Windows7 64 reading windows7 32 drive?

My new computer arrived today with Windows7 64 installed. (happydance)
My old computer has Windows7 32 installed.

Before I start attacking both computers, thought I better ask beforehand or the b/f will 'kill' me

Can I remove the hard drive from the old computer, install it as a 2nd drive in the new computer and be able to access all the data (documents, photos, messages saved in outlook and my favourites etc) on it from the new Windows7 64bit primary drive?

(I wasn't sure which sub-forum to ask this question in, hope in here is OK.)

thanks,
Jane

youllbelost said:

Hi Jaibird,

A hard disk is not 32-bit or 64-bit and does not depend upon the installed OS.

Yes, in some parts and no in others.
You can access files/folders from the partition Hard Disk (Documents, Photos, Favourites).. But you cannot get the messages saved in outlook.

Be advised that the (Documents, Photos, Favourites) will NOT merge into your current Windows 7 64-Bit.

YBL

erm excuse me I did not write; one drive was 32bit, nor did I write that the other drive was 64bit.
I wrote what the 2 operating systems were on each drive, w7-32 & w7-64).
All I wanted to know was would I be able to access the data.

Geesh was there really a need to use bold & bold RED cap's at me?!

Sorry for asking the question

sreedhav said:

Dear jaibird,
As far as 32 bit applications (Softwares) running on 64 bit machines, a true 32 bit application will run on any 64 bit machine, like your new computer.Beware,some of the 32 bit apps. are actually 16 bit programs and will not sync' with 64 bit ones.

Hi there Samaksh!
Regards,
Sreedhav

thank you for your reply

Jane, the short answer is yes, you can do it.

Just to expand a little, indeed as youllbelost implied, most likely both drives are formatted with the NTFS, which any Windows OS (regardless of whether 32- or 64-bit) can read. Same applies to FAT32. The problem would arise if your old OS were Linux, but that's evidently not the case.

Now, depending on how permissions are configured on your files in your current (old) Windows, it may be necessary to take ownership of the files and folders you want to access once you move the drive to the new machine. Here the question is: what do you plan on doing with your machines. If you simply want to transfer your files to the new machine and never use the old one again, or if security is not an issue, then you can simplify the process by granting user "Everyone" full access to your files in your old system before moving the hard drive. This will simplify the process for you.

Your applications will of course need to be reinstalled, not just moved, as I'm sure you know.

unifex said:

Jane, the short answer is yes, you can do it.

Now, depending on how permissions are configured on your files in your current (old) Windows, it may be necessary to take ownership of the files and folders you want to access once you move the drive to the new machine. Here the question is: what do you plan on doing with your machines. If you simply want to transfer your files to the new machine and never use the old one again, or if security is not an issue, then you can simplify the process by granting user "Everyone" full access to your files in your old system before moving the hard drive. This will simplify the process for you.

Thank you unifex, that was what I wanted to know and wasnt sure about.

unifex said:

Your applications will of course need to be reinstalled, not just moved, as I'm sure you know.

Yes'm, I know that bit thank you.