Thread: 32 to 64 bit windows

32/64 bit Vista? Or XP? (to and from)

Well, you would need to format your hard drive, so you would need to reinstall literally everything. And it is so you can have more than 4GB of RAM (the max the 32bit Windows OS will recognize, actually 3 point something, but I am too lazy to look up the exact number). You would lose your save games unless you are able to copy the physical save game file from the game. You would need to look online for each game to see if it is possible to manually make a backup of a save game. With some games it is possible, with some it is not.

Be aware that in 64bit all drivers must be WHQL digitally signed to be able to install them, aka, the driver must have been submitted to Microsoft and Microsoft have signed off on it. So if you have 3rd party hardware, check the manufacturers website to see if they have a 64bit driver for it!!! Printers, scanners, cameras, everything.

Make sure you backup all of your data, and make sure you have the install disc or executable and all required license keys for all software that you want to put on the machine afterwords. Also be aware that some programs will not run in 64bit. I have had programs literally pop-up a box after the OS detection part of the install and tell me that their company does not support 64bit Windows, and I can not install. Some older programs that still have 16bit code in them will not run either.

Other than that, it is not too much different than a regular Windows install. Just be prepared for potential pains in the ass until the rest of the world catches up to 64bit OS'.

Yeah I thought that, but I really can't be fucked...
The main reason I want it is so that the extra ram can be added and works.
Not too fussed about 64 bit version of programs, as long as the memory works.

edit: I think I came off a little rude on my second post in this thread, and I feel I should apologise. Sorry, I was wasted :P

I know for a FACT that the limit for 32 bit Windows XP is 4 Gigs of ram, it recognizes a little bit less. The 64bit version of XP (And Vista) has a limit of 128GB of ram, but that's irrelevant, since you are never going to find a end user PC motherboard that supports that amount. 64bit XP is a bit more fussy than 64bit Vista in general, and there is less support on 64bit XP than there is 64bit Vista.

Now if this is a laptop, that particular model's physical RAM limit may have already been met.

And no, you can NOT run an "upgrade install" of XP 64 bit over XP 32 bit, you must do a CLEAN install (format and install), according to various MICROSOFT sources:

Q. Can I upgrade from 32-bit Windows XP Professional to Windows XP Professional x64 Edition?
A. No, you can't upgrade. You can use the Technology Advancement Program until the end of July, 2005, to exchange your copy of Windows XP Professional for the x64 Edition of Windows XP Professional, but doing so replaces your existing license with the new license. The actual installation of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is a fresh install, not an upgrade. All your programs will have to be reinstalled, and if you have data on the same drive as your operating system, it will be wiped out. Make a thorough backup of your important files before doing the installation.

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...el_x64faq.mspx

The Ferrari 4000 ships with a 100 gigabyte hard drive, partitioned and formatted into two equal logical drives of around 45 gigabytes each and a small hidden "factory restore" partition. The factory installed applications were all on Drive C and I installed additional applications on Drive C as well. Drive D was still empty. Two options were available to me to install Windows XP Pro x64:

1. I could format Drive C and clean install x64.

2. I could set up a dual boot and have both 32 bit and 64 bit Windows XP on the same machine on different partitions.

A dual boot option seemed like the safest option, given the lack of vendor supplied 64 bit drivers at that time. I also was not certain if all my 32-bit applications would run on 64 bit windows. I knew that with a dual boot system, I'd be able to use the pre-installed 32-bit Windows XP Pro operating system if I failed to find needed drivers or had application issues.

Source: http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/u...n_05nov07.mspx

Installing a 64-bit version of Windows Vista on a computer that is running a 32-bit version of Windows XP or of Windows 2000
Most Windows XP and Windows 2000 users have the 32-bit version of these operating systems. For example, Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, Windows Tablet Edition and Windows Media Center Edition only come in 32-bit versions. For these operating systems, there is no upgrade installation path available when you upgrade from a 32-bit operating system to a 64-bit operating system. However, you can perform a custom installation...

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932795

Check your facts before you insult someone who does this for a living.

I don't wont to get into a little internet fight here, but there are only 2 types of Windows installs in the basic sense of the word. An UPGRADE install, where you are putting another version or instance of Windows over a previous one (Installing Vista over XP without formatting etc...), and a CLEAN (aka: FRESH) install, which means installing Windows on a partition that that is clean and has no previous data or Operating System on it, basically a formatted drive and/or partition.

A fresh install means removing the old Windows operating system via formatting the drive. Now if you have a separate OS partition and data partition than that is a different story, you can leave your data partition untouched and just overwrite the OS partition, maybe that is what he did. A fresh install means a clean formatted drive or partition. If you do a fresh install of ANY operating system, you will need to reinstall all programs. Only in an "UPGRADE" install will programs remain installed. A fresh install by it's very definition will require re-installing of any programs. Even if you back up all your data and save game files, the programs themselves will need to be re-installed.

There are five methods for installing Windows XP. Review the following methods and select the method that is appropriate for your installation.

Method 1: Perform a clean install of Windows XP
Use this method for a clean installation of Windows XP. A clean installation removes all data from your hard disk by repartitioning and reformatting your hard disk and reinstalling the operating system and programs to an empty (clean) hard disk.

Method 2: Upgrade to Windows XP
Use this method if you are upgrading to Windows XP from Microsoft Windows 98, Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition, or Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional.

Method 3: Install Windows XP to a new hard disk
Use this method to install Windows XP to a new hard disk. This is typically done when a new hard disk is installed on your computer.

Method 4: Install Windows XP to a new folder (parallel installation)
Use this method to install Windows XP to a new folder (parallel installation) to either run two operating systems, or to access, repair, or retrieve data from a damaged disk.

Method 5: Perform a multiple boot operation
Use this method to install Windows XP as a separate operating system on your computer. This lets you install more than one operating system on your computer and select which operating system that you want to use every time that you start your computer.

Source: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/316941

IN CONCLUSION:

1. A CLEAN (FRESH) install is formatting drive and loading desired OS.
2. A UPGRADE install is installing Windows over a previous version without formatting or losing data. (Win 2000 to XP, or XP to Vista etc).
3. According to Microsoft, a UPGRADE install is not possible from XP 32bit to XP 64bit, a CLEAN install is required.
4. See item 1 for definition of a CLEAN INSTALL.

Originally Posted by hydro

Cry more. I'm not complaining about it. I both use and prefer Vista.

I didn't saying anything about this.

Originally Posted by hydro

It's just a huge difference that does surprise a lot of people.

Yes, because a lot of people apparently don't understand what RAM is for.

Originally Posted by ephekt

I didn't saying anything about this.

Yes, because a lot of people apparently don't understand what RAM is for.

On the subject of things we didn't say I didn't say there was anything wrong with the way Vista manages resources. So please stop assuming I did so we can get this thread back on track.

You said "the memory difference between XP and Vista is even more unbelievable. Even with superfetch turned off" (which implies that it's less than OK, but whatever).

All I did was ask why it was "unbelievable" and point out that unused RAM is useless.

</derail>

By unbelievable he meant that the different between xp and vista is a large one, memory wise.
He wasn't complaining or anything like that, simply saying the difference is significant.

Also just because the OS isn't using it doesn't make it unused ram. The less the OS uses, the more there is for other programs to use.

Originally Posted by ShitFace

By unbelievable he meant that the different between xp and vista is a large one, memory wise. He wasn't complaining or anything like that, simply saying the difference is significant.

Fair enough. Perhaps I read that wrong. My argument wasn't really with him but with the people who see smart (compared to previous MS OSes) memory usage and see it as an inefficacy.

Also just because the OS isn't using it doesn't make it unused ram. The less the OS uses, the more there is for other programs to use.

I don't think you really understand how memory allocation works. Programs will request RAM as they need it and the OS will release it - that hasn't been an issue for a long long time - the point is that the OS can and should be able to put unused RAM to use somehow, even if it's only caching frequently used programs. Programs do not get more RAM or get it any faster simply because it's sitting around unallocated (and yes, that means it's unused).

Yea, I took "lol vista" to mean, "lol, why the hell would I use vista?". My bad.

Quick question to throw on top of this. Right now I've got windows 32 bit on my laptop. If I switch to 64 bit vista, how big of a difference is it going to make? Am I going to be able to notice it? Also, how many programs now-a-days are supporting 64 bit processors?