on your drive as a means of restoring anyway, because if the drive dies...so does your restore. If he has the x64 disc, that's all he needs. The OEM partition can, and usually is, blown away to recover the space.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
in addition to what allend66 said, be sure the second hard drive is a physical harddrive and not just a partition of one large disk. If it is a physical disk then pull the power from it (when pc is off). Install win7 and once its up and running you can plug the second hard drive back in (again when pc is off).
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Custom
OS
Windows 8 Professional
CPU
AMD Phenom II X6
Motherboard
ASUS
Memory
8 GB
Graphics Card(s)
XFX ATI Radeon 4890
Monitor(s) Displays
Dual 22" LCD
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
PC Drives

HD0 = Crucial SSD 128gb Sata III
HD1 = 300gb (Seagate Barracuda)

NAS

HD0 = 1.5TB (Maxtor) Raid1
HD1 = 1.5TB (Maxtor) Raid1
HD2 = 1TB (Segate) Raid5
HD3 = 1TB (Segate) Raid5
HD4 = 1TB (Segate) Raid5
HD5 = 1TB (Segate) Raid5
PSU
750 watt
Mouse
Razr Mamba
Internet Speed
50 down 35 up FIOS
DeaconFrost said:
The OEM restore partition would be useless in this situation because it wouldn't restore the desired OS. It is a dumb idea to rely solely on a partition on your drive as a means of restoring anyway, because if the drive dies...so does your restore. If he has the x64 disc, that's all he needs. The OEM partition can, and usually is, blown away to recover the space.
Click to expand...

You've missed the point - rldupree was concerned about losing data, my post indicating that partitions - ALL partitions get wiped, and my suggestion being he should remove / disconnect the 32bit disk before installing.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Toshiba Satellite L500
OS
Windows 7 Home Premium x64 OEM --> RTM clean install
CPU
Intel T4400
Motherboard
? - laptop inbuilt ?
Memory
4Gb
Graphics Card(s)
? - Mobile Intel(R) 4 Series Express Chipset Family ?
Sound Card
Realtek
Monitor(s) Displays
? + extended to a 42" LG55PC plasma tele!
Screen Resolution
1366 * 768
Hard Drives
320Gb 5500rpm
PSU
?
Case
?
Cooling
?
Internet Speed
3Meg, when it works.
Other Info
A LOWLY LAPTOP!
allend66 said:
You've missed the point
Click to expand...
I could probably say the same thing. If there's data to be saved on the secondary drive, and there's no plan to dual-boot (thankfully) then dump all important data to the data drive, aka the secondary, and then freely wipe out the entire primary disk...once it is disconnected. Then the OP only has to reconnect the drive after x64 is installed, and all the data is available.
 

My Computer

OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64 SP1
CPU
Intel Core i7-2600
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-P67A-UD3P-B3
Memory
12 GB Patriot Extreme DDR3-1333
Graphics Card(s)
Nvidia GTX 470
Monitor(s) Displays
Dell UltraSharp 2209WA
Hard Drives
OCZ Agility3 240 GB, WD5001AALS, WD7501AALS
PSU
OCZ ModStream 700W
Case
CoolerMaster HAF 912 Advanced
Cooling
CoolerMaster Hyper 212 Plus
Just to point out: a clean install will NOT wipe the entire drive. In fact you can save ALL you data from the old install even after installing over it.

The clean install will only install over the partition you point it to (which may or may not be the whole drive).

If you install over an existing install, all your data will be moved into the Windows.old folder, from which you can save it.

~Lordbob
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Hera
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate x64, Mint 9
CPU
Intel i5-2500k
Motherboard
ASUS P8P67 Pro
Memory
2x 4Gb Corsair VENGEANCE DDR3-1600
Graphics Card(s)
NVidia GeForce N260GTX Twin Frozr
Sound Card
Realtek HD OnBoard Audio
Monitor(s) Displays
ASUS 24" Monitor
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
G.SKILL Phoenix Series 60GB SATA II MLC Internal Solid State Drive (SSD)
SAMSUNG Spinpoint F3R 1TB 7200 RPM 32MB Cache SATA II
PSU
Cooler Master Real Power Pro 750W
Case
Cooler Master Haf 932
Cooling
Fans
Keyboard
Razer Tarantula
Mouse
Razer Lachesis
Internet Speed
not fast enough
Good point Lordbob.

If the OP wants to keep the recovery partition and doesn't need the space, the Win7 64bit can be installed on the current Win7 32bit partition.

If the OP wants to use the recovery partition space, He/she should consider if there will ever be a need for the origional OS. For example sometime in the future if they want to sell the computer and keep the Win7 upgrade.
Most OEMs have a utility to burn the recovery partition to a DVD, saving it if needed later.
Then the recovery partition can be deleted.

Good point made previously, should confirm it is two physical HDDs and not two partitions.

All this can be easily done if the OP returns with a little information.
 

My Computer

Computer type
PC/Desktop
Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
76~2.0
OS
Windows 7 Ult x64 - SP1/ Windows 8 Pro x64
CPU
Intel Core i5-3570K 4.6GHz
Motherboard
Gigabyte GA-Z77X UD3H, f18
Memory
8GB (2X4GB) DDR3 1600 Corsair Vengeance CL8 1.5v
Graphics Card(s)
Sapphire HD 7770 Vapor-X OC 1GB DDR5
Sound Card
Onboard VIA VT2021
Monitor(s) Displays
22" LCD Dell
Screen Resolution
1680x1050
Hard Drives
Samsung 840Pro 128GB SSD,
Seagate Barracuda 500GB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB cache, Seagate Barracuda 1TB SATA2 7200rpm 32MB cache,
PSU
Corsair HX650W
Case
Cooler Master Storm Scout
Cooling
Corsair H80 2x12cm Noctua NF P12 , 2x14cm case fans
Keyboard
Logitech Wave
Mouse
CM Sentinel
Internet Speed
Dismal
Antivirus
Avast
Browser
Opera Next
Other Info
Haswell laptop: HP Envy 17t-j, i7-4700MQ, GeForce 740M 2GB DDR3, 17.3" Full HD 1920x1080, 16GB RAM, Samsung 840 Pro 128GB, 1TB Hitachi 7200 HDD,
Desktop: eSATA ports,
External eSATA Seagate 500GB SATA2 7200rpm,
External WD USB 500GB
allend66 said:
You've missed the point - rldupree was concerned about losing data, my post indicating that partitions - ALL partitions get wiped, and my suggestion being he should remove / disconnect the 32bit disk before installing.
Click to expand...

Lordbob said it already, but I will dare repeating - the installer does NOT necessarily wipe out all data in the machine, as you seem to be suggesting. It's possible it has an option to do so, but it's only one option.

The machine I am using now - I am dual-booting. Windows 7 was installed on a separate physical drive, but you bet I did not disconnect the other physical drive before installing and nothing happened to it. The recovery partition is still there as well. In fact, the installer is rather flexible, you just have to pay attention to the questions it poses to you.
 

My Computer

Computer Manufacturer/Model Number
Dell Inspiron 530
OS
Windows 7 Ultimate (x64)
CPU
Q6600
Memory
8 GB
Graphics Card(s)
ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT
Monitor(s) Displays
Samsung Syncmaster P2450
Screen Resolution
1920x1080
Hard Drives
Samsung HD103UJ
Samsung HD501LJ
Internet Speed
25 Mb/s
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