Can I install a 64 bit Windows 7 over 32 bit Vista?

complete · Jan 10, 2010, 10:50 PM

Can I install a 64 bit Windows 7 on a computer that currently has a 32 bit version of Vista? I think that my hardware can handle a 64 bit Operating System. I tried to install a 64 bit version of Windows 7 but the installation program checked my current Operating System and stopped.

Is there any way to override this?

How can I make sure my hardware can handle the 64 bit OS? (I build this computer from scratch)

I do not think this will delete my hard drive. Will it?

Chaos · Jan 10, 2010, 11:00 PM

First thing to do is run this tool from M$ to see if you system can run Win 7. Upgrade from 32bit is not possible as far as I know so you would chose custom install and let the Windows DVD format and prepare your hard drive for the install..You may also not have to format in which case it will still do a fresh install but instead of formatting the drive it places your previous Windows install in a folder Windows.old or something to that effect

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...e-advisor.aspx

Optix · Jan 11, 2010, 01:50 AM

Chaos is correct. It's 32-bit to 32-bit and 64-bit to 64-bit. You can't mix and match.

Your only option would be to perform a fresh install. Here's hoping you didn't buy the 64-bit Upgrade edition.

gascieus · Jan 11, 2010, 02:59 AM

On a purely installation basis, you can installation 7 if there is enough space in your hard drive. You would partition your free space to form another partition, and then install Windows 7 on that new partition. You can then move your Vista stuff over once that's done (like your movie files, work, data stuff in general). But you cannot upgrade a 32 bit to 64 bit (or vice versa) like Chaos and Optix have said.

xProg · Jan 12, 2010, 05:58 PM

What CPU do you have ?

Jan 10, 2010, 10:50 PM	#1
complete HardwareHeaven Newbie Join Date: Aug 2005 Posts: 10 Rep Power: 0	Can I install a 64 bit Windows 7 over 32 bit Vista? Can I install a 64 bit Windows 7 on a computer that currently has a 32 bit version of Vista? I think that my hardware can handle a 64 bit Operating System. I tried to install a 64 bit version of Windows 7 but the installation program checked my current Operating System and stopped. Is there any way to override this? How can I make sure my hardware can handle the 64 bit OS? (I build this computer from scratch) I do not think this will delete my hard drive. Will it?

Jan 10, 2010, 11:00 PM	#2
Chaos Number Nine Join Date: May 2002 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 5,268 Rep Power: 167 System Specs	Re: Can I install a 64 bit Windows 7 over 32 bit Vista? First thing to do is run this tool from M$ to see if you system can run Win 7. Upgrade from 32bit is not possible as far as I know so you would chose custom install and let the Windows DVD format and prepare your hard drive for the install..You may also not have to format in which case it will still do a fresh install but instead of formatting the drive it places your previous Windows install in a folder Windows.old or something to that effect http://www.microsoft.com/windows/win...e-advisor.aspx __________________

Jan 11, 2010, 02:59 AM	#4
gascieus Under the Crimson Air Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: California Posts: 209 Rep Power: 25 System Specs	Re: Can I install a 64 bit Windows 7 over 32 bit Vista? On a purely installation basis, you can installation 7 if there is enough space in your hard drive. You would partition your free space to form another partition, and then install Windows 7 on that new partition. You can then move your Vista stuff over once that's done (like your movie files, work, data stuff in general). But you cannot upgrade a 32 bit to 64 bit (or vice versa) like Chaos and Optix have said.

Jan 12, 2010, 05:58 PM	#5
xProg Beatmaker Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Moldova, Chisinau Posts: 301 Rep Power: 31 System Specs	Re: Can I install a 64 bit Windows 7 over 32 bit Vista? What CPU do you have ? __________________ ¿ pɐǝɥ pǝuǝʞɹɐǝɥ ɥʇıʍ pɹıq ɐ ǝʞıl ƃuıʞool noʎ ǝɹɐ ʇɐɥM