from 32 to 64: now have some problems

My 1530 shipped with 32bit and I recently asked Dell and received the x64 disk. My first go at the installation I did an install of x64 and it turns out, according to dell, that I did a "diry" install (basically installed over old).

I did what was suggested; upon installation (reinstallation) I deleted all drives. I eventually spent the next few hours updating drivers and reinstalling software. Now I'm back to where I want to be with a few exceptions.

1. My computer doesn't restart. The "logging off/out" screen lingers, while the blue circle spins indefinitely. I have to push and hold power button to shut off. Upon restart, I get a windows wasn't logged off/shut down properly message. Any one else experience this? How do I fix?

2. My computer locates my wireless network, but the manual wi-fi swith turn wi-fi on and off, but it does not visually show me that it does/n't. Same issue with the search wi-fi button. Doesn' give me a que. No real issue considering I can connect. Any one else?

3. Since I didn't know that I had to create a recovery partition during reinstallation I don't have one. According to Dell it's too late to create unsless I want to go through the same process (I really don't). Is this true. How beneficial is it to create one. Should I start over and create one. I didn't create one for Media Direct as I was told its not compatible with x64.
Please advice.

Thank you all for you help.

 

Sounds like a corrupted Windows to me. I take it you want to install Windows Vista x64? I would just start from scratch. Forget about the recovery partition and format your hard drive with a clean copy of Windows. I hope you know how to do it. If not, let us know.

 

I'm currently running x64. I asked the Dell rep if I should format the drives. He suggested I delete them. Which is what I did; start from scratch. Is formatting the way to go? Shouldn't deleting all and having the OS crate new be the same if not better than formatting?

 

After pressing any key to boot from CD/DVD rom (Windows Vista x64), I usually delete the partitions, leaving with only one (unless you want to to split the drive), and then format it. Windows Vista does the formatting in seconds, I believe it is a quick format, but it's perfectly fine. Then install your Windows.

I think if you just delete the partition and click next to install Windows, it might be the same thing as what I mentioned above though. Give it a format and see if it works better. It doesn't hurt to try since Windows Vista installs fairly quick.

 

There's no such thing as a "dirty" install from 32-bit to 64-bit. The only way to change architectures is through a clean install. It is impossible to do it any other way.

The first few times Windows shuts down, it will take quite a while as it installs all the updated downloaded from Microsoft. This is normal.

If you didn't install all the drivers, or if a driver is different for x64, there's a good chance that "visual indicators" such as those for the physical wireless switch, don't work. Again, this is normal until you install all the proper drivers.

 

what did they charge you to switch to the 64 bit OS?

 

I have Vista 64, I delete, reformat, install. Otherwise, you're trying to install an OS into a RAW drive, not a formatted one. I don't know how much of a difference that makes, but whatever. I just reformat it.

 

I asked yesterday (ask someone at the Dell Community with "DELL-" appended before their name), received a reply yesterday and on top of that I got it shipped to me today. It is a "Reinstallation DVD Windows Vista Home Premium 64BIT SP1". I hope that's the right one. I'm impressed with Dell's service this time. BTW, I live in Texas, USA so I don't know whether they'll ship it overseas or how fast they would ship it overseas.

Hope that helps.

 

I'll have to agree with psygn. Dell customer service has been first-class lately; eager to help and find solutions. I didn't pay anything for the x64 disc; just connected via dell chat and asked them what my options were for switching to x64. Dell rep just said that he would be able to send me disk.

 

If you have Vista 32-bit installed and boot the Vista 64-bit disk for what would appear to be a "clean" install, it keeps some of the drivers and keeps all of the programs under /windows.old/