Reformatting questions

[CPhoenix]

I have a Windows 7 x86 PC with these specs:

Quad Core 2.8ghz Q9550
4gb ddr2 800mhz ram
1gb GTX275 video card

I use this computer for school and work, as I do animation/graphics/video editing, so it can't really be out of commission for long or I'll get very behind on my work.

So, I have two questions.

The first, will there be a noticeable performance increase in 64-bit over the current 32-bit? I imagine there would be, but I've never used a 64-bit OS.

For my second Q, I was wondering if this would work to reformat. I have no DVD's to burn on to, plus, as I said, I can't have this PC out of commission for long. Would I be able to shrink my current partition on my internal HD and format that, then install W7 onto that new partition from inside my current windows install? That way I can pretty much just copy over all of the files I need and get everything situated in that before I completely wipe this install.

 

[Dinesh]

A1: 64 bit would definitely give a boost to performance. you have nice hardware.

A2: Clean install would be recommended though. However, i m not saying that you are wrong.You can definitely shrink the current partition and install Windows 7 on to it. Remember to back up if anything goes wrong, just incase.

 

[CPhoenix]

A1: 64 bit would definitely give a boost to performance. you have nice hardware.

A2: Clean install would be recommended though. However, i m not saying that you are wrong.You can definitely shrink the current partition and install Windows 7 on to it. Remember to back up if anything goes wrong, just incase.

It pretty much will be a clean install, just in steps instead of all at once (At least thats how I think it'll go..)

But yes, I already have the majority of my stuff backed up on two separate external HD's just incase anything does go wrong, but hopefully everything smooth.

Thanks for the reply

 

[Dinesh]

you are welcome. go for 64bit. if you face aby issues, feel free to ask.

 

[zigzag3143]

Cp

Only thing I would add to my esteemed collegue is to try and get the drivers you will need before the install in case you lose connectivity.

Good Luck Mate

ken

 

[SIW2]

How were you planning to install to the new partition ?

Tricky if you current installation is x86 and you want to install x64 from within that.

 

[chuckr]

I do animation/graphics/video editing, so it can't really be out of commission for long or I'll get very behind on my work.

Have you verified that your 32-bit "animation/graphics/video" SOFTWARE will run on a w7 64-bit OS?

Your current is "Windows 7 7600 x86 (Upgrade), 32 bit...

 

[CPhoenix]

I do animation/graphics/video editing, so it can't really be out of commission for long or I'll get very behind on my work.

Have you verified that your 32-bit "animation/graphics/video" SOFTWARE will run on a w7 64-bit OS?

Your current is "Windows 7 7600 x86 (Upgrade), 32 bit...

I'm using the Adobe CS4 suite (I own 32-bit and 64-bit copies), and 3DS Max (both copies of those too). Those are all I NEED, so they will run fine. Thanks for the concern and heads up, I didn't even think about that.

I figured the install would be pretty straight forward to the new partition, but I actually realized something that will probably make this a lot easier. I realized I have 2 internal HD's, the second of which I forgot about (Don't ask how, I have no clue..I see it every day in My Computer and never thought about it), so I should just be able to do an install to that.

I suppose I might be able to get a DVD if that would make things easier to reformat, but if I can avoid that it'd be better for me.

As for the drivers, I started downloading updated drivers of everything for 64-bit and tossing them on my external. Thanks for that advice.

Would it be easier installing from in windows to a new HD rather than to a different partition?

 

[Barman58]

The major advantage to using a dvd or even a usb stick to install is repeatability should anything glitch whilst installing from the HDD.

As uptime is the priority in your situation then the ease with which removable media based install can be restarted may be worth the effort - though the windows 7 install is very reliable

Also if going to x64 you may want to up your RAM to make the most of the X64 advantages, going to 8MB would really show an improvement - not needed but worth consideration

As for which drive choose the fasted for the OS if there is any difference, and create a partition on the other drive for a small swap file Adobe programs seem to like swap files even if they are not really needed

 

[DeaconFrost]

1. You likely won' see a performance increase in basic Windows apps, but your design software cuold easily yield better performance. You also have 4 GB of system memory, so that pretty much lends to running x64 anyway. You're wasting RAM if you don't, and more RAM would also help with your design apps.

2. Everyone has access to blank DVDs. Even my local grocery store sells them now! If you have a 4 GB flash drive, that can be used as well.

 

[Uber Philf]

It really wont matter, but, i advise doing a proper full format, as in removing everything entirely from the HDD, installing W7, and using your backups to get your work back on. might take time, but will decrease the chances of problems further down the track, which in turn, will more then likely put you out of business for a little while, not always, but chances are increased.

 

[DarkDavil]

It really wont matter, but, i advise doing a proper full format, as in removing everything entirely from the HDD, installing W7, and using your backups to get your work back on. might take time, but will decrease the chances of problems further down the track, which in turn, will more then likely put you out of business for a little while, not always, but chances are increased.

+1
You need to be sure that your DRIVERS(not just software) is compatible..
(Not sure you mentioned that, but idk )

Also check to see if your processor is 64-bit compatible... their is a link to check it, im not sure, if anyone else has it post it here

But erm... thats a really nice rig ya got their - and it wont take long if your do a Clean Install - i recently reormatted my laptop and its running extremly fast and it only took me about an hour to get all of the things back - luckily they're not many updates yet!

Good Luck, and im guessing only like 4 hrs....to get ur computer up and running again.

 

[CPhoenix]

It really wont matter, but, i advise doing a proper full format, as in removing everything entirely from the HDD, installing W7, and using your backups to get your work back on. might take time, but will decrease the chances of problems further down the track, which in turn, will more then likely put you out of business for a little while, not always, but chances are increased.

+1
You need to be sure that your DRIVERS(not just software) is compatible..
(Not sure you mentioned that, but idk )

Also check to see if your processor is 64-bit compatible... their is a link to check it, im not sure, if anyone else has it post it here

But erm... thats a really nice rig ya got their - and it wont take long if your do a Clean Install - i recently reormatted my laptop and its running extremly fast and it only took me about an hour to get all of the things back - luckily they're not many updates yet!

Good Luck, and im guessing only like 4 hrs....to get ur computer up and running again.

Yeah, all of my hardware is 64-bit compatible (I just built this pc about 2 months ago with close to top-of-the-line stuff), and I've been getting 64-bit drivers to boot.

Its really that buggy to install from windows onto another hd? Seems like it would be the same as booting from the disc and installing a hd, but I could very well be wrong. I'll try and find somewhere tomorrow to get some DVDs from. I can't imagine it'll take too long, it installed pretty quick last time for the 32-bit.

I may wait until the weekend to reformat it..Even though I should be able to have it up tomorrow (no work or school), in the off-chance that something does happen and I can't get back on I'll be SOL for the rest of the week.

 

[SIW2]

There is no need to reformat your existing x86 installation.

You will be fine to create another partition, then install x64 onto that - then dual boot.

Even easier if you have another HD.

It is a clean install if you put it on another partition on the same, or different Hard drive - I had no trouble at all doing it.

Because you are currently using x86 - you will need to install the x64 by booting.

Get a recordable dvd and burn the 7 x64 .iso onto it.

Boot the 7 x64 dvd - when you get the screen asking where you want to install - select where you want to install onto. That's it. Took me about 20 mins.

 

[CPhoenix]

So I went ahead and figured I'd try running the installation from my harddrive instead of a DVD, to install Windows on my second HD.

It installed lightning fast, and i had Windows 7 64-bit up and running, with all of my work/school software installed as well as all of the drivers and everything I need in roughly 2 hours. I'm typing this post from the new install, actually.

Everything went very smoothly and it is lightning fast. I plan on upgrading my ram within a couple months (probably around christmas when I get a bit more money), but this'll definitely work for now; A ton better than 32-bit.

 

[wallyinnc]

So I went ahead and figured I'd try running the installation from my harddrive instead of a DVD, to install Windows on my second HD.

It installed lightning fast, and i had Windows 7 64-bit up and running, with all of my work/school software installed as well as all of the drivers and everything I need in roughly 2 hours. I'm typing this post from the new install, actually.

Everything went very smoothly and it is lightning fast. I plan on upgrading my ram within a couple months (probably around christmas when I get a bit more money), but this'll definitely work for now; A ton better than 32-bit.

CP, thanks for posting the result. Glad to see it worked well
If you want some frosting on the cake, you can change the names that appear at the boot screen, so you know which is which. I have the same, x86 and x64 in separate partitions and I called them that (so I don't have to think...)
Link to the tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5110-dual-boot-change-os-name-windows-boot-manager.html

 

[CPhoenix]

So I went ahead and figured I'd try running the installation from my harddrive instead of a DVD, to install Windows on my second HD.

It installed lightning fast, and i had Windows 7 64-bit up and running, with all of my work/school software installed as well as all of the drivers and everything I need in roughly 2 hours. I'm typing this post from the new install, actually.

Everything went very smoothly and it is lightning fast. I plan on upgrading my ram within a couple months (probably around christmas when I get a bit more money), but this'll definitely work for now; A ton better than 32-bit.

CP, thanks for posting the result. Glad to see it worked well
If you want some frosting on the cake, you can change the names that appear at the boot screen, so you know which is which. I have the same, x86 and x64 in separate partitions and I called them that (so I don't have to think...)
Link to the tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/5110-dual-boot-change-os-name-windows-boot-manager.html

Thanks for the link, I had changed my boot names to Windows 7 32-bit and Windows 7 64-bit, as I accidentally booted into 32-bit the first time around since they were named the same,

 

[Uber Philf]

Good work, now you know how to dual boot, for future reference