Upgrading Windows 7 (32 bit to 64)

[DHF]

Greetings,

I currently have a laptop with Windows Home 7 32 bit. I would like to move to 64 bit so I can upgrade the RAM but I would rather not start from scratch. is there a way to load the 64 bit version onto my laptop without wiping out my current programs and settings?

any info you can provide would be appreciated.

Don

 

[pa5tabear]

I'm 90% sure you will have to clean install. And even if there were a way, it would not be desirable.

I don't fully understand the details of 32 and 64 bit, but I know that programs are designed for one or the other. If you were to try an upgrade, you would almost certainly have issues. It would not be a clean process.

 

[DHF]

yeah that is what I feared. would that mean that any applications I load in the future would have to be 64 bit? or is a 64 bit OS backward compatible with 32 bit apps?

and thanks for the reply.

Don

 

[pa5tabear]

yeah that is what I feared. would that mean that any applications I load in the future would have to be 64 bit? or is a 64 bit OS backward compatible with 32 bit apps?

and thanks for the reply.

Don

If you're talking about 64 bit Windows running 32 bit apps, you're totally fine. It supports them without issue. I think Mac OSX does this too.

 

[jtbell]

I think Mac OSX does this too.

That is correct, as far as i know. I've had no problems so far with this myself.

 

[r4z0r84]

If you are wanting to keep all your files and folders, program settings and basically have your new install looking the same as your previous there is a very simple way of doing this.
keep in mind it will not transfer over programs only their settings.

You will need an External hard drive larger then your current internal, or a network location that has enough free space, (easiest to just use a external HDD)

open your start menu and type in "easy" select windows easy transfer,
If you are on a laptop, plug in the power as this will take quite a long time.
Click next,
Select > An external hard disk or USB flash drive
Select > This is my old computer

Wait for the program to scan your computer (this may take from a few minutes upto a few hours depending on the size of your internal hard drive) i suggest going away from the PC for around 30 minutes and just check every so often.

Select the user accounts you wish to transfer,
Click next,
type a password if you wish
click save/press enter
browse to your external hard drive
click save

Wait for all your Program settings files and folders to be copied to your external hard drive.

install your new 64 bit operating system (depending on the laptop you can use the Recovery tools to reinstall a fresh 64 bit copy of windows)
make sure you keep the usernames the same for the new install

Open the file on the new computer and click this is my new computer
select the user accounts you wish to copy over,
click next/ok all your files will be copied over,
after copying restart the computer


Enjoy your new 64bit windows 7 and all your files and folders present,

this tool also allows you to see a list of programs that were installed on your old install.


Good luck!


Luke.

 

[r4z0r84]

all windows 7 preinstalled OS's come with 32bit and 64bit OS's prebuilt in, you just have to bring it back to prefab to have access to the other version of the OS.

Example

Toshiba Factory Recovery

To access the Toshiba recovery partition, power off the laptop. Hold down the 0 (zero) key and turn the laptop on. Keep holding down the zero key until the TOSHIBA logo appears, where you should start tapping the zero key repeatedly. Stop if the unit beeps or when the TOSHIBA logo disappears. The screen should flash ** HDD RECOVERY MODE ** for a split second, then load the Toshiba recovery program right from the hard drive.

If you have another brand just search for "*brand* restore factory settings" replacing brand with what your laptop is.

 

[DHF]

Thanks everyone. this is very encouraging. and Luke I will try the method you detailed. it should work nicely as I do not believe there is a ton of applications to re install, just lots of saved files.

I appreciate all the help,

Don