I got one of those Windows 7 32/64 bit box sets. I have 32 bit installed now.

Can I upgrade to 64 bit? I'm guessing I put in the 64 bit disk and hit upgrade or do I have to do a clean install with it? Also it says "product key" in the box does this go for both 32 and 64 bit versions? My laptop does support 64 bit OS's I had 64 bit Windows 7 when I got it (died due to a virus) Put on Ubuntu 64 bit then Ubuntu 32 bit (better flash support) then switched to Windows 7 32 bit when I got the Windows box set to use Sandboxie. Deciding to switch back over Windows 7 64 bit to use the extra RAM that's not in use.

 

No, you can't.Upgrading is only possible from one 32 bit version to an another 32 bit version of a higher edition and not to a 64 version.As for the product key, the same product key goes for both the versions.

 

So I can just do a clean install of the 64 bit version? I don't have much to back up.

 

Unfortunately, a clean install seems the only option for you.

Why do you want to go 64 bit, any real issues or just a case of itchy hands like me?

 

Right now my laptop has 4 GB RAM and 32 bit Windows is using only 2.7 GB of it. I would like it to be able to use all of the RAM for top speed. Plus Sandboxie and CIS are able to sandbox in 64 bit environments now.

 

Then go for it as it doesn't make much sense in having more than a GB of memory lying there doing nothing especially if you have the resources to put it to use.

 

I'll do it this week.

 

note though that some chipsets and some systems will still not see or use all of the 4gb even with a 64bit os. as a example i was working on a customers system which internally had a asus motherboard (this was a desktop) and no matter what he tried it would only see 2.9gb of ram. i went into the bios and switched the memory remap feature to enabled and now it saw all 4gb. i have also seen this on some msi laptops as well as others. so my point is it *should* usually see the 4gb but in some cases more work may be involved than just switching the os

 

Is that easy to do?

 

this is what mine says




you should have made a Windows7 x64 restore disk when you bought your machine. that would be the best rout, It sucks reinstalling loads of drivers.

 

depends on the system. normally you should be fine and see all 4gb but i wanted to make the point in case you do not see all 4gb with the 64bit os. then you will want to look into other things. if that happens let us know and im sure we will all try to help out.

 

Thanks.

 

And for those that have then even "Windows Easy Transfer" can't do the job when migrating from 32bit to 64 bit, you will then have to use : "Back up your files" and "Restore a backup created on a previous version of Windows"

 

This is probably a really dumb question. But if a person has both the 32 and 64 bit cd's for Windows 7 (one license code for both) can the cd only be installed on a single pc? Or can the 32 bit be installed on one pc and the 64 bit be installed on another?

 

You can either install x86 or x64 on one computer.

 

Even 32 bit and then a clean install for 64 bit?

 

only one instance of the key can be in use at one time. so even though the disk has both on it you would need 2 different lic keys to run both 32 and 64 on one pc

 

Damn how much does it cost for a new key? I thought product key would be good for BOTH disks.

 

If I buy a retail upgrade version - what's in the box? MaximumPC's page.

 

I don't have the upgrade just the retail edition.

 

isn't the key the alphanumetic sticker on the side of the computer case??

also, why don't you post you computer stats so someone who knows what they're talking about can tell you how well 64-bit will run on you PC?

 

License terms, and using the software license manager. Should be able to acquire the appropriate pdf here.

 

My computer came with Windows 7 64 bit on it when I bought it so I know it can run it.

 

Ok so I says I can put ONE version at a time on it. So if I install Linux again and then use my 64 bit disk I can do it that way?

 

Wait a minute...so you had 64 bit originally then got a boxed set of 32/64 bit? If so, do you have your recovery disk (or partition maybe?) available?