Migrating to Windows 7 64bit

Author
Discussion

James2593

Original Poster:

570 posts

136 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
I'm looking to upgrade my current 32 bit windows 7 to 64 bit, this decision has been looming for months now as I have 6gb of RAM, but due to being on 32 bit, the combined memory is only 4GB (3.25 usable).

As i'm now looking at doing more filming and editing with a Go pro, so I also need more storage space, I have 2 SATA HDDs (one 250GB and one 500GB). Windows and programs are installed on the 250GB and media is on the 500GB. I have been looking at getting a 2/3TB SSD, in order to (semi) future proof the storage. Due to the higher speed, the SSD would become the bootable disk, I would move windows to the new SSD and have the other two as media drives.

While i'm migrating the data to the new disk, I thought it best to upgrade to 64 bit windows 7 in the process, rather than backing up and restoring twice.

My processor is an AMD phenom quad core, which securable says will support 64 bit. My motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-M68MT, of which there appears to be no data on the compatibility of drives over 2TB, or 64 bit OS.

My plan is to (assuming new SSD drive has arrived by this point);

-Back up all data to my 1TB external HDD. Which program would be best? A free program is preferable.
-Install the new SSD into the machine
-Install windows 7 64 bit onto the new drive
-Restore the backup onto the drive
-If all is well, format the 250GB drive.

Forgive me, as i've never backed-up or restored back-ups. I have only done fresh installs.

Would the restore of the back-up create compatibility issues with the change from 32 to 64 bit?
Does a restore of a back-up transfer all installed programs and their shortcuts? or does it restore data and the programs have to be installed manually?


Sorry for the barrage of questions, but as I said, i've never backed up or restored a back-up before. This is something I need to get right, as it would be a right pain if something were to go wrong, so I want to make sure I know exactly what i'm doing and everything's compatible before I go ahead.

I think i've made it clear enough, but it's late so just ask and i'll clarify smile

lestag

4,614 posts

275 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
James2593 said:
I have been looking at getting a 2/3TB SSD
Really? what the price tag on one of those? or do you mean a SSD/HDD Hybrid drive.
What make and model did you buy?

gpo746

3,397 posts

129 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
Your right on track.

1. Install Windows 7 x 64 Bit
2. Install SP1 (if no SP bundled with it ie early version)
3. Install updates
4. Your mobo is pretty much standard so Windows will find devices easily enough
5. Your N Vidia chipset will install via windows and you can update anyway via n vidias site
6. Your mobo sound card will install as hi def device but you can download the actual realtek one easily enough

You will need to install software you use. I don't belive it will work directly from the back up if you get me
After the OS and various s/w is on you should be able to send everything back from your back up

James2593

Original Poster:

570 posts

136 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
lestag said:
Really? what the price tag on one of those? or do you mean a SSD/HDD Hybrid drive.
What make and model did you buy?
Ah yes, it's a hybrid of mechanical and SSD. I'm currently looking at http://bit.ly/Uxgcd9

Thanks gpo, glad to hear that i'm on the right lines smile

Randomthoughts

917 posts

132 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
lestag said:
Really? what the price tag on one of those? or do you mean a SSD/HDD Hybrid drive.
What make and model did you buy?
Got one of these on it's way over to me:



But somehow I don't think the OP means that smile

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
Use Windows built in backup, swap drives, restore backup to new machine by booting from W7 DVD and selecting Repair My Computer.

Doddle smile

Randomthoughts

917 posts

132 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
WinstonWolf said:
Use Windows built in backup, swap drives, restore backup to new machine by booting from W7 DVD and selecting Repair My Computer.

Doddle smile
Cos that's really gonna help migrate the OP from 32-bit to 64-bit Windows.

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
Oh buggery bks hehe

Then run an in place upgrade paperbag

Randomthoughts

917 posts

132 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
WinstonWolf said:
Then run an in place upgrade paperbag
Wash your mouth out!

WinstonWolf

72,857 posts

238 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
So the 'buggery bks' is fine, I get a redcard for running an in place upgrade? hehe

Martin4x4

6,506 posts

131 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all

You should increase your RAM, a 64bit OS will only gain it's legs at around 8GB and really come into its own at 16GB.

This will also reduce swapping to your SDD and increase it's life.

Randomthoughts

917 posts

132 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
Martin4x4 said:
You should increase your RAM, a 64bit OS will only gain it's legs at around 8GB and really come into its own at 16GB.

This will also reduce swapping to your SDD and increase it's life.
ste.

At 4GB you're not gaining anything unless you have a large amount of memory on your GPU. At 6GB you are getting benefit, and at 8GB you've largely exhausted that benefit on a home machine. Win8 x64 with 8GB RAM here and I've got around 8 Word docs open, Outlook, two Visio drawings, 16 IE tabs and 2 Chrome tabs, and I'm using 3.9GB of memory.

Randomthoughts

917 posts

132 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
WinstonWolf said:
So the 'buggery bks' is fine, I get a redcard for running an in place upgrade? hehe
Yeah, we all make mistakes but everyone knows that upgrades are suicide hehe

lestag

4,614 posts

275 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
1) get an external USB Disk
2) get a copy of Acronis True Image Home and back the esiting PC up to it as an image backup
3) Do a File backup with Acronis as well so you can easily pull files back you need
4) remove old disk
5) install new disk
6) Boot of Win7 64 bit DVD and do a fresh install
7) install all apps you need
8) restore files from file backup

If it all goes tits up, put old disk back in

theboss

6,878 posts

218 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
Agree RAM is dictated by application workload rather than OS architecture, I run plenty of x64 Win7 and server OS instances with 2GB perfectly happily. Of course its so cheap that, if in doubt, you can just bung another 8GB in without much outlay, but its not strictly necessary.

Don't worry about SSD wear... Unless you're planning to write tens of gigabytes every single day and object to the possibility that it may need to be replaced in the next decade.

OP there is no prospect of restoring installed apps from a backup when moving from x86 to x64 - you will only need to backup and restore your own files / user data. You will have to perform a fresh install of Windows and all your apps.

buggalugs

9,243 posts

236 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
Not possible to in pace upgrade x32 to x64 sadly,

This should help OP
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-GB/windows7/produc...


Berz

406 posts

191 months

Friday 25th July 2014
quotequote all
Randomthoughts said:
16 IE tabs
Wash your mouth out! biggrin