Should I switch to Windows 7 64 bit from 32 Bit

alstein · 01 Apr 2010

jimbo45 said:

Hi there
I'd recommend going to 64 bit --even if you only have 2 GB RAM of memory --you can always upgrade the RAM.

For stuff that simply MUST run on 32 bit OS'es why not run them in a Virtual Machine either XP MODE or even run W7 x-86 under vmware or vbox (vmware server / player and vbox are also free) and won't kill your system either.

Cheers
jimbo

I've made the decison to install Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bit version. I am in the process of listing my applications that I will need to reinstall, and have already run Windows easy transfer. Its a pain, but since my printers and new scanners can run under Wincdows 7 64 bit, I thinnk it will be worthwhile over the long run. I am sure my motherboard, an Asus P5K duluxe wifi will handle the 4 gb ram already installed, as it was purchased a little over two years ago when I was buildng this system.

alstein · 01 Apr 2010

Night Hawk said:

One option would be setting up a dual boot of both 32bit and 64bit on the desktop either on a second primary or drive in order to run them for side by side comparisons. Once you have both running on the exact same hardwares with the same programs as well you can make the final decision on which suits your own needs the best.

Hi. I installed Windows 7 64 bit version but ran into a problem. I changed the boot order so that the dvd rom would boot the windows disc. I chose custom install, which then gave me the choice of 2 hard drives (I have one internal on two external drives), but the drives were not lettered. they were numberd 0,1,and 2. One of the drives was there but not available for the install according to the windows screen. I chose the first drive in the list (I think drive 0) and the install progressed fine. But after it completed I noticed that Windws had been installed on one of my external drives!! (All of my 3 drives have sata connections.) I then disconnected my 2 external drives, rebooted again an installed Winodws 7 on my internal (C) drive. But now, when I restart with all my drives connected I am given two selections in the startup screen, both saying windows 7. Is there some way for me to disable the windows 7 on my external drive, and, if possible, uninstall it?

Zomby88 · 01 Apr 2010

You can format it after you are in windows from your internal drive.

Night Hawk · 01 Apr 2010

When first mentioning a dual boot setup shrinking the present C for a second primary or adding another spare internal drive was the idea for seeing the 64bit go on. Your external drive installation added a new entry into the 7 BCD store which is easily removed.

First you have to verify which one is for the external drive before deleting the entry. If you drop down the Run command line in Start and type msconfig to open that up you go to the "boot" tab there and will see all entires listed being two. The option to highlight the external drive's entry and click the delete button is seen there.

To avoid deleting the one for your C drive right click on the C drive icon and give the drive a name like W7 64bit or alstein's drive in order to see that on the drives listed. Once removed you can go ahead and reformat the external drive if all files are backed up from it to clean the misintended install off of it. Note external drives can also be installed internally while most are the low performance models intended for storage seen in the premade enclosures.

alstein · 01 Apr 2010

Zomby88 said:

You can format it after you are in windows from your internal drive.

Thanks. I thought about doing this. I will have to save a bunch of Lossless music files, and other stuff that I keep on that drive. I thought perhaps there was a way to delete windows form that drive without the reformat. Thanks.

Night Hawk · 01 Apr 2010

Unfortunately there isn't too many options besides removing the BCD entry from the host drive's boot loader and manual deletion of the Windows install on the external which can be a problem at times. Hopefully you can fit everything onto one of the other drives and then simply nuke the drive itself. First remove the correct entry however so that is taken care of.

alstein · 01 Apr 2010

Night Hawk said:

Unfortunately there isn't too many options besides removing the BCD entry from the host drive's boot loader and manual deletion of the Windows install on the external which can be a problem at times. Hopefully you can fit everything onto one of the other drives and then simply nuke the drive itself. First remove the correct entry however so that is taken care of.

I can definitely move everything I need to my second external drive. Once I reformat, will that solve the problem?

Night Hawk · 01 Apr 2010

A reformat will take care of everything for you. Besides removing the boot option in the msconfig there's a few other options I should mention here.

1) Most here at SF are well familiar with EasyBCD used for dual and multiboot setups that can remove as well as add new entries into the 7 boot loader. Unfortunately the 2.0 version for 7 is still in it's latest Build 91 phase where you have to sign up at the neosmart forums in order to download that or simply go for the 1.7.2 Vista version which can simply be used for removal of the second 7 entry. Download EasyBCD 1.7.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

2) The second is a simply BCD editor tool for renaming entries as well as the removal without any option to add new entries. You can use this for setting the default OS when dual booting. But your interest is simply in removal of the mishap you saw.

Don't worry we all go through that at times! System Tools - BellaVista

Your main interest once the entry is removed and files backed up will simply be wiping the first external drive where you saw the installation go. Then you can simply copy your files back onto it afterwards. More time consuming then any problem to see done.

Zomby88 · 01 Apr 2010

Yes, but you may still have the 2 listings for Windows 7 , As stated above go into run>msconfig>boot and delete the windows 7 listing that is no more. In XP it could check for you, I don`t see that option in 7.

Night Hawk · 02 Apr 2010

That will actually stand out like a sore thumb once you bring up the msconfig utility and open the boot tab. The image here shows the original 64bit install which was rather interestlingly added into the new drive's own boot loader here.