Installing Vista 64bit Over XP32bit?

[WillyG4444 10+ year member]

Any knowledgeable people in here know if I'd run into any problems reformatting my hard drive and installing a Vista 64bit version over my existing XP 32bit version?

Reason for doing this is I don't have money for a new computer but would like some more performance, and I can't even run 4gb of RAM on the 32 bit XP version.

Or, would my best bet be to just get another internal hard drive and install Vista 64bit on there and start fresh? Would I run into any problems with my hardware drivers? Trying to weigh my options. Thanks. Laptop is a Dell E1505 if needed.

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[Shinju 10+ year member]

Dont do it, Copy all your files you need onto a DVD, CD or External HD. You want a Clean install of Vista 64.

Also make sure you have a 64bit proc before trying to install it otherwise it will not work.

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

I did, just get vista x86 drivers before hand.

 

[WillyG4444 10+ year member]

Dont do it, Copy all your files you need onto a DVD, CD or External HD. You want a Clean install of Vista 64.
Also make sure you have a 64bit proc before trying to install it otherwise it will not work.

I'm guessing I don't have one being that I have the 32 bit version of XP //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

 

[Twistid 5,000+ posts]

I'm guessing I don't have one being that I have the 32 bit version of XP //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/crap.gif.7f4dd41e3e9b23fbd170a1ee6f65cecc.gif

I have dual 64 bit processors in my laptop and it came with vista 32.

 

[bigaudiofanatic 10+ year member]

lol I got it willy,

To give you a heads up and to say sorry ahead of time. You will not be able to do this. Dell has encryption on there hardware that will only recognize the copy of windows xp that came with the computer. I have tried this and even tried to go back to an older version for some people. Dell will just not let you do it. Save yourself some trouble and just wipe the things clean with a fresh install and go from there. Or go to circuit city and buy a nice new one for like 300 bucks. There are ways around it but they do cause trouble and you can get errors like a mother.

 

[Shinju 10+ year member]

Yes you can run 32bit on a 64bit proc, Its called WoW Windows on Windows.

But you cannot run 64bit on a 32bit proc.

Not trying to sound like an *** but I work at MS and tested both Vista X86 and X64, You can install (upgrade) from XP.

But I can honestly tell you that Installing it that way will lead to problems down the road in OS performance, Vista is very picky as it is. I personally have had better performace out of a Clean install of both X86 and X64 vista.

I still use XP on my home PC. I'll wait till Windows 7 comes out if that tells you anything! //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/smile.gif.1ebc41e1811405b213edfc4622c41e27.gif

 

[WillyG4444 10+ year member]

lol I got it willy,To give you a heads up and to say sorry ahead of time. You will not be able to do this. Dell has encryption on there hardware that will only recognize the copy of windows xp that came with the computer. I have tried this and even tried to go back to an older version for some people. Dell will just not let you do it. Save yourself some trouble and just wipe the things clean with a fresh install and go from there. Or go to circuit city and buy a nice new one for like 300 bucks. There are ways around it but they do cause trouble and you can get errors like a mother.

What's up man lol **** the answer I didn't want to hear. Thanks though, I thought I'd run into some problems so I figured I'd ask before attempting

 

[bigaudiofanatic 10+ year member]

LOL ya get yourself a nice new computer from CC and call it a day. But ya both what I said and what Shinju said are correct. Hit me up if you need anymore help.(^_^)

 

[Atimm693 10+ year member]

lol I got it willy,To give you a heads up and to say sorry ahead of time. You will not be able to do this. Dell has encryption on there hardware that will only recognize the copy of windows xp that came with the computer. I have tried this and even tried to go back to an older version for some people. Dell will just not let you do it. Save yourself some trouble and just wipe the things clean with a fresh install and go from there. Or go to circuit city and buy a nice new one for like 300 bucks. There are ways around it but they do cause trouble and you can get errors like a mother.

I have an older Dell laptop that is not running the software it came with. //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif Maybe because it has a different hard drive?

 

[bigaudiofanatic 10+ year member]

Well it can be that but sometimes the bios has to be refreshed. Go into the bios by hitting delete or F1 or F10 dont remember exactly but once you get in there. You should see "reset optimal defaults" highlight that and when it asks you if you was to reset everything than say yes. Than find boot configuration and change the cd drive to the first one. Than restart the computer with the windows cd inserted. After that exit with saving changes when it asks hit any key to boot from cd do it. Than you should see your partition's if it tried to repair say no. delete all your part ions and when it shows only a un partitioned space highlight it and hit enter to continue that when it asks you what kind of format do a long one not the quick format. Than let it do the rest.

 

[WillyG4444 10+ year member]

http://http://www.xyhd.tv/2008/12/how-to/computers-pcs-and-macs/how-to-upgrade-from-32-bit-windows-xp-to-vista-64-bit/

Is that legit anyone?