Win 7 32 & 64 bit to just 64 bit

[smalls102k7]

I installed Windows 7 32 bit originally. Now I need to boost the memory and installed Windows 7 64 bit on a different partition of hard drive 1. When booting to the 64 bit, I am still not getting the extra memory I installed. How can I get that missing memory? And is there a way to transfer Itunes library history (play count, etc) and things like that? Thanks.

 

[richnrockville]

I installed Windows 7 32 bit originally. Now I need to boost the memory and installed Windows 7 64 bit on a different partition of hard drive 1. When booting to the 64 bit, I am still not getting the extra memory I installed. How can I get that missing memory? And is there a way to transfer Itunes library history (play count, etc) and things like that? Thanks.

Welcome to the Windows 7 forums.

One problem with installing the 64 bit version of windows 7 on another partition of your hard disk is that the boot record on your primary (x32) is still there telling the system that your running 32bit windows 7.

About the only way to run dual 32/64 bit systems that I am sure of is to place the x64 bit on a second hard disk, I would remove the existing C drive and boot from the your DVD and use the second hard disk (which will be the new C drive) to install the 64bit version of windows 7.

so with two hard disks, each effectively having 32 on one and 64 on the other. Using function keys (on some it is f8) which selects which device to boot from.
cdrom, disk 0 or disk 1 or even usb. but you made the mistake of installing the 64 bit version on the same drive as the 32 bit version and the 32bit version boot records are in control. Not much you can do about it except use separate hard disks.

This way when you reconnect your 32 bit hard disk and the 64 bit hard disk, you can decide which to boot from via F8

Sorry but that's my opinion of your situation.

Rich

 

[smalls102k7]

okay. i can install 64 bit onto my hard drive 2. So does that mean i must remove hard drive 1 or will it work with the memory boost if i just install it onto a partition on hard drive 2? thanks.

 

[CLassicD]

Hi
If you need, or have to boosted your memory have you considered to create a back up your data on your win7 x86 install and clean install x64, you can then go onto use windows VPC to install your x86 version of 7 there?

 

[boyans]

Windows boot manager is somehow separate from the rest of the operating system.

Windows 7 boot manager can load any 32-bit or 64-bit Windows operating systems as well as other OS like Linux, Mac OS-X e.t.c.

It is better to check in BIOS if all installed memory is displayed properly and also memory testing could be useful to see if all memory chips are OK.

 

[smalls102k7]

I think I am going to go with the clean install on hard drive 1. Hard drive 2 is bigger, so I'll transfer anything I want to keep over to hard drive 2. I'll remove hard drive 2 and do a clean install of 64 bit onto hard drive 1 and then reinsert hard drive 2 into the computer. As far as user settings and desktop settings, etc, is it best to use Windows Easy Transfer?

I have checked the memory and the computer tells me there is 4 GB installed (3 GB useable). Even when i start in BIOS, it says 4 GB.
Thanks.

 

[PeaB4YouGo]

I'm having brain-freeze, and can't remember the command that I used to use to reformat the Master Boot Record (fdisk /mbr?) I wonder if there's a 7 version of the same command that you can use while booted into the 64-bit side that will help...

 

[theog]

I think I am going to go with the clean install on hard drive 1. Hard drive 2 is bigger, so I'll transfer anything I want to keep over to hard drive 2. I'll remove hard drive 2 and do a clean install of 64 bit onto hard drive 1 and then reinsert hard drive 2 into the computer. As far as user settings and desktop settings, etc, is it best to use Windows Easy Transfer?

I have checked the memory and the computer tells me there is 4 GB installed (3 GB useable). Even when i start in BIOS, it says 4 GB.
Thanks.

Yes, you can transfer Data with WET:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/11470-windows-easy-transfer-transfer-computers.html?ltr=W

To clean the HD Drive, have a look at this tutorial:
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

 

[sygnus21]

I installed Windows 7 32 bit originally. Now I need to boost the memory and installed Windows 7 64 bit on a different partition of hard drive 1. When booting to the 64 bit, I am still not getting the extra memory I installed. How can I get that missing memory?

First you need to list your complete system specs as your motherboard is not listed - which is an important factor is answering your issue. Anyway......

Note When the physical RAM that is installed on a computer equals the address space that is supported by the chipset, the total system memory that is available to the operating system is always less than the physical RAM that is installed. For example, consider a computer that has an Intel 975X chipset that supports 8 GB of address space. If you install 8 GB of RAM, the system memory that is available to the operating system will be reduced by the PCI configuration requirements. In this scenario, PCI configuration requirements reduce the memory that is available to the operating system by an amount that is between approximately 200 MB and approximately 1 GB. The reduction depends on the configuration.

What that basically means is that the chipset has to support the amount of RAM installed, if not it's going to be limited, just as a 32-bit OS would limit the amount of RAM available for use. In this case it becomes a hardware limitation (motherboard) as opposed to a software (OS) limitation.

See this post - http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/120721-3-gigs-ram-4-a.html#post1039241 and this one - http://www.sevenforums.com/performance-maintenance/120721-3-gigs-ram-4-a-2.html#post1040474

And if you want to know for sure which OS you're on/using, just right click computer and hit properties.....