Questions: upgrading Vista Home Premium from 32 to 64 bit

Advice on upgrading my Home Premium 32 bit software (full retail version
installed on a Dell XPS 410 - the OEM version was nuked) to Home Premium
64 bit with the objective of upgrading to Vista 64 bit Ultimate.

Is there a problem with upgrading from the 32 bit Home Premium to its
64 bit version with 4 gigs of memory installed? I’ve read some posts
suggesting taking out 2 GB while doing the install.

If I image the 32 bit version to preserve programs, data and personal
settings what problems are there in restoring it to the (hopefully)
upgraded 64 bit. All programs and drivers on the current installation
are up to date (and the handful of drivers required for 64 bit are
already downloaded ready to install). Will the 32 bit OS just be ignored
and the other programs and settings installed to operate…flawlessly, of
course! This strategy is from several other posts read on other sites.
The logic of it doesn't compute with me...but I must be missing some
nuance here.

Or, can I just insert my Vista 32 install CD and go with the option to
transfer files and settings to an external hard drive. Tell it this is
my old computer. Then create a transfer file to the external hard drive.
After the clean install of Vista 64 bit re-run the file and settings
transfer Utility. This time tell the utility this is my New computer
and select the file I created.

The goal is to preserve as much of my current settings and programs as
possible without too much of the reinstalling and re-configuring. Norton
360 backs up data files but I want to port much more than that.

I believe Norton should be ‘nuked’ from the machine before the attempt
rather than disabling it. How about anti-spyware program Counterspy?
Nuke it also?

What else should I take into consideration?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

Best regards,

Mike


--
Amadeus47

On Jan 22, 10:06*pm, Amadeus47 <gu...@unknown-email.com> wrote:
> Advice on upgrading my Home Premium 32 bit software (full retail version
> installed on a Dell XPS 410 - the OEM version was nuked) to Home Premium
> 64 bit with the objective of upgrading to Vista 64 bit Ultimate.
>
> Is there a problem with upgrading from the 32 bit Home Premium to its
> 64 bit version with 4 gigs of memory installed? I’ve read some posts
> suggesting taking out 2 GB while doing the install.
>
> If I image the 32 bit version to preserve programs, data and personal
> settings what problems are there in restoring it to the (hopefully)
> upgraded 64 bit. All programs and drivers on the current installation
> are up to date (and the handful of drivers required for 64 bit are
> already downloaded ready to install). Will the 32 bit OS just be ignored
> and the other programs and settings installed to operate…flawlessly, of
> course! This strategy is from several other posts read on other sites.
> The logic of it doesn't compute with me...but I must be missing some
> nuance here.
>
> Or, can I just insert my Vista 32 install CD and go with the option to
> transfer files and settings to an external hard drive. *Tell it this is
> my old computer. Then create a transfer file to the external hard drive.
> After the clean install of Vista 64 bit re-run the file and settings
> transfer Utility. *This time tell the utility this is my New computer
> and select the file I created.
>
> The goal is to preserve as much of my current settings and programs as
> possible without too much of the reinstalling and re-configuring. Norton
> 360 backs up data files but I want to port much more than that.
>
> I believe Norton should be ‘nuked’ from the machine before the attempt
> rather than disabling it. How about anti-spyware program Counterspy?
> Nuke it also?
>
> What else should I take into consideration?
>
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Mike
>
> --
> Amadeus47

You cannot upgrade from 32-bit Vista to 64-bit Vista. You can only do
custom install or a clean install. A custom install will move your old
windows files to a folder called windows.old. This would allow you to
recover various files. You cannot use your old settings you must reset
them all. You cannot start the 64-bit install from within 32-bit
Vista. You must boot the install DVD and you must have the required 64-
bit disk driver available, preferably on a memory stick. You need to
locate appropriate 64-bit device drivers from your PC manufacters
download site. Vista 64-bit install may try to install 64-bit device
drivers but it often makes mistakes that you will need to rectify. If
your sound does not work you need to locate the proper driver. I can
tell you from experience that it is a mistake to obtain the latest
nVidia driver set. This is one instance where Vista 64-bit install or
upgrade will make the best choice for you. Installation os 64-bit is
an experimental experience. Experiments fail 50% of the time according
to Murphy's Law. I did not get it right until my second time around. I
made the mistake of installing the latest nVidia driver set and within
a couple of days I had file system corruption and an unusable
installation. If you are lucky and skilled yiu can avoid my mistakes.
Once you have 64-bit installed and working, it is trivial to upgrade
from one version of 64-bit Vista to another or to do an installation
of 64-bit Windows 7.

I hope my experience helps you. Although it is al ot of work, I
consider it worth the effort. Don't plan to go to your day job for a
couple of weeks.

As another poster remarked, a 32 bit OS cannot be upgraded to Vista X64. It
requires a new installation, which eliminates all installed applications. I
know of no practical way to transfer the programs to an X64 installation,
other than re-installing them afresh. Documents and files can be
transferred, but that's basically trivial. It is also possible to transfer
settings, but I've had trouble with that under XP and have learned to note
things like email settings separately.

If you have an upgrade version of Vista, a 32 bit OS can qualify. Usually an
upgrade version of Vista must be launched from a working OS, but if you have
a 32 bit OS installed, that cannot be done.

I have successfully installed Vista X64 on a machine with 4 GB of RAM in
place. Your mileage may vary.

It may not be necessary to install hard disk drivers. If you are not using
AHCI or RAID, you will not need additional drivers if you are using the hard
disk controller of your Intel chipset.

Basically, you're stuck with the level of effort of a new OS installation.

"Amadeus47" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> Advice on upgrading my Home Premium 32 bit software (full retail version
> installed on a Dell XPS 410 - the OEM version was nuked) to Home Premium
> 64 bit with the objective of upgrading to Vista 64 bit Ultimate.
>
> Is there a problem with upgrading from the 32 bit Home Premium to its
> 64 bit version with 4 gigs of memory installed? I've read some posts
> suggesting taking out 2 GB while doing the install.
>
> If I image the 32 bit version to preserve programs, data and personal
> settings what problems are there in restoring it to the (hopefully)
> upgraded 64 bit. All programs and drivers on the current installation
> are up to date (and the handful of drivers required for 64 bit are
> already downloaded ready to install). Will the 32 bit OS just be ignored
> and the other programs and settings installed to operate.flawlessly, of
> course! This strategy is from several other posts read on other sites.
> The logic of it doesn't compute with me...but I must be missing some
> nuance here.
>
> Or, can I just insert my Vista 32 install CD and go with the option to
> transfer files and settings to an external hard drive. Tell it this is
> my old computer. Then create a transfer file to the external hard drive.
> After the clean install of Vista 64 bit re-run the file and settings
> transfer Utility. This time tell the utility this is my New computer
> and select the file I created.
>
> The goal is to preserve as much of my current settings and programs as
> possible without too much of the reinstalling and re-configuring. Norton
> 360 backs up data files but I want to port much more than that.
>
> I believe Norton should be 'nuked' from the machine before the attempt
> rather than disabling it. How about anti-spyware program Counterspy?
> Nuke it also?
>
> What else should I take into consideration?
>
> Any help is greatly appreciated.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Mike
>
>
> --
> Amadeus47

Thanks for the information. FYI, the full retail version of Vista HP 32
bit is what is on the machine now. I purchased the $10 upgrade to 64
bit.

From another website it was suggested I insert my Vista 32 install CD
and go with the option to transfer files and settings to an external
hard drive. Tell it this is my old computer. Then create a transfer
file to the external hard drive. After the clean install of Vista 64 bit
re-run the file and settings transfer Utility. This time tell the
utility this is my New computer and select the file I created.

Bob Knowlden;948719 Wrote:
> As another poster remarked, a 32 bit OS cannot be upgraded to Vista X64.
> It
> requires a new installation, which eliminates all installed
> applications. I
> know of no practical way to transfer the programs to an X64
> installation,
> other than re-installing them afresh. Documents and files can be
> transferred, but that's basically trivial. It is also possible to
> transfer
> settings, but I've had trouble with that under XP and have learned to
> note
> things like email settings separately.
>
> If you have an upgrade version of Vista, a 32 bit OS can qualify.
> Usually an
> upgrade version of Vista must be launched from a working OS, but if you
> have
> a 32 bit OS installed, that cannot be done.
>
> I have successfully installed Vista X64 on a machine with 4 GB of RAM
> in
> place. Your mileage may vary.
>
> It may not be necessary to install hard disk drivers. If you are not
> using
> AHCI or RAID, you will not need additional drivers if you are using the
> hard
> disk controller of your Intel chipset.
>
> Basically, you're stuck with the level of effort of a new OS
> installation.
>
> "Amadeus47" <> wrote in message
> news:...> > >
> > >
> > > Advice on upgrading my Home Premium 32 bit software (full retail
> > version
> > > installed on a Dell XPS 410 - the OEM version was nuked) to Home
> > Premium
> > > 64 bit with the objective of upgrading to Vista 64 bit Ultimate.
> > >
> > > Is there a problem with upgrading from the 32 bit Home Premium to its
> > > 64 bit version with 4 gigs of memory installed? I've read some posts
> > > suggesting taking out 2 GB while doing the install.
> > >
> > > If I image the 32 bit version to preserve programs, data and personal
> > > settings what problems are there in restoring it to the (hopefully)
> > > upgraded 64 bit. All programs and drivers on the current installation
> > > are up to date (and the handful of drivers required for 64 bit are
> > > already downloaded ready to install). Will the 32 bit OS just be
> > ignored
> > > and the other programs and settings installed to operate.flawlessly,
> > of
> > > course! This strategy is from several other posts read on other
> > sites.
> > > The logic of it doesn't compute with me...but I must be missing some
> > > nuance here.
> > >
> > > Or, can I just insert my Vista 32 install CD and go with the option
> > to
> > > transfer files and settings to an external hard drive. Tell it this
> > is
> > > my old computer. Then create a transfer file to the external hard
> > drive.
> > > After the clean install of Vista 64 bit re-run the file and settings
> > > transfer Utility. This time tell the utility this is my New computer
> > > and select the file I created.
> > >
> > > The goal is to preserve as much of my current settings and programs
> > as
> > > possible without too much of the reinstalling and re-configuring.
> > Norton
> > > 360 backs up data files but I want to port much more than that.
> > >
> > > I believe Norton should be 'nuked' from the machine before the
> > attempt
> > > rather than disabling it. How about anti-spyware program Counterspy?
> > > Nuke it also?
> > >
> > > What else should I take into consideration?
> > >
> > > Any help is greatly appreciated.
> > >
> > > Best regards,
> > >
> > > Mike
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Amadeus47 > >


--
Amadeus47