32 bit W7 to 64 bit W7 "conversion"

dbhello · 02 Aug 2012

I am posting this Q because the answers to similar questions leave me unclear, so please help, if you can.

I have a Dell E521 with AMD Athlon 64 x2 DCP 4200 2.20 GHz, 32G RAM and with 2 HDD, C: and D:, running W7 Professional SP1.

When I added the 2nd HDD I clean-installed W7 to that drive (now C:) because I did not want to wipe any files. I installed the 32-bit (mistakenly, I am now told) instead of the 64-bit. Vista OS is still on the old drive (D:) and there are lots of new files and programs on the new drive (C:) which I want to keep.

I understand that I must do a clean-install of the 64 bit W7 but do not understand whether this will wipe my files on the C; drive. I have no knowledge of partions and have not, to my knowledge, created any.

So my Q is:
How do I move fom W7 32-bit to W7 64-bit without losing programs or data?

many thanks to whoever can give me a clear, easy-to-follow answer.

Much obliged

Ztruker · 02 Aug 2012

Boot Windows 7 then post a screen capture of the expanded Disk Management window please.

To open Disk Management, press Windows key+r, type diskmgmt.msc and press Enter or click GO. Make it full screen.

Vista and Windows 7: How to Use the Snipping Tool in Vista - Vista Forums (says it's for Vista but also works with Win 7).

Once you have the image saved, click on the Paperclip Icon next to the Smiley Icon. In the Manage Attachments window, click Browse and navigate to where you saved the image and select it.
Click the Upload button.
Close the Manage Attachments window.
Click on the Paperclip Icon again and select the image you uploaded. It will be placed in your post.

bobkn · 02 Aug 2012

Once you get your disks and partitions figured out, note:

You aren't permitted to do an upgrade-in-place from any 32 bit version of Windows to a 64 bit one. You will have to re-install all of your programs.

There is a third-party piece of software that claims to be able to move programs:

Laplink® Software - PCmover - Automatically move PC applications to a new computer

I'd expect it to be a lot more widely known if it worked reliably. I have never tried it, and I know of no one who has.

gregrocker · 02 Aug 2012

Move the data off the HD then boot the installer to Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7