Questions regarding "upgrading" from 32bit to 64bit Vista Adorialea <guest[ at ]unknown-email.com> 10/5/2008 3:52:49 AM I recently bought a new computer from NewEgg, and purchased Vista Home Premium. I didn't realize the 64bit software only came with Vista ULTIMATE, so I ordered the disc through Microsoft and I'm patiently awaiting it's arrival. In the mean time, my computer is sitting relatively unused until I get the disc, and I've plenty of time to stress about the upgrade. I have a couple questions regarding the process, and came across this forum to try and get some answers. Everything I've been reading has been somewhat conflicting, so I'd like to compile everything into a nice, easy to digest format. 1) I know I have to boot the computer with the 64bit disc installed, and give the CD drive priority over hard drive in my motherboard's BIOS. I'm interested in completely wiping my current version of Vista from my hard drive and starting completely fresh. When reading a tutorial about installing Vista, it mentioned "formatting" the hard drive. Will I have this option when going through the process of installing 64bit, and exactly what does it do? 2) I keep reading about "activating" Vista. I remember seeing on some window something about needing to activate within 30 days or something to that effect. I know I have to do it, but would it be better for me to wait and activate Vista AFTER I get the 64bit version installed? I'm really concerned things won't work out well. :cry: -- Adorialea

Re: Questions regarding "upgrading" from 32bit to 64bit Vista Brink <guest[ at ]unknown-email.com> 10/5/2008 4:27:35 AM Adorialea;852905 Wrote: > I recently bought a new computer from NewEgg, and purchased Vista Home > Premium. I didn't realize the 64bit software only came with Vista > ULTIMATE, so I ordered the disc through Microsoft and I'm patiently > awaiting it's arrival. In the mean time, my computer is sitting > relatively unused until I get the disc, and I've plenty of time to > stress about the upgrade. I have a couple questions regarding the > process, and came across this forum to try and get some answers. > Everything I've been reading has been somewhat conflicting, so I'd like > to compile everything into a nice, easy to digest format. > > 1) I know I have to boot the computer with the 64bit disc installed, > and give the CD drive priority over hard drive in my motherboard's BIOS. > I'm interested in completely wiping my current version of Vista from my > hard drive and starting completely fresh. When reading a tutorial about > installing Vista, it mentioned "formatting" the hard drive. Will I have > this option when going through the process of installing 64bit, and > exactly what does it do? > > 2) I keep reading about "activating" Vista. I remember seeing on some > window something about needing to activate within 30 days or something > to that effect. I know I have to do it, but would it be better for me to > wait and activate Vista AFTER I get the 64bit version installed? > > I'm really concerned things won't work out well. :cry: > > I may be answering my own questions here, but essentially I'm assuming > it's going to work like this: I boot the computer with the 64bit disc in > the drive, do a "custom" installation, format the hard drive (which will > wipe everything from it, and clear the registry) and install as normal. > After I get everything working (and make sure it'll stay working) I > activate Vista from... some random menu I can't find anymore but assume > is somewhere. Hello Adorialea, Yes, you will have the option of formating the hard drive during the installation of the 64 bit Vista. In fact, when you go from the 32 bit to 64 bit Vista, or the other way around, you must do a clean (formated) install with the other bit version. A format will wipe the hard drive to a clean blank state ready to have the other version of Vista installed. I do not know if you have a Upgrade or Full version of Vista, so these two tutorials will help show you how to do a clean install with either one. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/68767-clean-install-upgrade-vista.html or http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/117366-clean-install-full-version-vista.html If you will be installing the 64 bit Vista before the 30 day trial period is over, then you can wait to activate until afterwards if you like. If not, then it will not hurt to activate your current 32 bit Vista now if you like. If for any reason it will not activate for you, then this tutorial will help show you how to do a phone activation to get your Vista activated. http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84488-activate-vista-phone.html Hope this helps, Shawn -- Brink *There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.* '*VISTA FORUMS*' (http://www.vistax64.com) *Please post feedback to help others.*

Re: Questions regarding "upgrading" from 32bit to 64bit Vista Adorialea <guest[ at ]unknown-email.com> 10/5/2008 5:58:58 AM Thanks a lot. That helps calm my worries completely. I actually should be getting the 64bit software some time next week... well within the 30 day period for activation. Thanks again! :) -- Adorialea

Re: Questions regarding "upgrading" from 32bit to 64bit Vista Brink <guest[ at ]unknown-email.com> 10/5/2008 12:56:57 PM Your welcome Adorialea. -- Brink *There are no dumb questions, just the people that do not ask them.* '*VISTA FORUMS*' (http://www.vistax64.com) *Please post feedback to help others.*