W7 upgrade problem

My computer can support 64bit, and 32bit

Now, I'm run OS is Windows XP SP3 .
I'm use Version 5.1 (Build 2600.xpsp.080413-2111 : Service Pack 3

(Q1) any method can check my XP SP3 is "32bit" or "64bit" ?

(Q2) FROM "windows XP SP3" Upgrade TO "windows 7 ", need buy "Full Version, or "Upgrade Version" ?

(Q3) buy win 7 (32bit version) Ultimate. In future, if provide SP1, can selected "64bit" Ultimate, simple upgrade to 64bit and run 64bit?

(Q4) if computer can max support 64bit, running "32bit" , is no any error ?

(Q5) "32bit W7, 3rd software select 32bit products" ? "64bit W7, 3rd software select 64bit products "? , problem is "32bit W7, 3rd software can run 64bit products?


Please!

 

They sent me 32 bit and 64 bit discs

I just got my disc and the package had 2 discs. One is a 32-bit version and the other is 64-bit. An interesting point is that, while both discs say "Upgrade" on them, it says in very fine print in the pamphlet that comes with the discs, "Note: If your PC doesn't have an operating system currently installed, insert the Windows 7 installation disc before turning on your computer. Setup should start automatically ". I hope this information is helpful to you.

 

I ordered Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit upgrade. I had Vista Ultimate 64 bit. Windows as you say came with two disks. I used the 64 bit version. After atempting to do the upgrade, I kept getting error message. I called Microsoft and did a clean install, which required me to format hard drive. I was told not to enter the "key ". After it installed, I opened Computer/Properties, there was an option to actvate Windows 7, which I did. Complete clean install and activation using Up Grade version.

 

answer to Q1

Hi re Q1 : Q1) any method can check my XP SP3 is "32bit" or "64bit" ?

you can ascertain that spec via this website

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/827218

 

Just for a contribution, I'll post my experiences with this Vista/Win7 upgrade/clean install process. You gurus will probably be bored to death with this, but the sub-guru ranked computer duffers like me might get a little something out of it.... and I might hear something to help me with my problems, if I say enough to break some information loose.

I purchased Vista Ultimate 64 bit for my new Core i7 build. I received ONLY the 64 bit Win7 Ultimate installation disk, but since the intended machine has 6 gigs of RAM, I had no use for an unusable 32 bit version. So far, I'm not ready to upgrade my two XP machines to Win7. Maybe after the first SP release.

When I installed it, I wanted a clean install, since I had used my Vista OS for about two weeks and had quite a bit of backup material, and I'm sure, registry entries with stubbed toes. I tend to download and try freeware, and not all of it works. As with this entire Core i7 build, everything went very well, but I noticed that I have tons of occupied space on my hard drive.

Having not read the process used when upgrading, but choosing the "Custom" installation with a Vista upgrade... I ended up with a folder named "Windows old" with 128 gigs of "stuff "... my old Vista stuff, to be more accurate. It was simply a backup of my files that I had accumulated the two weeks I explored the "much maligned" Vista OS. I raided the folder for the things I wanted, saving the need to restore a lot of stuff from my CD and DVD backups.

I gotta say, here, iTunes makes it about as easy as it can be to restore a backup of your music files from a DVD backup disk burned right in iTunes. Apple is good for making some functions pretty easy to do. They just don't make it easy for us tinker-bums to build their computers. That's no fun.

So far, I'm a little underwhelmed with Win7, compared with Vista. Both have their problems with compatibility with some of the stuff I like to do on a PC, probably due to the 64 bit issue. But to be honest, XP and Win2k have their own share of problems... I'm running all of these, now, minus the Vista, but including a Mac Powerbook G4. I suppose, if I had a weaker computer, the Vista may have not been as spiffy on the performance side, but on this machine both Vista and Win7 seem to run about the same... which ain't bad... but not quite up to the hype I've read about Win7.

It seems that Windows operating systems get along with similar systems... Win2k and WinXP on one network seem to have problems, but with all Win2k or all XP, I have far fewer problems... minor problems, but they still exist.

Example: For some reason, my Vista and Win7 would only share a single folder with the network, but I could command the network from the Vista/Win7 computer.... just not from the others, including the Mac, which never seems to access the network like the Win machines.

The Homegroup function seems unusable for me... but I'm not a networking genius, that could all be my fault. My old network still shows up on the Win7 machine, and I have full access to it. But as I mentioned, only the Users folder is accessible to my XP machines... the Win2k machine is a utility machine and is not connected to my network or the Internet. I use thumb drives for communicating with the other machines.

This all probably seems quite complicated but for a retired (non-computer) systems troubleshooter, I have an idea it keeps my brain functioning and keeps me pretty busy. I never stop trying to fix the various minor problems, and whenever I have a small triumph, it's pretty satisfying.

All in all, the video, audio, and imaging work/play I do on my machines has been very much enhanced by the additions, upgrades, and repairs that have come from this most recent build.

I had one machine somehow locked in PIO mode and looking for an OS reload, but upgrading to a SATA optical drive broke that spell... I had another malfunctioning optical drive, so that SATA upgrade allowed the exchange of those two IDE drives, and that problem was fixed, as well. So when I need four burners to function at one time, I have them again.

All is well in the world and my Win7 problems are small by comparison to the other issues that were fixed. Not that I will stop working to fix the ongoing niggles and stutters that seem to plague all Microsoft and Apple products. You can take the man out of troubleshooting, but you can't take the troubleshooter out of the man.

 

to easytimes : i like your descriptive computer experience index definition

" sub-guru ranked computer duffers"

can I use that in my profile ?

btw - just a little secret : first the common knowledge, if a program or driver setup file does not install use compatibility mode - usually for XP era programs , XP sp2 is the best
now the secret , if a program etc still does not install, go into the expanded program file folder for that program or for a driver, the decompressed file folder and set each application (exe) file to the same compatibility mode

99/100 times this will now work

I have install windows 7 beta on PII era 440 family chipset computers and first model multi-function printers, run win95 era benchmarks using this method

the other little secret is you can - or seem to be able to - set computability mode for setup files run from a dvd or cd disk
(not idea how but does work - although some will still need to be copied onto the desktop)

The older the system , the more "duffwork" is required - but most devices can be installed

 

Thank you

Btatchell, thank you for this, I'll be installing my Windows 7 upgrade soon (possibly tomorrow?) and will keep this in mind if I run into problems. Take care.