How to tell 32 bit or 64 bit vista when computer will not boot

I have a situation where I need to determine the version of Vista
installed on a computer, but the computer has crashed and cannot
boot. The recovery partition is scrabled and I am forced to use a
generic OEM dvd to reinstall Vista. My question is: is there anyway
for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
certain files on the hard drive?

It is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor on an HP Pavilion a1730n.

I found lots of places on the internet where you can find the version
once the computer is booted, but I could not find any info on how to
tell when the system does not boot.

Thanks

-Brad

It highly likely a 32-bit version of Vista.
http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/s...339287&lang=en

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------

<> wrote in message news: ups.com...
I have a situation where I need to determine the version of Vista
installed on a computer, but the computer has crashed and cannot
boot. The recovery partition is scrabled and I am forced to use a
generic OEM dvd to reinstall Vista. My question is: is there anyway
for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
certain files on the hard drive?

It is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor on an HP Pavilion a1730n.

I found lots of places on the internet where you can find the version
once the computer is booted, but I could not find any info on how to
tell when the system does not boot.

Thanks

-Brad

If it has a folder called "Program Files (x86)" besides the User, Windows,
and Program Files folders, than it was the x64 version of Vista..

<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
>I have a situation where I need to determine the version of Vista
> installed on a computer, but the computer has crashed and cannot
> boot. The recovery partition is scrabled and I am forced to use a
> generic OEM dvd to reinstall Vista. My question is: is there anyway
> for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
> certain files on the hard drive?
>
> It is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor on an HP Pavilion a1730n.
>
> I found lots of places on the internet where you can find the version
> once the computer is booted, but I could not find any info on how to
> tell when the system does not boot.
>
> Thanks
>
> -Brad
>

Most OEMs pre-load Vista 32-bit unless you specifically request 64 Bit.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...
>I have a situation where I need to determine the version of Vista
> installed on a computer, but the computer has crashed and cannot
> boot. The recovery partition is scrabled and I am forced to use a
> generic OEM dvd to reinstall Vista. My question is: is there anyway
> for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
> certain files on the hard drive?
>
> It is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor on an HP Pavilion a1730n.
>
> I found lots of places on the internet where you can find the version
> once the computer is booted, but I could not find any info on how to
> tell when the system does not boot.
>
> Thanks
>
> -Brad
>

<> wrote in message
news: ups.com...

>I have a situation where I need to determine the version of Vista
> installed on a computer, but the computer has crashed and cannot
> boot. The recovery partition is scrabled and I am forced to use a
> generic OEM dvd to reinstall Vista. My question is: is there anyway
> for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
> certain files on the hard drive?

c:/windows/inf
the inf files are text mode and a 32bit OS/machine
will typically show nt x86,
the better method is to download and install
dependency walker
http://www.dependencywalker.com/
Dependency Walker is a free utility that scans
any 32-bit or 64-bit Windows module (exe, dll, ocx, sys, etc.)

then open windows/system32/drivers
and look at it inside dependency walker..
should show under cpu...or copy one
of the sys files to a machine that has
dependency walker and look then.

the 64bit Vista loads only 64 bit drivers afaik

NT Canuck
'Seek and ye shall find'

Computer not booting.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)



"Gary Mount" <> wrote in message
news:4900E840-D007-4EE7-BFE1-...
> If it has a folder called "Program Files (x86)" besides the User, Windows,
> and Program Files folders, than it was the x64 version of Vista..
>
> <> wrote in message
> news: ups.com...
>>I have a situation where I need to determine the version of Vista
>> installed on a computer, but the computer has crashed and cannot
>> boot. The recovery partition is scrabled and I am forced to use a
>> generic OEM dvd to reinstall Vista. My question is: is there anyway
>> for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
>> certain files on the hard drive?
>>
>> It is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor on an HP Pavilion a1730n.
>>
>> I found lots of places on the internet where you can find the version
>> once the computer is booted, but I could not find any info on how to
>> tell when the system does not boot.
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> -Brad
>>
>

Computer not booting.

--

Regards,

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
(For email, remove the obvious from my address)



"NT Canuck" <> wrote in message
news:...
> <> wrote in message
> news: ups.com...
>
>>I have a situation where I need to determine the version of Vista
>> installed on a computer, but the computer has crashed and cannot
>> boot. The recovery partition is scrabled and I am forced to use a
>> generic OEM dvd to reinstall Vista. My question is: is there anyway
>> for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
>> certain files on the hard drive?
>
> c:/windows/inf
> the inf files are text mode and a 32bit OS/machine
> will typically show nt x86,
> the better method is to download and install
> dependency walker
> http://www.dependencywalker.com/
> Dependency Walker is a free utility that scans
> any 32-bit or 64-bit Windows module (exe, dll, ocx, sys, etc.)
>
> then open windows/system32/drivers
> and look at it inside dependency walker..
> should show under cpu...or copy one
> of the sys files to a machine that has
> dependency walker and look then.
>
> the 64bit Vista loads only 64 bit drivers afaik
>
> NT Canuck
> 'Seek and ye shall find'
>

"My question is: is there anyway
for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
certain files on the hard drive?"

Brad could launch Command Prompt in the System Recovery Options > type
C:\DIR and view the contents of the drive. Program Files and Program Files
x86 are always located at root of the drive.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry

"Richard Urban" <> wrote in message
news:%...
> Computer not booting.
>
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>
>
>
> "Gary Mount" <> wrote in message
> news:4900E840-D007-4EE7-BFE1-...
>> If it has a folder called "Program Files (x86)" besides the User,
>> Windows, and Program Files folders, than it was the x64 version of
>> Vista..
>>
>> <> wrote in message
>> news: ups.com...
>>>I have a situation where I need to determine the version of Vista
>>> installed on a computer, but the computer has crashed and cannot
>>> boot. The recovery partition is scrabled and I am forced to use a
>>> generic OEM dvd to reinstall Vista. My question is: is there anyway
>>> for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
>>> certain files on the hard drive?
>>>
>>> It is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor on an HP Pavilion a1730n.
>>>
>>> I found lots of places on the internet where you can find the version
>>> once the computer is booted, but I could not find any info on how to
>>> tell when the system does not boot.
>>>
>>> Thanks
>>>
>>> -Brad
>>>
>>
>

"Richard Urban" <> wrote in message
news:%...

> Computer not booting.
> --
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban
> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)

I'm sorry to hear that!

1. move the hdd to another machine and set it as slave.
2. use a WinPE/linux bootable CD to inspect the hdd/computer

NT Canuck
'Seek and ye shall find'

Doh! Computer not booting and not Vista disk. My bad.
--
Andre
Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
My Vista Quickstart Guide:
http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
"Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]" <> wrote in message
news:...
> "My question is: is there anyway
> for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
> certain files on the hard drive?"
>
> Brad could launch Command Prompt in the System Recovery Options > type
> C:\DIR and view the contents of the drive. Program Files and Program Files
> x86 are always located at root of the drive.
> --
> Andre
> Blog: http://adacosta.spaces.live.com
> My Vista Quickstart Guide:
> http://adacosta.spaces.live.com/blog...3DB!9709.entry
>
> "Richard Urban" <> wrote in message
> news:%...
>> Computer not booting.
>>
>> --
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Richard Urban
>> Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User
>> (For email, remove the obvious from my address)
>>
>>
>>
>> "Gary Mount" <> wrote in message
>> news:4900E840-D007-4EE7-BFE1-...
>>> If it has a folder called "Program Files (x86)" besides the User,
>>> Windows, and Program Files folders, than it was the x64 version of
>>> Vista..
>>>
>>> <> wrote in message
>>> news: ups.com...
>>>>I have a situation where I need to determine the version of Vista
>>>> installed on a computer, but the computer has crashed and cannot
>>>> boot. The recovery partition is scrabled and I am forced to use a
>>>> generic OEM dvd to reinstall Vista. My question is: is there anyway
>>>> for me to tell which version of vista was running on it by looking at
>>>> certain files on the hard drive?
>>>>
>>>> It is an AMD Athlon 64 X2 processor on an HP Pavilion a1730n.
>>>>
>>>> I found lots of places on the internet where you can find the version
>>>> once the computer is booted, but I could not find any info on how to
>>>> tell when the system does not boot.
>>>>
>>>> Thanks
>>>>
>>>> -Brad
>>>>
>>>
>>
>
>