32 Bit to 64 Bit

[mjwilson94]

My current processor (AMD Athlon) is 32Bit, but I want to upgrade this so my computer can run 64Bit. How would I go about upgrading my Processor so I can run 64Bit

 

[stormy13]

You referring to the CPU in your laptop or another computer? If your laptop it is already a 64 bit CPU,

AMD Athlon 64 X2 TK-55 - AMDTK55HAX4DC

If it is another computer than I would assume that it is an old Socket A set up, and they only came in 32 bit. If it is a Socket 745 and up, they are all 64 bit CPU's.

 

[mjwilson94]

So your saying I already have a 64Bit CPU in my Laptop?

 

[stormy13]

Yes. Grab this,

CPUID

once run look in the Instructions line and it should show one of them as x86-64. All Turion's are 64 bit,

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AMD_Turion

 

[mjwilson94]

Ok thanks so much, i shall give you REP.
Can you tell me the main differences between them.
And is it worth me uninstalling Windows 7 32Bit and reinstalling windows 7 64 bit.
As my work give me it for free?

 

[stormy13]

If you can find 64 bit drivers for everything, then yes it is possible. Had a look at Acer for that model and all they have are 32 bit Vista drivers, which will in most cases work in Windows 7, but didn't look like any of them were 64 bit. Personally with it being an older laptop and from some of the hardware in it I would just leave it with 32 bit.

 

[mjwilson94]

Ok right if I was going to install it again is there anyway of doing this without having to install all my programs again!

For example if I took a system image then installed that once i had upgraded to 64Bit would that install all my programs again!

 

[stormy13]

No you won't be able to install any programs from the image, most will have to installed again after getting Windows installed.

The only way you won't have to re-install a program is if it is portable (doesn't require installing), or acts like one and will run from the exe or a shortcut on the desktop pointing to the exe. This only works though if the programs are installed to a different partition or hard drive, if they are installed on C then they will still have to be re-installed unless you happen to know beforehand which will work this way and backup the install folder to another drive/partition, then either put it back on C or leave it where is is and create a shortcut to the exe. Also depending on what you used to create the image, if it allows for extracting programs like that, if it doesn't require being installed to work you could get them that way; drivers, AV, etc will most definitely have to be installed fresh.

This is also an advantage when using partitions or extra hard drives, install the programs that you know will work without having to be installed on a clean Windows install. I have all my games and quite a few programs installed just that way, and if for any reason I have to install Windows most of my programs are already installed.

 

[mjwilson94]

Okay this might be good news, I have all my programs installed on a completely seperate partition P) to where windows is installed C). Does this mean I wont loose these programs!

 

[stormy13]

Correct, you won't lose them. What you will have to do is go through each of them and try running them from the exe. For the ones that run you just need to create a shortcut to it, and place it either on the desktop or in the Start menu. For the ones that won't run, those will have to be re-installed.