Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit Dual boot

[pezzonovante]

I had Windows XP and Windows 7 32-bit dual boot set up on my system. I decided to do away with XP and install Windows 7 64-bit instead. But I can't fully migrate to 64-bit yet as some of my old softwares don't run in 64-bit.

So I clean-installed Windows 7 64-bit after formatting the XP partition. But now I no longer get a boot menu to boot into Windows 7 32-bit. I can only boot into 64-bit. But the 32-bit partition is in tact. Is there any way I can get a boot menu with options to use both 32-bit and 64-bit versions?

Thanks.

 

[HonorGamer]

I believe the system is only recognizing that there is a windows 7 install. You should also be able to install your old software even though it is not a 64 bit program, 64bit windows supports 32bit programs. Or so i believe.

 

[theog]

Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7.
Download EasyBCD 2.0.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

How to use EasyBCD
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?ltr=D

 

[pezzonovante]

I believe the system is only recognizing that there is a windows 7 install. You should also be able to install your old software even though it is not a 64 bit program, 64bit windows supports 32bit programs. Or so i believe.

I think I have previously heard that Windows 7 32-bit and 64-bit can be used in a dual-boot set up. But I'm really not an expert in advanced boot options, so I think my procedure wasn't right. I wanted to know if there is somehow a way to recover my 32-bit setup, because that partition has not been touched.

Yes I know most 32-bit software will run in 64-bit Windows. But as I have mentioned I have to run a couple of really old specialized software which just cannot run in 64-bit Windows.

 

[pezzonovante]

Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7.
Download EasyBCD 2.0.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

How to use EasyBCD
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?ltr=D

Yes I have looked at those tutorials. But they all mention how to dual boot after doing a new installation of Windows. But I have Windows 7 32 bit and 64-bit installed in separate partitions. Can I get a boot menu without re-installing Windows (or at least without wiping out my 32-bit setup)?

 

[theog]

Use EasyBCD 2.0 in Win 7.
Download EasyBCD 2.0.2 - NeoSmart Technologies

How to use EasyBCD
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/8057-dual-boot-installation-windows-7-xp.html?ltr=D

Yes I have looked at those tutorials. But they all mention how to dual boot after doing a new installation of Windows. But I have Windows 7 32 bit and 64-bit installed in separate partitions. Can I get a boot menu without re-installing Windows (or at least without wiping out my 32-bit setup)?

Yes,Use EasyBCD 2.0 in the Windows 7 that boots.

 

[pezzonovante]

Yes,Use EasyBCD 2.0 in the Windows 7 that boots.

Ok, thank you. This is what I was looking for. Will try it out.

 

[DeaconFrost]

Just curious, but why would you want to install the same OS twice, using up two licenses? If it is for software compatibility....just do research on the apps. Windows 7 has been out for 18 months now, you'll be able to easily find the info you want quickly.

 

[HonorGamer]

Just curious, but why would you want to install the same OS twice, using up two licenses? If it is for software compatibility....just do research on the apps. Windows 7 has been out for 18 months now, you'll be able to easily find the info you want quickly.

He makes a good point. Wouldn't it be easier to just keep using the 32bit version of windows? Even though you can't run 64bit programs, but i am sure they would have 32bit versions.

 

[pezzonovante]

Just curious, but why would you want to install the same OS twice, using up two licenses? If it is for software compatibility....just do research on the apps. Windows 7 has been out for 18 months now, you'll be able to easily find the info you want quickly.

He makes a good point. Wouldn't it be easier to just keep using the 32bit version of windows? Even though you can't run 64bit programs, but i am sure they would have 32bit versions.

When I bought the laptop I had 2 GB RAM. But since then I upgraded to 4 GB RAM. But Windows 7 32-bit could only use 3 GB, so I decided to use 64-bit for most tasks. But unfortunately I can't switch to 64-bit completely, because I have to use a couple of very old softwares which haven't been upgraded for 64-bit versions. And they are almost one of a kind, so alternatives are not available either.

 

[HonorGamer]

When I bought the laptop I had 2 GB RAM. But since then I upgraded to 4 GB RAM. But Windows 7 32-bit could only use 3 GB, so I decided to use 64-bit for most tasks. But unfortunately I can't switch to 64-bit completely, because I have to use a couple of very old softwares which haven't been upgraded for 64-bit versions. And they are almost one of a kind, so alternatives are not available either.

Why didn't you just simply upgrade to 3GB of RAM instead of spending the extra money to go up to 4?

 

[pezzonovante]

When I bought the laptop I had 2 GB RAM. But since then I upgraded to 4 GB RAM. But Windows 7 32-bit could only use 3 GB, so I decided to use 64-bit for most tasks. But unfortunately I can't switch to 64-bit completely, because I have to use a couple of very old softwares which haven't been upgraded for 64-bit versions. And they are almost one of a kind, so alternatives are not available either.

Why didn't you just simply upgrade to 3GB of RAM instead of spending the extra money to go up to 4?

Because I was misinformed at that time. I had heard 32-bit versions could handle upto 4 GB RAM. But I was proved wrong.

 

[gregrocker]

Many programs which cannot run in 64 bit will install into the 32 bit Programs folder in Win7.

In fact, many would be surprised to see that most programs on their 64 bit installs end up in the 32 bit folder. Sometimes only IE8 is running as 64 bit, on a 64 bit OS!

So I would try installing those programs to 64 bit so you can delete the 32 bit Dual Boot. Let us know if you need any help getting it out cleanly.

In the meantime install EasyBCD to Add the other Win7 to Dual Boot, or if you just want to start 64 bit, mark it Active in Disk Mgmt and run Startup Repair from the booted DVD Repair console or Repair CD up to 3 separate times with reboots.

 

[DeaconFrost]

If you have old programs that absolutely will not run under x64, then stick with x86 for now. Or, go to x64 and virtualize XP or something like that, just for those older apps.

 

[pezzonovante]

Many programs which cannot run in 64 bit will install into the 32 bit Programs folder in Win7.

In fact, many would be surprised to see that most programs on their 64 bit installs end up in the 32 bit folder. Sometimes only IE8 is running as 64 bit, on a 64 bit OS!

So I would try installing those programs to 64 bit so you can delete the 32 bit Dual Boot. Let us know if you need any help getting it out cleanly.

In the meantime install EasyBCD to Add the other Win7 to Dual Boot, or if you just want to start 64 bit, mark it Active in Disk Mgmt and run Startup Repair from the booted DVD Repair console or Repair CD up to 3 separate times with reboots.

If you have old programs that absolutely will not run under x64, then stick with x86 for now. Or, go to x64 and virtualize XP or something like that, just for those older apps.

Thank you for the suggestions. I will explore all of those options gradually. Obviously the best scenario would be to use 64-bit solely, but the problematic software is an input method editor which is built using some really old technologies. So it simply doesn't work under Win 7 64-bit. So, I guess I'm stuck with a dual-boot setup until I find an alternative software.

Virtualizing XP will probably be the best solution. But I have to do some research about that before I try that option.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Here's a tutorial that explains the process outlined earlier at the link below if you need it.


Startup Repair - Run 3 Separate Times