PC with preinstalled 32bit 7 Home Premium

[Roo Boy]

Hi guys,

Im getting a 3 year old (unused still in box) PC from a friend that bought it and then never used it.
It states that it has 32bit win 7 HP pre installed with a 64bit recovery disk.??
Is there a way for me to reinstall a 64bit version without having to buy a new copy?

Many thanks

 

[Mellon Head]

Is it an HP branded recovery disk? If so, you may be able to use the COA from the PC to activate either the 32 bit version or the 64 bit version. If the 32 bit version has already been activated, you may be out of luck. I think the key on a preload is only good for one activation. Once you choose 32 or 64 bit, you're locked in. I THINK this is how it works, but I'm not 100% sure.

Others may have more information.

 

[Roo Boy]

Hi Mellon,

Thanks for the reply.

I havent got hold of the PC yet.
Its a Medion Akoya P6310 - yes a little dated now but its for my 9yo mainly to play minecraft on.

It says preinstalled 32bit , other than that i dont know too much else and wont know until i get it.
Is it much of a disadvantage to have 32bit rather than 64 bit? I know that 32 bit wont see more than 3.5GB of RAM but other than that i dont know what else applies that may be disadvantageous?

Cheers

 

[Mellon Head]

There are a few small advantages to 64 bit, like being able to see more memory, and a wider instruction path, but to the average player of Minecraft, it won't matter.

If you are only going to use it for your kid, I would just leave it at 32 bit and not go through the hassle of going 64 bit. It will be fine for her/him to play on/ do homework, etc. If s/he starts editing large Photoshop files, that's another story.

 

[Roo Boy]

cool , cheers mate

 

[AddRAM]

Download the 64 bit iso , burn it to dvd and install 64 bit, use the key on the COA to activate windows.

The pc has to have a 64 bit capable cpu. Open up computer properties to check.


Good advice from Mellon to leave it as is, for now.

 

[madcratebuilder]

What addram said. The COA should be good for both 32 and 64 bit version of Home Premium. The COA does not get you a upgraded version like Ultimate. Keep it 32 bit for now.

 

[Roo Boy]

thanks, ill have a look into that once i decide for sure that the system is worth it.

 

[gregrocker]

Most store bought PC's are larded with bloatware which corrupts the OS, duplicate utilities that interfere with better versions in Win7. So until you have a Clean Reinstall - Factory OEM Windows 7 you'll never even experience native Win7 performance. Everything needed is in the blue link.

 

[Fantail]

MEDION® AKOYA® P6310 D (MD 8342)
You could consider an ssd for a 7/64 boot drive and use the hard drive for storage, then just and another 4 gigs. That set up would be nothing to sneeze at.