Windows Vista 32-bit to 7 64-bit

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TBone01

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I will be going from Windows Vista 32-bit to Windows 7 64-bit in the next week or sooner. I got a few concerns/questions about backing up data; I have a ~14GB hard drive to back-up onto, it already has a back-up(courtesy of Windows backup and restore center) from about a week ago and not everything fit onto it. I want to know if windows will leave a ?windows.old? file on my hard drive after the install of win7, regardless I want to back up certain things:

- Music(5.5GB), pictures(2.7GB), and documents(200MB)*
- Gmod(2GB)* and Miscellaneous(1.3GB) plugins
- Source sdk maps
*can get rid of

I can compress those files manually (7-zip or rar) onto the hard drive, but I also want to know if there is any automatic software that comes with the win7 installer or I can download.

Normally all of the stuff I mentioned would be a problem if I was going from 32bit to 32bit, but I am 32->64. lol
 
My suggestion would be to purchase some sort of backup drive...internal or external - and manually backup all of the files you want to save (documents, music, pictures, etc). Heck, everything you mentioned will fit on a decently sized thumb drive, but HDs are fairly inexpensive right now and you're going to want something that you can continually backup to later anyway.

Then, format your drive and start with a FRESH INSTALL of Windows 7. I'm pretty sure you can't upgrade anyway since you're going from 32bit - 64bit (don't quote me on that), but don't do the thing where you just install over top the old version. Do a clean install on a freshly formatted HD and everything will be MUCH smoother in the long run.
 
I have upgraded from XP 32-bit to Windows 7 64-bit and it does indeed work. It will leave the files from the previous Windows in a folder called Windows.old provided you don't reformat the hard drive.

Are you using the Windows 7 upgrade disc? If so, upgrading from Vista should leave your folder structure intact.
 
I agree with Tykael, it's best to backup your data on a thumb drive or external USB hard drive, then format the hard disk and then install Windows 7. Even though Windows 7 is pretty much awesome, it's still Windows... and the small benefit you gain by "upgrading" isn't worth it. Just copy your data somewhere and install Windows 7 on a freshly formatted hard drive, that way you know you're not going to deal with any issues with the previous OS.
 
Ok, so I should use my 4gb flash-drive and the 14gb hard drive in conjunction and do a fresh install? (all for the formating of my main hard drive(286GB)

The 14GB is an old IDE drive that I pulled out of an old computer, and formated. I also have a 3GB hard drive... but it's not worth setting up the jumpers lol

the real reason I need the 14gb is to backup some stuff from other games i have, which quickly adds up to a lot.
 
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You shouldn't backup any applications or games, only data(music, pictures, documents, etc).

You will need to reinstall any games you play or applications you use.
 
chapped said:
You shouldn't backup any applications or games, only data(music, pictures, documents, etc).

You will need to reinstall any games you play or applications you use.
Click to expand...
I meant like the mods, that I can't find any more, but yeah just data
 
trykael said:
My suggestion would be to purchase some sort of backup drive...internal or external - and manually backup all of the files you want to save (documents, music, pictures, etc). Heck, everything you mentioned will fit on a decently sized thumb drive, but HDs are fairly inexpensive right now and you're going to want something that you can continually backup to later anyway.

Then, format your drive and start with a FRESH INSTALL of Windows 7. I'm pretty sure you can't upgrade anyway since you're going from 32bit - 64bit (don't quote me on that), but don't do the thing where you just install over top the old version. Do a clean install on a freshly formatted HD and everything will be MUCH smoother in the long run.
Click to expand...

What he said.
Just to confirm Trykael, you can not upgrade from a 32bit to a 64bit, two different architectures. You're going to need to format your hard drive, if that is the case.

While the 32-64s have ups, they also have downs.
64bits sometimes don't get the "full potential" of software.
For instance, when I used Avast! Anti Virus Scanner 5, I could not do a boot-time scan due to the fact I run a 64bit.
"Hard" cleaners, so to speak, like ComboFix do not work(as of this post) on the 64bits.

Just be careful of which architecture you choose and know why you chose it.
 
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Toasteddude said:
I have upgraded from XP 32-bit to Windows 7 64-bit and it does indeed work. It will leave the files from the previous Windows in a folder called Windows.old provided you don't reformat the hard drive.

Are you using the Windows 7 upgrade disc? If so, upgrading from Vista should leave your folder structure intact.
Click to expand...

XP to Windows 7? I thought for sure that wiped your files...
 
Ok, everything 7-zipped up nicely (about 60% compression ratio) and i'm about to start moving it onto the 14gb.

.lua files go all the way down to 8%! lol

Ric said:
While the 32-64s have ups, they also have downs.
Click to expand...
The main reason i got 64bit is so that i can use my 3gb of ram and the 1gb on my gpu. As far as the limitations, my neighbor has 64-bit 7 and hasn't found any conflicts yet with the software he uses (same as me).

Your also awesome for using avast btw :)
 
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FYI, a Windows 32bit OS will see up to 3.5GB of RAM and will see GPU RAM no problem.
 
chapped said:
FYI, a Windows 32bit OS will see up to 3.5GB of RAM and will see GPU RAM no problem.
Click to expand...

You can rig up XP to function quite like 7 with a few tools. I've got full Aero functions, DirectX 11, and most other features I find nice about 7 on my XP SP3 box.
 
Prisoner416 said:
XP to Windows 7? I thought for sure that wiped your files...
Click to expand...

When upgrading from XP, it put the files into C:\Windows.old and none of the installations were kept intact. Just the files remain.

When I upgraded my laptop from Vista to 7: all files remained, no programs were uninstalled.
 
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