New laptop came with Home Premium 32

http://h10025.www1.hp.com/ewfrf/wc/...3897&cc=us&dlc=en&lc=en&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Got the dv6636nr laptop for Christmas. I was looking into buying some more RAM, so my games are less choppy. While researching, I learn that the RAM gets shady as it approaches 4GB in the 32 bit vista OS.

I was wondering if I had 32 bit OS. I assumed I did, because I had a 64 bit processor (AMD64). To my amazement, my computer is running the 32 bit Home Premium.

I then embarked on a journey of upgrading. I have only met disappointed, as it seems impossible to directly upgrade to a 64 bit version.

Is it possible to upgrade from my x32 to a x64, without buying a totally new copy of Vista?


And, another question. Possible to downgrade to a 64 bit version of XP? How hard is it?

 

64bit versions have pretty bad driver support, so I don't think it's worth it to upgrade just to get the RAM benefits. Most people run 4gb under 32bit home premium fine.

 

And XP SP3 & Vista SP1 fix the RAM issue.
You can download the RC1s right now.

 

The video card isn't super good though. I've been getting chop on CS:S, Garry's Mod, and similar games on the low settings. Will an additional 2GB help fix that? I've been reading that you lose like .5-1.25 GB when you expand to 4.

It was also curiousness as to if this was possible, along with wanted RAM benefits

 

Well, you can recognize the 4GB of RAM, but I don't think you can utilize it still. From my understanding, a 32bit OS can only address a max of 4GB of RAM in a system, but this includes any and all RAM, such as RAM on a dedciated GPU.

As has been said, 3GB is fine for running Vista, even when gaming.

 

Also, to answer my original question, is it possible to upgrade 32 to 64?

 

As in with an upgrade disk? Not sure
@ mark-I wondered about that as well.

 

It's not possible to upgrade a 32 bit verison directly to a 64 bit version. You have to install the 64 bit os first.

 

So, in order to install a 64 bit OS, would you need to wipe your old OS and reinstall a new one?

What are the ways without directly doing it?

 

That's the only one.

 

Hope this explains you more
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932795

 

Alright, thanks for your help everyone. Definitely not worth upgrading, unless they come out with another way. Seems a little dumb to install a 32 Bit OS on a 64 bit processor IMO.

So, I CAN upgrade directly? Getting confused . Are there upgrade DVDs?

 

Nope you can do it. Read the microsoft article I posted before.

 

Yes you can order the 64 bit upgrade dvd.

 

Are there cheap upgrade DVDs?

Edit: Damn you! You keep posting my answers beforehand.


Thanks

 

You can get one from here (in 2-3 weeks) for $7
https://na.windowsanytimeupgradestore.com/WAU_DIRECT/Purchase.aspx

You can also get the disk from compusa.

 

That website wants to upgrade me to Ultimate for $159.

 

Just remove it and buy only the disk.

 

The 32 bit or 64 bit one?

 

That's your wish. I have no idea in upgrading a 32 bit version to a 64 bit one. I did a clean install of 32bit home premium using the upgrade dvd.

 

Oh...that was my problem in the original post...upgrading 32bit to 64bit.

 

64 bit!!! Isn't that the one you're trying to get?!?

A little terminology is in order here:
Upgrade = Takes your existing installation an migrates all of your settings to the new installation. If you're going from Home Premium to Ultimate, for example, it just installs the extra components that makes is "ultimate". You don't need to reinstall all of your programs.

Clean install = Installing the OS without migrating over your settings. You need to reinstall all of your programs.

When you are going from 32bit to 64bit, it is NOT an "upgrade". It is a lateral move. You are at the same level. HOWEVER, a 64bit system is a totally different architecture, so it cannot migrate the settings from a current install. That's why you must do a "clean install".

 

The Vista SP1 X64 DVD will be able to upgrade from 32bits XP/Vista though.

But if you do not want to wait you must do a clean isntall, wich isn't a bad idea when you know how much your preinstalled Vista might be messed up

 

Wow, I was confused for a second. So I can do a totally new install of Vista Ultimate 64 bit for $7? Do I just pop it in the DVD tray and let it go? This seemed a lot easier than I imagined. When everyone said 'clean install,' I pictured:

1. Wiping hard drive
2. Buying Vista for $160
3. Installing Vista


This is much easier


Do I do Home Premium or Ultimate? Should I just stick with the one I already have?

 

Yes but you use orev's guide though, since you probably won't be able to activate the x64 edition otherwise

 

I have the Vista activation key on the bottom of the laptop. That won't work?

 

NO, YOU CANNOT INSTALL ULTIMATE FOR $7.

The disc you are buying is just a disc and has no license. The only thing that will allow you to install a version other than the one you already have is a license for the new version. That's what is going to cost you $100+.

If you want to switch from 32bit to 64bit, you don't have to wipe the hard drive, but you will haev to reinstall everything. That is unless JCMS's information is correct, and you might be able to wait a few weeks and then do a switch.

 

So I don't need a license? And what exactly does your guide bypass? Wouldn't it be easier just to activate online?

And the Vista 64 bit DVD would cost more than the Anytime Upgrade disc, yes?

Heh, I must look like a noob.

 

It has already been activated once, you will need to do a phone activation. OEMs are one architecture only, so you won't be able to reactive the x64 edition unless you follow his guide

The upgrade anytime disk is the same disk that comes in the $500 retail box.

I'm not 100% about the ugprade but I remember readin that in the "to come" section of the SP1 RC release note

 

So I follow his guide, and don't need a phone activation?

 

There are 2 things you need to run Vista:
- Installation media
- License

The installation media is just files on a DVD, and a DVD does not cost a lot of money. A license is "permission" to use those files, and that costs a lot more. When you bought your laptop it already came with a license, so you already have one. If you pay $160 for Vista, just to get the install files, you also get another license, which you don't need.

The license specifies what version (SKU) of Vista you are allowed to use (Premium, Ultimate, etc...), but it does not care what architecture you use (32bit, 64bit). So if you already have Home Basic 32bit, you can install Home Basic 64bit because the license only looks at "Home Basic".

It works a little differently than that. It comes preactivated out of the box, but it's activated to a different license key that HP uses to make installations easier. If you use the key on the sticker, it's different and marked by Microsoft for "call to activate".

Right, because my ABR tool saves both the product key and the activation that came on your computer from the factory. This allows you to restore the activation later without calling MS.

 

Awesome, thank you for clarifying. I'm trying to make recovery discs now, says there was an error in making them though =/

 

For best results use DVD+R discs (plus). HP doesn't support DVD-R discs for recovery discs. (they might work if you're lucky, but not supported).

 

It worked the second time...should I redo it on DVD+R?

 

No, if it worked and verified, it should be fine.

 

If you can do this Microsoft will filing for bankruptcy very soon.

 

Why are so focussed on the 64bit vista anyway? Are you really going to work with some high speed applications which make use of the 64 bit architecture?

 

Maybe I'm a very curious person, and like tinkering with/changing things