32 bit to 64 bit route

JJ_Egan

islandman wrote: »

2.00 gb..............

Not enough ram really .

kwikbreaks

I checked and the cpu mentioned does support 64bit but as the machine was supplied 32bit it strongly suggests to me that other components don't otherwise it would have been produced as 64bit.

When I bought Win 7 I got both the 32bit and 64bit install disks (same key) but it wouldn't allow me to install 64 bit on the laptop I was upgrading from Vista . I'm pretty much sure I'd checked and the cpu supported 64bit but may be mistaken.

===

I tried to find out the answer to that and it looks like it maybe is only the processor. I also found that the OEM keys for preinstalled operating systems are different for 32bit and 64bit so at the very least a new windows install disk/keys would be required.

System

So, having digested all you've told me, seemingly I should now move on with things as they are (given there's little choice). Thanks for your time and patience.

NiftyDigits

kwikbreaks wrote: »

I checked and the cpu mentioned does support 64bit but as the machine was supplied 32bit it strongly suggests to me that other components don't otherwise it would have been produced as 64bit.

When I bought Win 7 I got both the 32bit and 64bit install disks (same key) but it wouldn't allow me to install 64 bit on the laptop I was upgrading from Vista . I'm pretty much sure I'd checked and the cpu supported 64bit but may be mistaken.

===

I tried to find out the answer to that and it looks like it maybe is only the processor. I also found that the OEM keys for preinstalled operating systems are different for 32bit and 64bit so at the very least a new windows install disk/keys would be required.

You can't upgrade from Vista 32 bit to Windows 7 64 bit. In this case you would have to run a clean install.

esuhl

kwikbreaks wrote: »

I checked and the cpu mentioned does support 64bit but as the machine was supplied 32bit it strongly suggests to me that other components don't otherwise it would have been produced as 64bit.

A 64-bit CPU will only work in a motherboard that supports 64-bit CPUs. If the motherboard supports 64-bit CPUs, then you can safely assume that you can install a 64-bit OS that is compatible with the machine architecture.

islandman wrote: »

So, having digested all you've told me, seemingly I should now move on with things as they are (given there's little choice). Thanks for your time and patience.

Yep -- pretty much. Moving to a 64-bit OS will cost money, mean reinstalling your system, and not really give you any major benefits that you'd appreciate in real-life use.

If I was buying a new PC, I'd go for a 64-bit one every time... but it's not worth upgrading an existing 32-bit system for the time, money & hassle.

System

esuhl , you seem quite a knowledgeable guy, is it any wonder your thanks almost double your posts.

bod1467

<Pedant-mode-ON>
He has 3120 thanks for 1951 posts, but 4623 posts. So his thanks-per-thanked-post ratio is about 1.6:1, but his thanks-per-post ratio is about 0.41:1.
<Pedant-mode-OFF>

(The equivalent ratios for me are 1.65:1 and 0.84:1, and for you are 2.35:1 and 0.45:1)

esuhl

islandman wrote: »

esuhl , you seem quite a knowledgeable guy, is it any wonder your thanks almost double your posts.

Thanks very much! Always a pleasure to help where I can!

System

Never look at my own thanks oddly enough.

almillar

A 32 bit operating system can only address 3 ish GB of RAM. This is where the limit came from when some people had XP (32 bit) computers.
Safe to say that while you're at 2GB of ram, stick with 32 bit.