64-Bit question

CyberWaste

Right so im looking to upgrade to WIndows 7, I have vista home premium 32 bit right now, and my specs are 4gb ram and 2.26ghz processor. But, ive been reading that to get the most out of the 4gb ram I should get 64 bit win 7 but then I read somewhere else that 32bit windows can read UP TO 4gb ram.

Can someone clear this up for me? Like do I need 64bit win7 to get the full use of the 4gb ram?

Also, can I do an upgrade from vista home premium 32bit to win7 home premium 64 bit, i.e. keep files and programs.

Thanks

MunsterCycling

Only 64bit OSs can read more than 4Gb of memory. That includes all the system memory and graphics, and addressing space for interupts etc so even if you have 4Gb of RAM you will not see it all used as a 32bit Os runs out of addresses.

MC

CyberWaste

So i should get win7 64bit to get the most out of my laptop then is it?

Captain Furball

yes

ScumLord

Is there actually any reason not to go with 64bit Win7 if your pc supports it?

tuxy

ScumLord wrote: »

Is there actually any reason not to go with 64bit Win7 if your pc supports it?

Some older programs will not run on the 64bit versions of windows. I'v had trouble with some games from the 1990's

Skatedude

make sure your laptop supports 64bit, not all cpu's in laptops will

ScumLord

tuxy wrote: »

Some older programs will not run on the 64bit versions of windows. I'v had trouble with some games from the 1990's

I thought the xp mode fixed those type of problems?

wayne040576

Make sure that you bios\motherboard can read the full 4GB. I have a problem at the moment were my Motherboard is supposed to support up to 8GB but it can currently only see 3 of 4GB. So even with the 64bit version I still only see 3GB.

Fysh

tuxy wrote: »

Some older programs will not run on the 64bit versions of windows. I'v had trouble with some games from the 1990's

In fairness though, lack of access to games from 10 years ago isn't going to be a widespread deal-breaker. XP Mode should sort that out, although it may vary from game to game.

CyberWaste

wayne040576 wrote: »

Make sure that you bios\motherboard can read the full 4GB. I have a problem at the moment were my Motherboard is supposed to support up to 8GB but it can currently only see 3 of 4GB. So even with the 64bit version I still only see 3GB.

How do I do that? I went through control panel> system and maintenance> performance tools> view and print details and it says this:

System

---

Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Model Studio 1737
Total amount of system memory 4.00 GB RAM
System type 32-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 2
64-bit capable Yes

Storage

---

Total size of hard disk(s) 466 GB
Disk partition (C:) 7 GB Free (137 GB Total)
Disk partition (D:) 171 GB Free (233 GB Total)
Disk partition (E:) 86 GB Free (86 GB Total)
Disk partition (F:) 10 GB Free (10 GB Total)




Im guessing it will work then?

Also, I have 2 separate hard drives on my laptop, can I move all my data to like the second hard drive, the D drive above, and only format the C drive to put windows 7 on it?
Anyone know a way around not deleting all my files and programs if installing windows 7. I have 2 250gb hard drives in the laptop remember.

Paulw

CyberWaste wrote: »

Im guessing it will work then?

Also, I have 2 separate hard drives on my laptop, can I move all my data to like the second hard drive, the D drive above, and only format the C drive to put windows 7 on it?
Anyone know a way around not deleting all my files and programs if installing windows 7. I have 2 250gb hard drives in the laptop remember.

Yeah, certainly looks like your system will run the 64bit version.

No matter what you do, unless you perform an upgrade option, you will have to re-install all your programs again.

You can certainly copy out your data/files to your 2nd disk. That's what I did when I installed Windows 7 on my system.

wayne040576

CyberWaste wrote: »

How do I do that? I went through control panel> system and maintenance> performance tools> view and print details and it says this:

System

---

Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Model Studio 1737
Total amount of system memory 4.00 GB RAM
System type 32-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 2
64-bit capable Yes

Storage

---

Total size of hard disk(s) 466 GB
Disk partition (C:) 7 GB Free (137 GB Total)
Disk partition (D:) 171 GB Free (233 GB Total)
Disk partition (E:) 86 GB Free (86 GB Total)
Disk partition (F:) 10 GB Free (10 GB Total)




Im guessing it will work then?

Also, I have 2 separate hard drives on my laptop, can I move all my data to like the second hard drive, the D drive above, and only format the C drive to put windows 7 on it?
Anyone know a way around not deleting all my files and programs if installing windows 7. I have 2 250gb hard drives in the laptop remember.

You look ok. You can keep the files by doing an install without formatting. But it is not advised as it can make the system unstable and you'll still have to reinstall all of you apps. Better to bite the bullet, back up, format and reinstall.

With mine, as soon as I turn on the pc and look at the bios messages (press delete after turning on). I get the following:
System memory 4000mb (3000 usable)

Basically a gig of my system memory is being used by the graphics card in my pci express slot (8800gt). I know there is an option in the bios to fix this: Enabling memory remapping, but at the moment I'm reading conflicting opinions as to whether or not this will make the system unstable.

Adyx

Just take note though that you can't upgrade from a 32 bit OS to a 64 bit. It'll have to be a full install.

Voodu Child

ScumLord wrote: »

Is there actually any reason not to go with 64bit Win7 if your pc supports it?

I'd run 32-bit on a netbook, or something slow with only 1Gb ram. It uses a little less memory. Also a lot of apps are still only available in 32-bit versions - running the 32-bit version in a 64-bit OS will give a (tiny) performance hit. Nothing that you'll notice on a proper computer, but on something like a netbook you might find 32-bit a bit 'snappier' for want of a better word.

CyberWaste

So let me get this straight, since I have 2 hard drives, I am going to put my data on my second hard drive in my laptop, but I have installed a few games and apps on the second hard drive. Even if I dont format the hard drive that I put them on, the d drive, they will be useless to me and I will have to reinstall them anyway? Is that right?

In the attachments is my hard drive details. Can someone explain what a logical drive is? its the one there with like 90gbs. Can I install win7 on that? What partition should I install win7 on?

Prisoner6409

CyberWaste wrote: »

So let me get this straight, since I have 2 hard drives, I am going to put my data on my second hard drive in my laptop, but I have installed a few games and apps on the second hard drive. Even if I dont format the hard drive that I put them on, the d drive, they will be useless to me and I will have to reinstall them anyway? Is that right?

In the attachments is my hard drive details. Can someone explain what a logical drive is? its the one there with like 90gbs. Can I install win7 on that? What partition should I install win7 on?

YES! If you are doing a clean install on your first drive then yes the software(games ect) on your second drive will need to be re-installed. When you install any software on an operating system there are entries made regarding that software into the registry, to identify settings ect.

CyberWaste

But can I install windows 7 on the logical drive, its in the attachments there. Whats a logical drive anyway