Upgrading from win 7 32bit to 64bit

[Lanthus20]

I want to upgrade my windows 7 32 bit installation to 64bit so I can add some extra ram to my system, but I was wondering if I do a backup on my 32bit install, format the drive, and then install 64 bit windows 7 and recover from the backup will it work? Can you use a 32 bit backup on a 64 bit machine?

And also if anyone knows of an alternative it would be appreciated.

 

[fishnbanjo]

You will have to do a clean installation of Windows 7 and your backup from the 32 bit version will not work, sorry.

 

[joel406]

Lanthus20 yes your backup will work. But fishnbanjo was right about one thing. You will have to do a fresh install.

There is no upgrade path from x86 to x64.

Flush and format.

 

[Lanthus20]

ahhh which do I trust? Third opinion for tie breaker?

 

[bobkn]

I'm not sure what you're asking.

To switch from a 32 bit version of Windows to a 64 bit one, a clean install is required. (Same to go from 64 to 32 bit.) No installed applications will be preserved.

If you image (backup) the 32 bit installation and restore it, it will overwrite whatever is on the machine. The 64 bit installation will be blown away.

I know of no way to preserve installed applications. Easy Transfer may be able to handle settings, but I've not tried it. (I generally have not had that many settings to preserve.)