Upgrading my PC

DonDaddyD

I have a 32bit version of Windows 7.
I want a 64bit operating system and would be willing to upgrade to either Win 7 or 8 64bit.

Can I use this or is it just a Windows 8 overlay installed ontop of 7 so if I have the 32bit I'll be stuck with that. Is the only way to fully upgrade to a 64bit operaing system to go for the full version?

Thanks in advance, and happy new year.

daddy0

Google is your friend :-)
http://www.zdnet.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-windows-8-upgrades-faq-part-2-7000008775/

If I were you I'd get the DVDs and boot off of the 64 bit one and do a fresh install. Should avoid any complications. Backup all your files to another hard disk first of course.

SteppenHerring

1. Is your hardware actually 64bit?
2. Don't use Windows 8
3. Don't try to upgrade 32 to 64. As D0 says, back it all up (which you do anyway, right?) and reinstall from scratch. Then if you do have incompatible hardware or summat goes wrong you can revert
4. Don't use Windows 8
5. Actually Windows 8 might suit you

DonDaddyD

What's wrong with Windows 8?

I have a:
Phenom x2 965 (3.4 or so GHZ)
AMD radeon HD 6750
Either 16 or 32gb ram I forget (only 4 is available under the 32bit operating system)
1tb hard disc.

Its stupid that I have 32bits. But moving from XP was a huge step for me and I'm still not convinced Win 7 is better.

I

Kieran_Burns

DonDaddyD wrote:

What's wrong with Windows 8?

I have a:
Phenom x2 965 (3.4 or so GHZ)
AMD radeon HD 6750
Either 16 or 32gb ram I forget (only 4 is available under the 32bit operating system)
1tb hard disc.

Its stupid that I have 32bits. But moving from XP was a huge step for me and I'm still not convinced Win 7 is better.

I

Wafurgle...... :shock:

Windows 7 64-bit is fine, just do it. Clean install and you'll be well away.

Don't do Windows 8.

16Gb? Really? 8 maybe... I doubt 16 or 32 on any home pc

DonDaddyD

Kieran_Burns wrote:

DonDaddyD wrote:

What's wrong with Windows 8?

I have a:
Phenom x2 965 (3.4 or so GHZ)
AMD radeon HD 6750
Either 16 or 32gb ram I forget (only 4 is available under the 32bit operating system)
1tb hard disc.

Its stupid that I have 32bits. But moving from XP was a huge step for me and I'm still not convinced Win 7 is better.

I

Wafurgle...... :shock:

Windows 7 64-bit is fine, just do it. Clean install and you'll be well away.

Don't do Windows 8.

16Gb? Really? 8 maybe... I doubt 16 or 32 on any home pc

Yep, 16gb, I bought 2 lots of these - I built the PC myself. T'was my Online gaming rig before the kid was born.

dhope

Windows 7 is better than XP. Windows 8 is faster than 7, whether it's better is down to what you think of the UI.
If you can stick stuff you want to keep on another disk and do a clean install then all the better.

Actually, what really would make sense is to spend another 60 quid and get a 128GB SSD then stick Windows 8 on that. Honestly, it'll fly by comparison. Do it.

DonDaddyD

dhope wrote:

Windows 7 is better than XP. Windows 8 is faster than 7, whether it's better is down to what you think of the UI.
If you can stick stuff you want to keep on another disk and do a clean install then all the better.

Actually, what really would make sense is to spend another 60 quid and get a 128GB SSD then stick Windows 8 on that. Honestly, it'll fly by comparison. Do it.

The clean install seems to be the best way forward. So now I need to acquire a 64bit 7 or 8 disc.
I will get one of them fandangled SSDs in time, probably the next PC build though. (Unless my rig can't handle Guild Wars 2 and/or Elder Scrolls Online, which will mean PC replacement will become second on my list - top is pre-resevered for whatever lil'un wants).

vermin

Hindsight says check compatible driver availability for all your peripherals before switching to 8. I've lost the ability to connect to my bluetooth music receiver. :roll:

hegyestomi

I would also recommend one SATA3 SSD (if your mobo can handle it), it can give you a boot under 15sec.
Also there is an extension for Win7 32 bit to use all the memory available, google it.
Can only use 4GB/ running application but in my opinion that is plenty.

dhope

DonDaddyD wrote:

dhope wrote:

Windows 7 is better than XP. Windows 8 is faster than 7, whether it's better is down to what you think of the UI.
If you can stick stuff you want to keep on another disk and do a clean install then all the better.

Actually, what really would make sense is to spend another 60 quid and get a 128GB SSD then stick Windows 8 on that. Honestly, it'll fly by comparison. Do it.

The clean install seems to be the best way forward. So now I need to acquire a 64bit 7 or 8 disc.
I will get one of them fandangled SSDs in time, probably the next PC build though. (Unless my rig can't handle Guild Wars 2 and/or Elder Scrolls Online, which will mean PC replacement will become second on my list - top is pre-resevered for whatever lil'un wants).

If you were just getting a small SSD, 60GB or 120GB then it'd just be for the OS. It makes an huge difference to general PC use though. Far moreso than a CPU or memory update. CPU and GPU for games, SSD for Windows.
They're not newfangled anymore at all, it's well into the reasonable pricerange, I got a 60GB one a couple of years back for about £200, they're about 30 quid now...

Kieran_Burns

and if your build disc is on a USB / SSD the install takes minutes. It really is blinding.

I'd recommend a SSD myself. build with just the SSD in then reconnect the existing 1Tb disk. Although again: tbh discs are so damn cheap nowadays I'd just buy a 1 / 2Tb disk as well. Keep the old 1Tb as the back up and migrate the data across.

Daz555

SteppenHerring wrote:

1. Is your hardware actually 64bit?
2. Don't use Windows 8
3. Don't try to upgrade 32 to 64. As D0 says, back it all up (which you do anyway, right?) and reinstall from scratch. Then if you do have incompatible hardware or summat goes wrong you can revert
4. Don't use Windows 8
5. Actually Windows 8 might suit you

Intel and AMD have not released desktop/laptop 32bit processor since about 2005 iirc.

You can't upgrade from 32bit to 64bit Windows even if someone wanted to, so a clean install is the only option.

Nowt wrong with Windows 8 - assuming all your hardware and software works with it. It is so similar to Windows 7 however that compatibility problems are rare - much rarer than XP to Vista upgrade for example.

Kieran_Burns

cough

and

cough again

or 64Gb ssd: here £47

bushu

Clean install of Win 7 or linux x64.. don't entertain windows 8!

dhope

bushu wrote:

Clean install of Win 7 or linux x64.. don't entertain windows 8!

Windows 8 is fine, depends if you want to trade off a slightly different/crap start menu for a slightly faster OS

asprilla

I love windows 8. The UI is great if you have a touch screen or multi-touch trackpad.

I've got it on a Samsung Series 9 Ultrabook and I wouldn't go back to 7 or OSX.

Ouija

Buy a small SSD, stick windows 7 on it. It will automatically detect and create a start up menu when you boot allowing you to boot into Windows 7 or your old XP. That way, there's no need to backup and you've still got your old XP while your acclimatizing to Windows 7.

cookdn

DonDaddyD wrote:

I have a 32bit version of Windows 7.
I want a 64bit operating system and would be willing to upgrade to either Win 7 or 8 64bit.

Can I use this or is it just a Windows 8 overlay installed ontop of 7 so if I have the 32bit I'll be stuck with that. Is the only way to fully upgrade to a 64bit operaing system to go for the full version?

Thanks in advance, and happy new year.

Microsoft have an offer on the download version. The 'upgrade' to Windows 8 Pro is £25 until 31 January (no checking of validity, you can use it for a clean install). I bought one and they simply email a installation key on payment. More details here.

SteppenHerring

Asprilla wrote:

... The UI is great if you have a touch screen or multi-touch trackpad...

And if you have a nice dual monitor setup that isn't touchscreen then it's crap.

asprilla

SteppenHerring wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

... The UI is great if you have a touch screen or multi-touch trackpad...

And if you have a nice dual monitor setup that isn't touchscreen then it's crap.

Get a trackpad or a touch mouse then. I've got a wedge mouse; I was expecting to hate it but its really good.

Mikey41

The more I use Windows 8, the more I actually like it. However... it is a massive change in operation over Windows 7, and driver compatibility is not 100% there yet.

Unless the OP is running a Netbook with an Atom CPU, the system will be 64bit, but since an awfull lot of software is still only 32bit, you might not see much benefit.

Also, you would need to increase RAM. 32bit requires 2Gb minimum, 64bit requires 4Gb.

Daz555

SteppenHerring wrote:

Asprilla wrote:

... The UI is great if you have a touch screen or multi-touch trackpad...

And if you have a nice dual monitor setup that isn't touchscreen then it's crap.

Considering it only costs £25 to upgrade and can be turned into a virtual Windows 7 clone with a few tweaks it doesn't make much sense to buy Windows 7.

daddy0

Windows 8 is fast, and SSDs are fast too. If you want your PC to be as fast as possible then get both.

I got these for the last bunch of PCs I built for work 18 months ago:
http://www.scan.co.uk/products/120gb-corsair-force-series-3-25-ssd-sata-iii-6gb-s-sandforce-2200-nand-read-550mb-s-write-510mb-s-85
They did have issues and needed updated firmware, but one would assume that this issue has now been resolved. The drives are quick and make using Windows feel much snappier.

Win 7 Vs 8 - I use both on my work PCs (both have SSD drives). If you prefer the Win 7 start menu then you can get Start8 for $5:
http://www.stardock.com/products/start8/download.asp

I'm thinking about putting Windows 8 on my media centre PC at home, would be good with something like this to control it:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Logitech-T650-Wireless-Rechargeable-Touchpad/dp/B00969DLL6/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1357652833&sr=8-2

notsoblue

I have Win8 on an SSD and its awesome. SSD's are the best investment you can make in your PC's performance. Cheap now too.