64 bit / 32 bit


  1. Posts : 1
    windows 7 premium
       #1

    64 bit / 32 bit


    I have seen a lot of posts about installing win7 as 64 bit / 32 bit. PC World has an article poo pooing 64 bit, "Not worth it" , or something to that effect.

    I am , however, planning buying a laptop with win 7 already installed.

    1. Is it going to ALLWAYS be installed as 64 bit
    2. Can it be generally either way?
    3. Can it be changed without a total , 49.87 hour reinstall process?

    I have an XP machine, I own Office 2003 And a TON of automated VBA scripting in Office AND a ton of AutoIt automation programming.

    Am I in for a marathon migration???
    Thanks
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 7,878
    Windows 7 Ultimate x64
       #2

    It may or may not be 64 bit. Depends upon what is installed. However, almost every machine with 4GB of RAM or more will be 64bit

    You cannot change without a complete system reinstall.


    I generally don't use 64bit UNLESS i am on a machine with more than 4GB of RAM. My laptop has 4GB of RAM exactly, and I run 32-bit on it. I'm willing to lose out on 512MB of RAM that cannot be addressed. However, I run 64bit on my machines with 8GB of RAM.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 28,845
    Win 8 Release candidate 8400
       #3

    win7mhn said:
    I have seen a lot of posts about installing win7 as 64 bit / 32 bit. PC World has an article poo pooing 64 bit, "Not worth it" , or something to that effect.

    I am , however, planning buying a laptop with win 7 already installed.

    1. Is it going to ALLWAYS be installed as 64 bit
    2. Can it be generally either way?
    3. Can it be changed without a total , 49.87 hour reinstall process?

    I have an XP machine, I own Office 2003 And a TON of automated VBA scripting in Office AND a ton of AutoIt automation programming.

    Am I in for a marathon migration???
    Thanks
    I dont know if you can special order 32bit but all of the current crop are 64bit.

    You would have to buy a 32 bit OS and the migration is a bear.

    You would have to re-install all of your apps.

    But 32 bit will run more legacy apps. Office 2003 wil run on either, the VB may be a problem.

    SO the short answer YES
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 22,814
    W 7 64-bit Ultimate
       #4

    Hello win7mhn, welcome to Seven Forums!


    You will be able to clean install either 32-bit or 64-bit, whichever you prefer using the Windows activation key imprinted on the COA sticker attached to the PC, on a lappy it's generally under the battery box.

    Windows 7 is version specific, not bit-rate specific.


    Have a look at this article for some information.

    32 bit vs 64 bit Comparison
      My Computer


 

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