Installing Win 64 bit over Win 32 bit

juanantoniod · 14 Jan 2011

Hello everyone,

I have a Windows 7 32 bit OS machine (a Toshiba Notebook), which I recently replaced the existing 2GB RAM with 4GB RAM. I am told by experts here that, in order to optimize use of the RAM, and run more efficiently, I should install Windows 7 64 bit.

The question is have is exactly how I should do it. I have set up my internal HDD with a Data Partition and a System Backup Partition, and the Active System Partition. I am wondering if I should go back to 'root', and delete all the files, remove the partitions, and reformat the drive, or if I should just reinstall Windows 7 64 bit over the 32 bit, by telling the Win 7 installer to format the system partition.

I would appreciate hearing opinions on this. Thanks! :)

zigzag3143 · 14 Jan 2011

juanantoniod said:

Hello everyone,

I have a Windows 7 32 bit OS machine (a Toshiba Notebook), which I recently replaced the existing 2GB RAM with 4GB RAM. I am told by experts here that, in order to optimize use of the RAM, and run more efficiently, I should install Windows 7 64 bit.

The question is have is exactly how I should do it. I have set up my internal HDD with a Data Partition and a System Backup Partition, and the Active System Partition. I am wondering if I should go back to 'root', and delete all the files, remove the partitions, and reformat the drive, or if I should just reinstall Windows 7 64 bit over the 32 bit, by telling the Win 7 installer to format the system partition.

I would appreciate hearing opinions on this. Thanks! :)

Frankly for most applications you could even stay with 32 bit. 32 bit limits the amount of usable ram to about 3.3 gigs~ and the rest is obviously not used.

If you need the extra ram 64 bit would be an improvement but it also uses more resources than 32 bit so the overall net gain isnt much.

To install 64 bit you can simply tell it to format the partition and do a clean install which you must do anyway which you change from 323 bit to 64.

Ken J

juanantoniod · 14 Jan 2011

zigzag3143, :)

Thank you for the fast reply and the advice. I ended up thinking, "What is the worst that could happen? What are the minor programs that might not work?" And then I came up with iTunes and MobileMe (Apple's iPhone sync cloud software). So, I checked and, sure enough, it does NOT work with Win 7 x64. So, I'm just going to stay with x32 until I get my Mac.

I also learned, however, that Win 7 x32 is capable of addressing 3.8GB of RAM, so I am only missing out on .2GB, which I can live with. AND, I also learned that x64 is mostly for 4GB and ABOVE. Where I am at, with just 4GB, I am at the cusp, so x32 is okay for me.

Take good care,

Installing Win 64 bit over Win 32 bit

Installing Win 64 bit over Win 32 bit

Thanks for the fast reply!