Resolved Make WIN32 into WIN64

I have an older HDD which holds my wife's O.S. (Win10-pro/32) and which I would like to update to /64 to utilize more RAM than the 3.6 GB presently working. (will put 16 GB new in box when upgraded).

Would doing a new clean install of W10/pro do the trick? Will I be able to pick /64 when installing? I don't remember how that works or if I need a separate WIN10/pro/64 disc for that. I'm lucky I remember my own name some days.

I'd just loke to say (pfui!) on the whole rigamarole and go to WIN 11 with a RUFUS bypass, but she wants her WIN10 because she's "used to it" and doesn't wanna change. (I had the same problem with her when going from WIN7 to WIN10.

Hope that made sense!!

As always, thanks in advance, hope all had a good Holiday series!

 

New Year greetings to you. We will need to know a lot more about your wife's computer to advise your course of action.
What Make/Model/age or date of purchase. 64Bit compatible is Number 1 criteria.
Remember support for W10 will determine how much you will need to spend.

Your First check will be on your wife's comp.
Go to Settings > System > About > System type > if it says 32 bit operating system, x86-based processor, then your computer doesn't support windows 10 64 bit version. (CPU).

 

Definitely more research and information on her current computer is needed.

64-bit Windows has dominated the market, beginning with Windows 7. So it is a bit unusual it has 32-bit W10 on it now UNLESS it is a lower tier system that only, physically, supports 4GB of RAM installed. That was not uncommon.

If that is the case, this whole effort is a waste of time.

But even if it does support 64-Bit, you still need to determine the maximum size (and number) of RAM sticks it supports. Many older systems only support up to 4GB sticks. And if there are only 2 slots, then 2 x 4GB is your limit. Some systems may support more, but only after a BIOS firmware update.

You say it currently shows 3.6GB. That's actually a bit high, compared to the average. It "suggests" her computer has a separate graphics card. Is that true? Systems with "integrated" graphics steal... err... "share" a chunk of system RAM for graphics processing. This commonly results in the computer only having 2.8 to 3.2, maybe 3.4GB of available RAM.

Graphics cards come populated with their supply of dedicated RAM. So when a graphics card is installed, integrated graphics is disabled and that previously stolen... err... shared RAM is freed up and becomes available for the OS to use again.

My point is, if you are stuck with 32-bit, and there currently is not a graphics card installed, you most likely will be able to install a graphics card (even a budget model) and achieve a notable performance boost. This is due not just because the system has more available system RAM, but also because the card's GPU is likely to be a better performing processor than the integrated processor.

One caveat. Graphics cards are often the most power hungry devices in our computers. So, depending on what's in there now, adding a graphics card may require a bigger power supply.

Another option to help boost performance is to upgrade the hard drive to a SSD.

If it does come down to getting a new computer with W11 on it, and she is unwilling to go through the learning curve process, point out she can install Start11 on it. This really neat little program makes W11 look and feel very much (not exactly but pretty close) to W10, or even, if she prefers, W7. I use Start10 on this W10 PC. And I use Start11 on my W11 laptop to bring back the familiar W7 Start menu and desktop. For just a one-time cost of $6 for a lifetime license, it is well worth it. That said, it has a free 30 day trial period, giving plenty of time to check it out before spending any money.

 

Thanks, Guys!

OK: so I had a little "wiggle" in the Great Scone of things, and the old box is gone. Shut right down and wouldn't even try to restart. Luckily, I had gotten another HP small factor box and so pulled the old HDD and stuck it in the new one. It booted up as per usual (reeeeel slow) but runs all 'the usual suspects".

This board has (4) 4GB sticks of RAM, some USB 3.0 and 2.0 slots, an external 2TB ssd and that's it. Shows 3.17 GB usable installed memory, with 32 GB max memory capacity.
I installed and ran DoneMax Cloner and put the result on a 128GB thumb for preservation, just in case I manage to let the smoke out of this unit, and so, my apologies for possibility of misleading youse all, but I still have the original question of making this box be a WIN10/pro/64, so:

LEARNER: the processor shows 32-bit operating system, x64-based processor, so that answers that one,

BILL: Answers for you will be a bit more complex, if I can even understand where to get info.

Think this one also has an integrated video, certainly no additional card on MoBo.

If either of you would care to gimme som clues as to any specific info you want and where I can find it, fire away!

Haven\t had this much fun since I stepped on a ten-penny nail.

 

Not completely. The CPU supports 32-bit. That does not automatically mean the chipset (motherboard) does.

It is pretty easy to tell from the back if there is a card installed. If you look where the monitor connect to, if it connects in the rear I/O panel (same area where the mouse, keyboard, network and other connectors are located, that is integrated. If the monitor connects in a slot area to the right of the rear I/O panel (with computer case in horizontal position), that is a card.

There's no HP model number printed anywhere?

 

BILL: Yep, conncects in I/O panel, no card.
(FWIW, I have this one running in vertical position with cover off. I/O stuff to left side, so it's easy to determine card/no card.

Now, where can I find info on model number for you?

 

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us...hardware-f3bc0aeb-6884-41a1-ab57-88258df6812b
Using this MS tool will answer the question on whether your HP comp will be compatible.
If it meets the TPM requirements, I would change the HDD for the SSD to speed up the unit.
I think BelarcAdvisor will identify your comp and it's Hardware/Software components.
This is free for non-business use.

 

Just downloaded "SPECCY" to do further investigations and will get back as soon as I can consistently sit at desk.

Ain't gettin' old fun?

BELARC told me I have 4 sticks of 4MB RAM with 3.17 actually available, but not a lot more. Already ran the PC10 and PC11 health checks and, after the results stopped laughing at me, I figured I was in pretty bad shape.

 

Umm "IF" that is what it really said, then, for sure, Belarc is very confused and wrong.

4 x 4MB is only 16MB (as in megabytes). My Commodore 64 had 64MB and that was 40 years ago. And if you meant to say 4 x 4GB for a total of 16GB, and you are only showing 3.17GB available then there is a serious problem with your hardware, or you have 32-bit Windows installed.

 

I'm amazed that BelarcAdvisor is not giving you the info I get on my comps.
This Laptop is a Lenovo and Belarc tells me the Chassis numbers, Serial numbers, the Board details with Serial numbers etc.
I added 16GB of RAM to the original 4GB and it shows all that detail.
As Bill noted, Belarc tells me 19.79GB's of usable RAM.

 

IMO, the biggest problem with Belarc is its speed, or rather significant lack of it! But I've used it on countless computers over the years and it has always shown accurate information.

And while it does show my installed RAM in megabytes, it is in 1000s of megabytes:

32728 Megabytes Usable Installed Memory

Slot 'ChannelA-DIMM0' has 8192 MB
Slot 'ChannelA-DIMM1' has 8192 MB
Slot 'ChannelB-DIMM0' has 8192 MB
Slot 'ChannelB-DIMM1' has 8192 MB​

Although, interestingly, 4 x 8192 = 32,768 so not sure where the other 40MB went to. HWiNFO64, Task Manager, Speccy, CPUz all just say 32GB - so not very helpful there. I suspect it has something to do with an age-old debate and whether a programs sees a kilobyte as 1000 or 1024 bytes.

I note 8192/1024 = 8. And according to Corsair, those are 8GB sticks so I'm not going to worry about it.

Anyway, we wait for the return of the OP.

 

Well, still slogging thru Doctor's and the like, but indeed, this one has only two 2-gb sticks in it in posit 1 and 3. I'll update BELARC and SPECCY again to see what other info I can come up with, but need to replace power supply first.

Will continue to advise!

 

OK. I give up.
Got another PS and the unit just sat there. The fan spun but nothing else, so I presume that the board may be (censored) and, since it's architecture is in question, AND since I got discourage and a bought a new unit altogether, I shall consign this one to the tender mercies of the local Highschool's "Computer CLubbe" for their edification and enjoyment.

To all who replied and tried to help, Gong Xi fa choi, my thanks and apologies for delays in replying.

This thread is closed, Selah!