Plugging in an external drive to Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit?

Hi,

I'm looking to upgrade my Windows 7 OS from 32-bit to 64-bit. I have checked that my processor supports a 64-bit OS, which it does.

My question is this:

I have an external drive with about 1.6TB of purchased iTunes data currently plugged into my laptop running Windows 7 Ultimate 32-bit. After I finish upgrading to a 64-bit OS, when I plug this drive back in (or any USB drive for that matter), will it prompt a re-format before letting me use it in Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit?

Thanks,

Andrew

Only the operating system is either 32bit or 64. The file system is NTFS and will be just fine when you have 64bit installed.

Just remember 64 bit uses a bit more resources, but then you get to use the remainder of RAM in your 4 gigs which you cant now.

As ZigZag posted, there will be no change to the external HD needed.

One potential problem: because there is no in-place upgrade from 32 bit to 64, your OS drive will essentially be cleared.

I'm not an iTunes user. Where is the DRM information for purchased music stored? I have no idea, but it may not be in the same archive as the music files. Make sure to back that up, so that you can recover it when you re-install iTunes.

Providing there is nothing wrong with your external hard drive, Windows will recognise it as soon as you connect it and install a driver for it.

Whether the operating system is 32-bit or 64-bit won't make a scrap of difference.

You cannot upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version. It will have to be a clean install, so backup anything important and make sure you have all the installation discs for your applications.

Thanks guys. In the same vein, can you restore data of a 32-bit back up to a 64-bit installation?

It depends what you backed up.

If you mean data such as music, photos, videos and suchlike, yes, they can be copied back onto your 64-bit system no trouble at all.

If you are talking about 32-bit executable files such as applications, they will have to re-installed.

If you mean a full system image backup then that's a no.

Just finished installing the 64-bit version of the OS. All the updates are done and programs reinstalled. Thanks for your help guys!

What do you mean by taking ownership of the files?