I think I have a serious problem.

[fragment137]

Hi there,

I have an ASUS G51Jx-A1 gaming laptop, and it would seem that I have a serious issue. The processor is the Intel Core i7 64bit, but the operating system reads as a 32bit operating system!!!!

This is NOT out of the box... I attempted a little experiment of installing Mac OS X onto the laptop, which failed. I used an ASUS recovery disk that came with my GF's laptop (an Intel Core i5 64bit..) and the driver disk that came with my laptop to re-install windows 7, and all of the sudden it is reading itself as a 32bit operating system!!!!

Short of reformatting with a true Windows 7 Home disk what can I do to fix this?

 

[Night Hawk]

The cpu being seen as 64bit shows it offers support for the 64bit Windows XP, Vista, 7, and the next version to follow while the preinstalled 7 was the 32bit flavor unless you had ordered the laptop with the 64bit 7 preinstalled. This is to be expected and normal.

Most cpus going from 2003-4 until the present offer support for the 64bit OSs and have the 64bit indication in the product name seen there. The system properties is simply indicating the correct OS when you look there.

 

[fragment137]

Well what I'm saying is that the laptop originally came with a copy of Windows 7 home premium 64bit installed. I was experimenting and completely wiped it (on purpose, but none-the-less) and when I tried using a recovery disc from my GF's laptop (ALso home premium 64bit, my laptop didn't come with a disc) it installed and is now reading as a 32bit os...

What can I do to change it without completely re-installing the OS?

 

[gregrocker]

You cannot change it without clean reinstalling from boot.

But first test the performance, as many find that 32 bit actually works better since only certain programs (like Adobe Creative) run 64 bit anyway and all others will default to a 32 bit program folder. You cannot run Flashplayer for IE8 in 64 bit yet, for example. I have given up on the trouble that 64 bit has brought to my own installs.

You don't say how much RAM you have, which is a key to choosing. 4gb is right on the border as no more than that will be read in 32 bit, tho more can be apportioned to graphics chip/card.

You are entitled to either 32 bit or 64 bit with each Win7 license. Choose wisely, and try both thoroughly to know you are making the best choice.

 

[fragment137]

My laptop has 6GB of ram, so I wouldn't mind having 64bit so I can take advantage of the extra 2GB...

ALso, I was just trying to run Flash on Google Chrome and got a BSOD.... hmm :/

 

[Night Hawk]

The 32bit version of IE 8 is still default on the 64bit 7. You have to dig up the shortcut for the 64bit version which unfortunately still lacks the 64bit flash player. Eventually Adobe will get to it.

Apparently on the recovery option you ended up somehow selecting the 32bit option rather then the 64bit since both are tied to the same product key found on the sticker. You will likely need to contact the support staff at Asus to make an inquiry about seeing the 64bit flavor go back on or end up with the 32bit a second time since they preinstalled both.