Upgrade from 32-bit to 64-bit: Any experiences with "PCmover" or "Zinstall" or something else?

I do not like to do it, but I fear that sometime it will become necessary:

An upgrade from Windows 10 32-bit to 64-bit.

My intention is to stay on the same computer (it has a x-64 based processor).

And if possible, I will try to avoid the procedure to install again all my software from scratch. Instead I would like to migrate/transfer it from the 32-bit system to the 64-bit system. There are at least two programs on the market in order to achieve (or at least to support) this aim:

- "PCmover" (in various versions): https://web.laplink.com/pcmover_feature_overview/

- "Zinstall Migration Kit Pro": http://www.zinstall.com/products/zinstall-migration-kit-pro

Does anyone have an experience with these programs? Or does someone know another software fulfilling the same purpose?

I have found some older (quite positive) statements concerning "PCmover", especially by roger_m (in his case concerning Windows 7). He wrote for example (see https://www.wilderssecurity.com/thr...at-is-the-question.330257/page-2#post-2109654):

@roger_m: If you read this thread:
- Please can you confirm that you used the version "Image and Drive Assistant" of the PCmover? (On their homepage I cannot find out in which respect the "Image and Drive Assistant" differs from the version "Professional" although there is a price difference of 20 $.)
- And did you make the switch on the same computer (inplace upgrade)?

Concerning "Zinstall" I did not see any comments here in the forum. I assume that the tremendous price of 169 $ (for the Migration Kit Pro) makes it unattractive for potential users.

 

I have used Image & Drive Assistant. The only difference between the two editions, is that you get a multiple license discount with the Pro version.
https://web.laplink.com/pcmover_feature_overview/
In the instance I posted about, I'm pretty sure it was on the same computer. I have not tried Zinstall.

It's been some time since I've used PCmover, so quite possibly the experience has improved since then. After I used it to migrate software from a 32bit install of Windows to a 64 bit installation, Windows was running slowly. I resolved the issue by cleaning the registry. This is quite possibly the only time I've ever seen a noticeable increase in performance after doing so. I guess PCmover transfers a lot of unneeded registry keys and this was the cause. Since it's not really possible to know exactly what registry keys a program uses, I presume it has to transfer a lot of data which does not appear to be used by any of the software it is transferring, just in case it may be needed. It's not an ideal way of doing things, but I don't think it could be done differently. For example, if it was only to transfer registry keys which appear to belong to the software being transferred it may miss some needed keys, resulting in some software not running once transferred.

 

Many thanks for your response.

Yes, that's what I have seen in the feature overview and I could not imagine that this justifies a 20 $ price difference and a completely other product (version) name. But it's good to know that the "Image and Drive Assistant" would be the right and sufficient choice for my needs.

I have read about this in an older posting from you. It is something that I would (have to) accept in order to spare myself the trouble of installing all my software from the beginning. (Hopefully I would find out which registry entries I can clean and which have to stay. )

Concluding from your comments, I think that it would be worth to give it a try to use PCmover. If it does not work, I can (temporarily) go back to my current 32-bit version by restoring an image. The financial loss of about 40 $ (+ VAT) would be acceptable. (Moreover they offer a 30-day money-back guarantee.)

And if I am prepared to take risks I could make afterwards a second attempt with "Zinstall" (and possibly lose 169 $ in case that it does not work ).

 

Peter,

A friend had a similar situation and was concerned the Win 32 bit to Win 64 bit conversion would lead to an under-performing Win 64 bit OS. I suggested she install Win 64 bit as a dual boot, using 32 bit as the primary OS while she gradually installed software into Win 64. When she was happy with Win 64 she could delete Win 32.

It was a MBR system, like yours, so BootIt BM was used as the boot manager. This enables both OS to be independent. There is no sharing of booting files as is seen with the Microsoft boot manager. Either OS can be deleted without affecting the other OS.

 

That's an interesting approach for a softer transition from 32-bit to 64 bit. I will keep it in mind.

But:

So the necessity of "manual" installation cannot be avoided by this method. (Unless I would combine the use of "BootIt Bare Metal" with something like "PCmover" which makes things a little bit complicated I think.)

 

Just a short update: In the meantime I bought the "PCmover" - finally its (cheaper) version "Windows Upgrade Assistant" was sufficient (I did not need the "Image and Drive Assistant").

Installation and activation (on the previously already installed 64-bit-build) was straightforward and after two or three crashes (caused possibly by some mistake of my side) the program did its job quite well: I could transfer successfully and easily the majority of my applications and settings. It was definitely worth to invest the 30 $ (+ VAT).