Windows 7 32 bit not recognizing ram upgrade...

Thanks Jack. I appreciate the thought.

I must repeat this first: my words are not intended to be taken personally, I have no reason to insult you or be unpolite to you. I am simply voicing my sincere opinion, based on all facts I know and my own experience.

That again being said, I also repeat this: the idea is absolutely stupid. Surf the net and ask experts what they think about moving installed apps from one Windows installation to another, even when done from 32 to 32 or 64 to 64 bit Windows. It is not going to work, with all needed appdata and registry entries.

I am sorry but you are not going to get the answer you clearly are waiting. We can continue this as long as you want to but the fact remains: it is a very bad idea to start from a fresh, clean install with apps and their data and registry imported from an old installation.

Kari

But I have explained why it is stupid not a good idea!

For an application to work properly (talking about "real" apps, not portable ones) in Windows 7, it not only creates its program folders. There might be several registry entries, folders and files in AppData\Local, AppData\LocalLow, AppData\Roaming and ProgramData. To successfully move all these takes a lot more time than reinstalling apps on new installation.

A new installation also means a new SID. Your current registry is full with references to your current SID, some of these references in registry entries you would need to move. Good luck in finding them all.

In my responses to you I have first apologized me for using so strong language, explaining that it is not meant to be taken personally. I have done this to give myself a possibility to use really strong language because I feel it is needed: moving installed software, needed appdata and registry entries from an old 32-bit Windows installation to a new 64-bit Windows is about the worst idea there is.

nIGHTmAYOR said:

someone enters a question in a forum and then gets a "No , its stupid" and then the someone goes "Oh , ok" and then formats his C: drive ?

But this is exactly what I am trying to avoid! That you would not do something that most surely would only cause big problems. My only concern is to make it very clear to you that what you want to is not realistic, it will only cause problems.

When "Someone enters a question in a forum" as you said and clearly only wants to accept one answer, should we give that expected answer also when we know it would be the wrong answer?

OK then, here it is: Yeah, that's a good idea. Do it, just copy your program folders, C:\ProgramData, C:\Users\Your_Username\AppData (Local, LocalLow and Roaming) and all registry entries for these apps. Of course it will not work, but come back then here and we help you to reinstall everything, both OS and apps.

Happy now?

Kari

EDIT: I will now edit all my posts in this thread and replace all occurrences of word stupid with words not a good, as in not a good idea instead of stupid idea.

I was talking about this with a friend, he had quite a good suggestion:

Check if your PC supports hardware virtualization (Windows Virtual PC: Configure BIOS). If yes, you can install a 64-bit Windows 7 on a virtual machine on a 32-bit host using either VirtualBox or VMware Player. Please remember that when setting up a 64-bit guest on a 32-bit Windows host, the total RAM (host + what's assigned to guest) must be max 4 GB.

Now try to "port" some of your 32-bit host's apps to the 64-bit guest, copying everything needed and see it yourself how difficult if not impossible it is, and how they most probably wont work.

I wholeheartedly recommend you to do this test.

Kari

nIGHTmAYOR said:

is weird from an expert to describe an idea as "stupid" without proper explanation to the why he came to that conclusion . is this how you think things should be , someone enters a question in a forum and then gets a "No , its stupid" and then the someone goes "Oh , ok" and then formats his C: drive ? well dont take my words personally as well but then i await more reason than "its stupid" claim .
PS: i'm a software developer so actually and take it from me its all about the ins and outs of paths and registry and assisting dlls / appdata in most scenarios , where its only a case for few programs that were specifically written to attach themselves deep in the system for security / anti-cracking purposes .

Okay, this is not necessary.

The plain and simple explanation as to why it is "stupid" to hack a 32 bit Windows OS to recognize more RAM is because you are only doing a cosmetic change, no real life benefit can come from that.

Don't be disappointed with an answer when you didn't ask the question properly. The question really looked like wanted to directly hack your way into a 32 bit OS recognizing all you RAM.

Well, for backing up your data, it's pretty simple. You can find a multitude of tutorials here:
Tutorials - Windows 7 Forums[2]=Backup%20Restore

If you've purchased a copy of Windows 7, it should have come with a 64 bit install media as well. For help with installation, check this:

Clean Install Windows 7


As a personal note, please don't brag that you are a software developer. You wouldn't have come here if you need help. A person who asks help accepts that he/she needs assistance. You may have much more knowledge in programming in C++ or whatever language it is you are well versed with, but some people most certainly know a lot more in terms on the Windows operating system.

Keep it cool. :)

First, I gave you a good suggestion to test this.

Second, if you are referring to this when mentioning Microsoft tool, it is only to migrate user files and folders. Although it can migrate some app settings it can not migrate installed software.

I find it very strange that you take it so personally when the only thing I am trying to do is to save you from a lot of trouble. Porting, as you say, migrating your installed software from your old 32-bit Windows installation to a new, fresh 64-bit installation is not going to work.

I am of course not thinking only you. I also think those other users who might find this thread. It is very important to make this thing very clear: you can not migrate your installed software from 32-bit Windows installation to a 64-bit Windows.

If you do not want to accept the answers given, why do you not try the suggestion in my previous post?

Seems I need to repeat everything I have said: I have your best interest in my mind when I ask you to forget this really bad idea.

Kari