As someone who works in IT, perhaps I should be asking myself this!!
I am intending go from Win7 32 bit to Win7 64 bit. I know there is not a direct upgrade path between the two and that I will have to do a ‘clean’ install. I’m intending to install from USB (which is what I did when installing WIN7 32 bit on my self build back in 2010).
My questions are for those out there that have done this what pitfalls am I likely to come across ?
Most importantly, after reinstalling WD (as I assume I will have to do that, even though most of my software is NOT on my master/OS drive) will it work without any issues?
My printer & scanner (both HP) are both more both more than 5 years old, so I’m assuming I will have to find 64 bit drivers for these and have them ‘available’ for Win7 64 to find and install, (I suppose that should be if there are 64 bit drivers!)
I suppose I’m asking from those of you who have gone from 32bit to 64bit a bit of feed back on if/how painful #-o/ beautiful 8) the process was for you !!
I suspect you’re imagining problems that won’t occur, I have a 64 bit laptop and 32 bit desktop and netbook on W7 and everything seems to work with no particular intervention from me.
Your printer for example I guess Windows - if online - will simply find the suitable driver itself although you could try to hunt it out in advance.
Programs not compatible with 64bit will be installed in a second program files folder with (x86) tagged on it.
It can be a bit confusing at first as to where things have installed to.
As far as reinstalling WD make sure you follow the Moving WD to a New Computer FAQ.
As far as how everything will work, I can’t comment on WD as I haven’t taken that plunge yet, I have upgraded two machines to Win 7 and other than a couple of old applications that are not supported I didn’t have that much of a problem. On the Printer side I did have to get a new printer as at the time (maybe still) the Konica Minolta Printer i had did not have Win 7 support…
I had no problem when I built my current machine from scratch and surprising to me had no issues going from XP to Win7 - but obviously that was 32 bit to 32 bit. scouring the net for some guidance, there are a few folk who seem to have had trouble. I suppose that I only find few hits where problems have met should be a good sign rather than negative…
Probably be backing my drives tonight and take the plunge tomorrow!!
PC booted to my 64 bit install disc, which was created from an MSDN download (all above board, I add), but when I am given the option to Upgrade or new installation, selecting new install, i get an error dialog box which tells me to make sure the installation disc/files are accessible…I dont get any further.
I’m a victim of reading just before going to sleep! Oops. Just a thought… Might be worth formatting the disk first in case the installer is getting confused when it sees the existing 32 bit installation.
Yes Brian,
Downloaded as ISO and then burnt to DVD as an ISO image…
Hi Chris,
I’m trying to avoid reformatting the drive before the install, as just in this case, I want to be sure I could get back to a working PC in case of failure. It’s frustrating as as well as reading a few ‘problem’ installations, I’ve also read enough ‘went without a hitch’ experiences.
I’m going to ask the support lads at work today and see what they say.
Appreciate the input from here and any further ideas.
Not sure why I didn’t think of it before :oops: but I have a spare larger drive that I can use to do a clean install on. Hopefully doing that tonight !!
I was going to say - try a new unused HDD, load up old data files etc and add the older drive afterwards as a separate data drive for backup. Glad its all resolved
