Windows 7: Installing Windows 7 64bit and 32 bit on the same machine!

I have a problem and the only way I can possibly get around this problem is by having both the 64 bit and 32 bit OS installed on my PC.

I have an Epson Stylus PhotoRX685 all in one printer, for which the drivers for the scanner don't work on Windows 7 x64bit. I have been on to customer support and have been duly informed that they are not going to be making a compatable driver for the printer. I have already tried to use the Vista x64 bit driver but to no avail.

Because I cannot afford to buy a new scanner I want to install both the OS's on my PC in the hope that the x32bit driver the Windows 7 will work the scanner.

Here is my plan, I got 2 HDD's on my PC one 500GB and one 80GB, I have just created a 75GB partition on my 500GB HDD which also has the OS installed on it. I use the smaller HDD for my back ups, and I would ideally like to continue to use this HDD for my backups as it is a separate HDD.

Would I be able install the x32bit OS to the partition on the 75GB partition which is on the HDD that my main OS is on, or would I have to put it on the separate HDD?

Would I then be able to then somehow create some sort of network or would it be possible for me to just access the images that I would have scanned without having to put them on a flash drive or DVD or something and if so how?

Also would it be possible for me to us the XP mode to see if my printer would work in that or is the XP mode not a virtual machine?

All your help is greatly appreciated.

Did you buy one key and get 2 DVD's?

I bought a set which had 2 dvds and 1 key, why is this important?

Because you can use 1 key per copy of Windows (ie Home Premium), although it doesn't matter if it's the 32-bit or 64-bit version. If you want to use both, you'll need to get 2 keys.

How do I get a secondkey then and how will it know?

Well, you have to pay for two keys. What discs did you get exactly? And it knows because it activates itself using the internet.

I have a x32 and x64 bit disk

But they're both the same version of Windows, right? ie you paid for Ultimate, so you got an Ultimate 32-bit disc and an Ultimate 64-bit disc, right? Microsoft allows you to use that key that you got for either version, but not at the same time. Each key is for licensed for 1 copy of Windows, which means you'll have to buy another key.

What version of Windows did you buy though? You can use XP Mode if you're on Professional or Ultimate, or you can just use your own copy of Windows XP with VirtualBox or Virtual PC (both freeware).

and how why is it a problem as it has a 3 user licence so I can put it on a laptop and another PC couldn't I.

I have Windows 7 ultimate, and before I had vista 32bit, but it was pre-installed on the machine and I never created a recovery disk.