Windows Upgrade to 64-Bit

Ok, so here's my problem. I want to upgrade to the 64-bit edition of Windows Vista but I'd have to do a clean install. Here's my question: can I just copy all my files, program and documents onto an external hard drive, then install vista and copy them back? My main concern is would they all still work? I've done the same type of thing before whith copying the program files folder to another drive and back again w/o any problems but that was without changing operating systems.

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Also, in the event that this wouldn't work, does anyone know of good backup software that even backs up program files

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RonLugge

Join Date 05/2004

+50

When going from 32 bit to 64 bit I would strongly reccomend reinstalling everything from scratch! The 64 bit version of Vista/Windows 7 splits programs up into program files and "program files (x86)" -- between 64 bit compatable, and 32 bit based programs. I don't know that this is actually necessary, but I doubt they'd go to that much trouble for a mere 'bookkeeping' issue.

That said, I'd probably make that recommendation pretty strongly even for a regular backup -- a lot of programs have been designed to 'hook' into the registry for this, that and the other. I don't like that design, but you have to live with it.

Backing up documents and files should be pretty easy though.

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starkers

Join Date 05/2004

+1153

I upgraded to Vista x64 but performed a drive refomat and clean install on a seperate drive to my 32 bit Vista installation altogether.... so I could dual boot for anything that wasn't x64 compatible. If you have the drive space this is not a bad way to go, though storing your important documents, music and videos, etc, on a seperate drive again is always advisable, and can be accessed from both OSes.

However, if you do go the upgrade route, while your personal files and etc will be preserved, I think that you'd find you will have to reinstall all your programs, otherwise they won't work properly in the new OS environment.

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Different registry - There are a Wow6432Node keys too...

e.g.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Wow6432Node

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All right guys, thanks for the info, it looks like it'd just be best to reintstall the other programs. Thank god I already began installing on my external drive.

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