Installing Win-7 32 and 64 bit Upgrades

dustymars · 24 Dec 2014

After upgrading my Dell 1545 laptop from Vista 32-bit to Windows 7 Home Premium then realized I should have installed the 64-bit version. Reading comments here and elsewhere I see it would require a Clean Install for the 64-bit.SO I see that my eMachine desktop is a 64-bit Win-7 and the drive is setup like this:

Computer
eMachines (C: )
Program Files
Program Files (x86)

My dumb question is; if I save my stuff and do a clean install of 64-bit, Win-7 on my laptop will my x86 stuff go back on with two Program Files folders? It appears that two partitions would be required, but my nimble brain cannot assimilate this idea

dustymars · 24 Dec 2014

Hum, Maybe if I do a clean install of the 64-bit, then make the Program Files (x86) folder and transfer all my x86 stuff there then accommodate the desktop and menus with that stuff it will work like my eMachine PC was setup.... Huh?

pbcopter · 24 Dec 2014

If you do a clean installation of Windows 7 x64, it will create Program Files and Program File (x86) folders. No additional partitions will be needed, However, you must reinstall all of your programs.
You can not copy anything into the Program Files (x86) folder from your old installation and expect it to function.

You should backup your data files, music, etc. and they can be copied to the new installation.

SIW2 · 24 Dec 2014

Afraid not.

Some programs run as executables, without needing to be installed, they are portable. 7 zip is an example.

Most are not portable, during the installation process they will write entries to the windows database ( the registry), they may install drivers, and distribute files in various places.

You will need to reinstall those.

dustymars · 24 Dec 2014

Thanks guys; I think leaving well enough alone will be the operative words. 32-bit works just fine on my laptop for what it is used for.