Laptop OS upgrade

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_Maximus_

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Hey guys

Have a couple of questions wrt reformatting my girlfriends laptop.

It currently has 32-bit Windows Vista Home Premium. If I upgrade to Windows 7, I suspect ill be forced to stay with 32-bit? Or is safe to upgrade to 64-bit version of Windows? What are the components that I should be checking for 64-bit compatibility?
It seems 64-bit programs are always easier to find and have less compatibility issues.

Also, will Windows 7 be able to pick up the various hardware components in the laptop? I am a bit anxious to upgrade as Im used to being able to just take things apart (desktop PCs seem much less complicated).

The laptop can be found here: http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe....RINT_WITH_BACK&service=UK&PRODUCT_ID=150171#0

NOTE: The laptop above is exactly the same EXCEPT the one im trying to upgrade has a ATI 3470. Im not sure if this should throw any spanners in the works?

Thanks for the help! :)
 
If it were me I wouldn't sweat going 64bit version unless your planning to run over 3-4Gb of ram in that laptop.
I've gone from 32bit to 64bit & there's no day/night differance.
ATI has drivers here for either so that's not a problem.http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx
You would need to check the processer is capable tho - http://www.lytebyte.com/2009/08/04/...essor-is-x86-32-bit-or-x64-64-bit-in-windows/

If you reformat the same HDD remember you'll loose any bundled software that came with it.
 
Tun@ said:
If it were me I wouldn't sweat going 64bit version unless your planning to run over 3-4Gb of ram in that laptop.
I've gone from 32bit to 64bit & there's no day/night differance.
ATI has drivers here for either so that's not a problem.http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx
You would need to check the processer is capable tho - http://www.lytebyte.com/2009/08/04/...essor-is-x86-32-bit-or-x64-64-bit-in-windows/

If you reformat the same HDD remember you'll loose any bundled software that came with it.
Click to expand...

Bundled software is a joke, but if you've got less than 4GB's of RAM stick with 32bit. If you have 4GB's it's worth it.
 
I would go 64-bit. Things like audio/video encoding/decoding is faster, compression/decompression (zip etc) is faster, encryption is faster etc.
 
Newer windows uses more than 2gig bytes of ram just on start up. I'm a bit skeptic about the OS (operating system) It could slow the laptop down...?

Thoughts anyone?
 
Tun@ said:
If it were me I wouldn't sweat going 64bit version unless your planning to run over 3-4Gb of ram in that laptop.
I've gone from 32bit to 64bit & there's no day/night differance.
ATI has drivers here for either so that's not a problem.http://support.amd.com/us/Pages/AMDSupportHub.aspx
You would need to check the processer is capable tho - http://www.lytebyte.com/2009/08/04/...essor-is-x86-32-bit-or-x64-64-bit-in-windows/

If you reformat the same HDD remember you'll loose any bundled software that came with it.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the heads up! The laptop currently has 3GB and I doubt more will be installed.
I tried looking up the processor but cant seem to use that site properly.
Intel mentions that the 'instruction set' is 64 bit - im guessing that means its 64 bit capable. Here: http://ark.intel.com/products/32427/Intel-Core2-Duo-Processor-T5550-(2M-Cache-1_83-GHz-667-MHz-FSB)

@ Nokkie - It already has Vista, and thats known to use a whole lot of resources. I doubt Win7 would be a downgrade in that sense, if anything it should be more efficient?
 
If the laptop could run Windows Vista with no problems, then it should be able to run windows 7 with no problems.

If your girlfriends laptop has more than 4GB of RAM and a 64-bit capable processor then you can go ahead and run 64 bit. Anything that has under 4GB of RAM is best to run 32 bit Windows.

Hardware will not be a problem, drivers should be available for windows 7. A lot of Windows Vista drivers still work on Windows 7 as well as very few Windows XP Drivers.
 
_Maximus_ said:
Hey guys

Have a couple of questions wrt reformatting my girlfriends laptop.

It currently has 32-bit Windows Vista Home Premium. If I upgrade to Windows 7, I suspect ill be forced to stay with 32-bit? Or is safe to upgrade to 64-bit version of Windows? What are the components that I should be checking for 64-bit compatibility?
It seems 64-bit programs are always easier to find and have less compatibility issues.

Also, will Windows 7 be able to pick up the various hardware components in the laptop? I am a bit anxious to upgrade as Im used to being able to just take things apart (desktop PCs seem much less complicated).

The laptop can be found here: http://uk.computers.toshiba-europe....RINT_WITH_BACK&service=UK&PRODUCT_ID=150171#0

NOTE: The laptop above is exactly the same EXCEPT the one im trying to upgrade has a ATI 3470. Im not sure if this should throw any spanners in the works?

Thanks for the help! :)
Click to expand...

1. You are not forced to stay with 32bit.
2. It is safe and recommended to upgrade to 64bit if the hardware supports it.
3. You need to check if the laptop has at least 2GB of ram.
4. Yes if the laptop is relatively new then drivers shouldn't be a problem. Always grab the lan/wireless drivers first before formatting just incase, then you will be able to use windows update for the rest.
5. Spanners won't help you with a laptop, maybe with a car.

If you are thinking of upgrading the OS instead of doing a fresh install then this will help you: http://mossblog.allthingsd.com/files/2009/08/windows-upgrade-chart.png

Nokkie said:
Newer windows uses more than 2gig bytes of ram just on start up. I'm a bit skeptic about the OS (operating system) It could slow the laptop down...?

Thoughts anyone?
Click to expand...

Only if you have 60+ startup programs then maybe. Fact is if the laptop has 2GB or more ram then put on a 64bit version, less than 2GB then 32bit.
 
Last edited:
NomNom said:
1. You are not forced to stay with 32bit.
2. It is safe and recommended to upgrade to 64bit if the hardware supports it.
3. You need to check if the laptop has at least 2GB of ram.
Click to expand...

Good to know! Thanks for the reply NomNom.
The laptop has 3GB of RAM, so ill be going for the 64bit version then - the CPU and Mobo are 64-bit compatible.

My only worry is the current BIOS will be 32-bit? Surely if the current OS is 32-bit then the BIOS should match.. Which means Id have to update the BIOS to a 64-bit version? Or is this not the case?
Im definitely not going to be messing with the BIOS. Dont want any mishaps with that.
 
Windows 7 x64 should work without any issues on your laptop.
I also have an old laptop (Dell Inspiron with Core2Duo T7200 CPU), that came with Windows XP (Vista compatible) and I've upgraded the RAM to 4GB and installed Windows 7 Home Basic x64. Unfortunately for me (and most likely for you too), you might not ever be able to use more than 3.25GB of RAM, even if you install a 64-bit OS due to the BIOS/RAM controller being limited to 32-bit.

The only problem that you might run into is that you'll hit a 3.25GB RAM limit, even if you're running a 64-bit application.
Even then, it is might still be worth it to run 64-bit operating systems - like virtual machines are faster, and a select few applications are only available in 64-bit versions (like Adobe CS5's After Effects).

I think you'll struggle to upgrade from Vista x86 to Windows 7 x64, due to the 32-bit/64-bit architecture difference, but installing a clean Windows 7 x64 would be easy.
If you're going to buy a Windows license for your laptop, then the Windows 7 Home Basic x64 should do just fine, unless you have to join a domain (this is different from a home workgroup). Home Basic is like under R700 if you get it on a special at Esquire.
 
Last edited:
_Maximus_ said:
Good to know! Thanks for the reply NomNom.
The laptop has 3GB of RAM, so ill be going for the 64bit version then - the CPU and Mobo are 64-bit compatible.

My only worry is the current BIOS will be 32-bit? Surely if the current OS is 32-bit then the BIOS should match.. Which means Id have to update the BIOS to a 64-bit version? Or is this not the case?
Im definitely not going to be messing with the BIOS. Dont want any mishaps with that.
Click to expand...

BIOS has nothing to do with what Windows bit you can or can not use.
 
Pada said:
I think you'll struggle to upgrade from Vista x86 to Windows 7 x64, due to the 32-bit/64-bit architecture difference, but installing a clean Windows 7 x64 would be easy.
Click to expand...

I would not advise an upgrade either, format and do a fresh install. BACKUP her data & email (remember the email usually lives in a different location than her data!!!)
 
NomNom said:
BIOS has nothing to do with what Windows bit you can or can not use.
Click to expand...

Awesome. 64-bit clean install it is!

Pada - the laptop is only running 3GB RAM anyway, so that wont be an issue. Good to know Win7 x64 should be fine.

Thanks everyone! :)
 
Last edited:
_Maximus_ said:
Awesome. 64-bit clean install it is!

Pada - the laptop is only running 3GB RAM anyway, so that wont be an issue. Good to know Win7 x64 should be fine.

Thanks everyone! :)
Click to expand...

Enjoy, just so we are clear the clean install with completely format the hard drive so you will lose anything you have not saved on a different Pc/laptop. Otherwise good luck and if you require anymore help you know where to ask.
 
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