How important is the formatting on the drive?

This might be a weird or noob question but here goes:

I've currently got WinXP (still).

I've got two HD in my system and a LOT of files on both. But of course both are formatted to 32bit.

I want to get Windows 7 Pro (64 bit). I intend to wipe out a drive and have Win7 format it to the new bit.

The question is: Afterwards can I hook up my 2nd (32bit formatted) drive and have Win7 read that drive? Basically I'm asking if I can use one of my WinXP formatted drive to back up all my files onto, then later use a Win7 drive to pull that information off.

I've literally no clue whether this is a stumbling block or irrelevant.

Please and thanks.

Yes, Windows 7 will read your 2nd HD, when installing best to remove your 2nd.
Make sure your clean the HD before installing.

SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation
Clean Install Windows 7

TY!

I think that as long as it runs on the FAT/DOS file system it will work.
But the applications wont work if they are not configured for that Bit-Type.

XP,vista,7 are NTFS file system



right?

pacinitaly said:

XP,vista,7 are NTFS file system?

Yes. XP Pro, Vista and Windows 7 use it by default, while XP Home defaults to FAT32.

On a side note, I'm absolutely blown away at how much confusion there is over the 32bit and 64bit platforms, especially considering they've been available for 6 years now or so. I've seen threads where people were asking why their x64 Windows 7 install can only go up to 32bit color. I see so many people either in confusion, or just plain scared off from using an x64 OS for reasons that don't exist.

At least the OP here asked for clarification, rather than just assumed to know the answer and stick with x86.