Windows 7: Switching from 32 to 64 bit

Hello; First time poster here,I upgraded to Windows 7 home 32 bit from xp and would like to install 64 bit. Can it be overwritten without losing programs or will I have to start from scratch like when I installed over xp? I realise drivers will have to be updated to 64 bit versions but can that be done later?

You will have to start over I'm afraid.

Welcome to the forums.
You can't upgrade from 32bit to 64bit. You have to perform a clean install. Back everything up and go for it. You need to make sure your apps are 64bit capable tho.

Can I use the same licence key? This is the deal breaker

Windows 64-bit OS' have a 32-bit emulator, so all 32-bit apps will run on a 64-bit machine. Some may be a little slow, however. But I've yet to run into one.

Welcome to Seven Forums.

Yes, you can use the same licence key.

One key per installation, 32bit or 64bit, but not both.

First....welcome to SevenForum spdracer and to answer your questions:

There is no upgrade path from x86 to x64 (clean install only). Try using "Windows Easy Transfer" to move your data files, documents, and configuration files for your applications. Just install Windows 7 x64, install your programs (just accept the defaults when installing) and then import your config files using the "Windows Easy Transfer" as well as your user id's and related information.

You will get a report telling you what programs you still need to re-install to make your setup match what it was on the x86 install and after the import completes your system should look just like it did on x86 right down to your task bar, documents, music, pictures, favorites, shortcuts, etc.

Good luck with your upgrade and let us know how it goes or if you have problems. I have been using x64 for years now and would not consider running x32 unless there is no other option (ie if your processor will not support x64). I haven't had any needed programs not work on x64 yet and it has been 3 years now.

I have not found drivers to be an issue myself...if you have any driver issues windows will search for the needed drivers or you can get them from your software vendors.

Please download and run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. When done you will see two tabs, one marked 32 bit one 64 bit, review the 64 bit tab to see if your hardware will run Windows 7 64 bit.

Download details: Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor

Before running it make sure all of your hardware is attached and on, like cameras, phones, printers, headsets, usb devices...

Technically that's not true. 64-bit Windows runs 32-bit apps natively, through a translation layer, so 32-bit app speed should be the same as if they were run on a 32-bit OS. Emulation was used in the Itanium days, but no longer.

Anyway, to the OP, I agree with the post before mine. Run the Upgrade Advisor and see if your hardware's up to the challenge of jumping to 64-bit. If it is, then by all means jump in. You won't regret it.

The transition layer is what I meant when I said emulation, sorry, should have been more clear on that. Though upon retrospect, "emulation" isn't really the right word to use. My bad
32-bit apps would slow, back in the days of old, haha. But that problem seems to have gone away. Like I said, I've never seen it happen. But I thought it was worth a mention in case someone does run into it and can't figure out what is wrong.