Upgrading from 32 to 64 bit

[DirtRider]

I am considering going to 64 bit for gaming as I believe it would be better on the games. I now have w7 Pro 32 bit running. The way I understand it you need to purchase a brand new 64 bit OS. So what do I do with my 32 bit OS just trash it

 

[unifex]

I believe your license key would be valid regardless of whether the OS is 32-bit or 64-bit. If you got it retail that is. OEM license might not work after you upgrade, not so sure about that.

 

[Petey7]

Did you buy a retail copy of 7 pro from a regular store? They come with both versions of the OS on separate disc inside the package.

Or did your computer come with it pre-installed? In that case you will need to purchase a new copy but you can buy Windows 7 Home premium and use a little cheat to allow you to install 7 pro or ultimate. Go here for more details:
How to Select Any Edition or Version (SKU) of Windows 7 to Install From Single Edition DVD Disc Media or ISO » My Digital Life

 

[DeaconFrost]

You don't need any cheats or hacks at all. I can't believe this is still in question, but your license key is valid on both platforms, x86 or x64. It is only valid on one install of one platform at a time, though. The trick for you, will be to obtain the x64 media. Depending on how you got your OS, or if your friends have any x64 media they can burn for you, it could be a simple process.

Also, one more point, you won't be doing an upgrade. To switch platforms, you'll be doing a fresh install.

 

[richc46]

A key is valid for both 32 or 64 bit of the same edition. From your question I would have to assume that you do not have the DVD for 64 bit. If you bought your computer with 32 bit installed, I would contact the compter mfg and try to get the 64 bit platform for cost or some nominal cost. If you purchased the 32 bit, Iwould contact the vendor and try to get the same deal. I do not think it should be necessary to go out and pay the full amount for a DVD.

 

[DirtRider]

I was running Vista before this and purchased Win 7 OEM and I do have the disk some place but it was just a single disk. I really don't feel like having to fork out that type of cash to change over. I suppose I need to see if I can get hold of a copy of the 64 bit

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Did you buy a retail copy of 7 pro from a regular store? They come with both versions of the OS on separate disc inside the package.

Or did your computer come with it pre-installed? In that case you will need to purchase a new copy but you can buy Windows 7 Home premium and use a little cheat to allow you to install 7 pro or ultimate. Go here for more details:

We have an excellent tutorial on that at the link below; feel free to have a look at it.


Windows 7 Universal Installation Disc - Create

 

[DeaconFrost]

That's an excellent thread, and can be taken one step further....moving it from a disc to a flash drive.

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

That's an excellent thread, and can be taken one step further....moving it from a dis to a flash drive.

That gets discussed further along in the posts after the tutorial part.

 

[Solarstarshines]

Best thing to do cause you can't install a 64bit os over a 32 bit and the vista upgrade to 7 isn't recommended either i actually did that the first time through but i have both disc

reason i went to 64bit os i wanted to utilize allmost all 8 gigs of my ram which i have achieved mostly like 7 gigs usable one gig not but still running like a dream

most people who buy oem versions knows that you ar limited by the use of it better just to get a retail copy that you can play around with it and less of a tech headache

you can do flashdrive as decon stated it would mirror your settings

 

[DirtRider]

I never did the Vista upgrade I went to a fresh install of W7. Let me also have a look at the link and see what info I pick up in that

 

[DirtRider]

Well I have managed to get a copy of the 64 bit disk so once I have been through all the link you guys posted I will change over. I suppose then I will really see if there is any big change

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Hello.




As you're going to do a clean install and if there's no data on the rest of the Hard Disk Drive (HDD) that you don't want lose, have a look at the tutorial at the link below, this over-writes any/all data on the HDD so that you have a clean slate to do the install to.


SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

 

[DirtRider]

I have two HD in this PC so I think what I will do is just change them around and install 64 on the second one. So if anything does go wrong I can just carry on with my 32 bit. However before I even start I want to read through all the link you guys have added to this thread

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Then do this, disconnect the data cable of the HDD that has the Windows system that you want to keep and leave only the HDD that you want to install the 'new' system to connected so that they can boot independently of each other, that way you can use the BIOS to choose which system to start and if you ever have issues with either you'll still have the other system to fall back on; after the install you can reconnect the other HDD.

 

[DirtRider]

Ah thanks I will do it like that

 

[Bare Foot Kid]

Be sure to post back to keep us informed.

 

[DirtRider]

Will do but I don't think I will be doing anything this weekend maybe next weekend if all goes ok

 

[DirtRider]

Well I have decided just to stick with 32 bit for now. It does not seem that it offers me any real advantage. Also reading what was posted on another forum sort of puts me off a bit

not to disagree with XXXXX(hes one of the smartest guys on here) and just a fyi...

i went 64 bit windows 7 on my main rig cause i have 4 gb ram. Windows got slow unusually fast, like was creeping along 3 months later. I had to go back to 32 bit, and it runs much better. Maybe it was something with my config, but 64 bit just did not perform how i wanted. For the litte bit you are gaining from going 64 bit, just at least wait until you need to reformat anyways... it happens with Windows.

Now I am off the windows crap all together, and sitting here at a 3d desktop in ubuntu using only 300mb of my ram, i could care less about that extra 1 gig going to 64bit can gain you.

Also keep in mind, there is some very picky stuff with windows 7 64bit requiring only signed drivers. Better hope your hardware manufacturer has the money to have signed drivers. Thats really my number one gripe with 64 bit Windows

I am not trying to be anti-64 bit... I just think its implementation up until now should have been more serious and personally Windows 64 bit does not do much for me. I would hope and assume the next windows will be 64 bit only, by then 64 bit hardware will be nearly 10 years old so its time.

This is EOCF, so we are all about getting all from our hardware, and i understand wanting the extra ram to be usable

 

[Petey7]

The person that wrote that is wrong on many levels. 64 bit Windows does not require "signed drivers" It requires 64 bit drivers to work. Heck, you can even get the 32 bit driver to install, but your asking for trouble if you do. I'm guessing he had a virus or his computer was set up wrong. He might have even had a 32 bit driver installed somewhere, which was causing the problem. My point is, don't let that one person fool you. 64 bit can run complete fine if you have the hard ware to support it and the know-how to not completely screw things up. Also, if you have a computer made in the last two or three years, you might see a significant speed increase. I know I did.