Upgrading x32 Vista to Windows 7 x64 and keeping all files

Zeuzzz · 12th August 2009, 08:57 AM

Can you do this? Because I want to start using my full 4 gig of memory on a 64 bit system but I dont want to have to loose all the data on my hard-drive. I have the windows 7 iso image burnt ready onto a DVD but am scared to start installing incase once I install it it will wipe some of my files.

Should I have any problem doing this or not?

stup_id · 12th August 2009, 09:14 AM

I've never tryed myself, mainly because i'm a great fan of clean installs, but when you get into the instalation menu, one of the options is "keep all your files of your former windows install" and it mentions that all your former files are going to be kept in som folder renamed "c:\windows-old\" or something like that, I guess you'd have to ask someone who has done it if it did work, but the option is indeed available

dtugg · 12th August 2009, 09:16 AM

You can't upgrade from x86 to x64. You have to do a clean install. However, if you do that, it will put all the old stuff in a folder called windows.old. You can then move them over. You can also use Windows Easy Transfer to restore files and settings. Start the wizard in Vista before you install 7 to back everything up, and then start it in 7 to restore.

No matter what you do, you will have to install all your programs over again.

Zeuzzz · 12th August 2009, 09:57 AM

Okay thanks, I've decided to burn all essential files to DVD aswell as using the vista restore backup option, just incase.

How do I go about a clean install? I know I've got to uninstall vista completely, but do I have to do this in vista? or does it give you this option when installing windows 7?

dtugg · 12th August 2009, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by Zeuzzz

How do I go about a clean install? I know I've got to uninstall vista completely, but do I have to do this in vista? or does it give you this option when installing windows 7?

You don't have to uninstall anything. Just pop the DVD in and reboot. It couldn't be easier.

stup_id · 12th August 2009, 10:58 AM

yep... i don't want to complicate things for you, but i would usually recommend choosing "not to preserve my files of myu old windows instalation" then it would show you the list of partitions your hard disk has (this means de C: D: E: etc, etc, that can exist as virtual disks inside your PC) what I usually do is choose "erase partition" for the C: and then install Windows 7 in empty space

is faster than formatting and it becomes a really clean install... but if you find this too much huzzle.. you can just go for the automated version..

good luck

stup_id · 12th August 2009, 11:08 AM

:S:S:S

GreNME · 12th August 2009, 12:31 PM

I recommend looking into the User State Migration Tool, which should actually be available on the Win 7 disk. More here (though it references Win XP to Win 7, the concept is the same).

Zeuzzz · 12th August 2009, 03:28 PM

Oh I have a hidden recovery partition which can be used in bios to restore it to factory settings. That will be the old x86 vista...

That should not cause any issues when installing x64 win7 right?

I wont be planning on using it at all in the future, only incase of absolute emergenices.

stup_id · 12th August 2009, 03:52 PM

I'm positiv you can go on just be sure to not tell Windows 7 to install in that partition

Zeuzzz · 17th August 2009, 11:53 AM

Originally Posted by stup_id

I'm positiv you can go on just be sure to not tell Windows 7 to install in that partition

Well, I installed win 7 ... and I think I didn't install it in the recovery partition

I installed in the partition with 200 gig free, the other one only had 5 gig free.

Run into a major issue though. I was mainly changing to x64 to use the memory for music production as I've got signed on a record label recently and could do with the extra... but my MIDI keyboard (radium 61 from m-audio) does not even have any x64 drivers yet, even for vista let alone win7. I checked everythings compatability apart from my keyboard

The other thing is that when I press f5 when its booting the factory reset option seems to have gone from the recovery options menu. For gods sake! Gonna have a beer, go to bed, and have another crack at this tomorrow. Dont have a clue what to do atm, the 4 gigs would be nice for producing high end music, but I'd much rather go back to x86 with 3 gig and be able to use my keyboard.

dtugg · 17th August 2009, 01:06 PM

What you could do is install a 32 bit Windows virtual machine and you would be able to use the keyboard in that. Specifically, Windows XP mode, Microsoft has the RC available for free. This may not be acceptable because the performance won't be as good.

You are probably best off putting a 32 bit OS back on. I would use Windows 7 x86 (the Vista x86 driver for the keyboard would almost certainly work). If you are more comfortable putting Vista back on, you won't be able to use the recovery partition without a recovery DVD since Vista is not installed anymore. There is a link to torrents for one here. If that does not work, you could either borrow somebody's Vista DVD (I am assuming you don't have one), or you could just download Vista via bittorent and use your key.

12th August 2009, 08:57 AM	#1
Zeuzzz Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,241	Upgrading x32 Vista to Windows 7 x64 and keeping all files Can you do this? Because I want to start using my full 4 gig of memory on a 64 bit system but I dont want to have to loose all the data on my hard-drive. I have the windows 7 iso image burnt ready onto a DVD but am scared to start installing incase once I install it it will wipe some of my files. Should I have any problem doing this or not?
Zeuzzz Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,241

12th August 2009, 09:16 AM	#3
dtugg Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NWO headquarters Posts: 7,898	You can't upgrade from x86 to x64. You have to do a clean install. However, if you do that, it will put all the old stuff in a folder called windows.old. You can then move them over. You can also use Windows Easy Transfer to restore files and settings. Start the wizard in Vista before you install 7 to back everything up, and then start it in 7 to restore. No matter what you do, you will have to install all your programs over again.
	Last edited by dtugg; 12th August 2009 at 09:34 AM. Reason: sp

12th August 2009, 09:57 AM	#4
Zeuzzz Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,241	Okay thanks, I've decided to burn all essential files to DVD aswell as using the vista restore backup option, just incase. How do I go about a clean install? I know I've got to uninstall vista completely, but do I have to do this in vista? or does it give you this option when installing windows 7?
Zeuzzz Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,241

12th August 2009, 11:08 AM	#7
stup_id Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ubiquitous Posts: 262	:S:S:S
	Last edited by stup_id; 12th August 2009 at 11:09 AM. Reason: double post

12th August 2009, 12:31 PM	#8
GreNME Philosopher Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Folsom Prison Posts: 8,283	I recommend looking into the User State Migration Tool, which should actually be available on the Win 7 disk. More here (though it references Win XP to Win 7, the concept is the same).
	__________________ _{Like love, criminals will always find a way. -- foxholeatheist The kind of pacifism I endorse is brought about by eliminating one enemy combatant at a time.-- JoeyDonuts} Last edited by GreNME; 12th August 2009 at 12:32 PM.

12th August 2009, 09:14 AM	#2
stup_id Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ubiquitous Posts: 262	I've never tryed myself, mainly because i'm a great fan of clean installs, but when you get into the instalation menu, one of the options is "keep all your files of your former windows install" and it mentions that all your former files are going to be kept in som folder renamed "c:\windows-old\" or something like that, I guess you'd have to ask someone who has done it if it did work, but the option is indeed available

12th August 2009, 10:04 AM	#5
dtugg Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NWO headquarters Posts: 7,898	Originally Posted by Zeuzzz How do I go about a clean install? I know I've got to uninstall vista completely, but do I have to do this in vista? or does it give you this option when installing windows 7? You don't have to uninstall anything. Just pop the DVD in and reboot. It couldn't be easier.

12th August 2009, 10:58 AM	#6
stup_id Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ubiquitous Posts: 262	yep... i don't want to complicate things for you, but i would usually recommend choosing "not to preserve my files of myu old windows instalation" then it would show you the list of partitions your hard disk has (this means de C: D: E: etc, etc, that can exist as virtual disks inside your PC) what I usually do is choose "erase partition" for the C: and then install Windows 7 in empty space is faster than formatting and it becomes a really clean install... but if you find this too much huzzle.. you can just go for the automated version.. good luck

12th August 2009, 03:28 PM	#9
Zeuzzz Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,241	Oh I have a hidden recovery partition which can be used in bios to restore it to factory settings. That will be the old x86 vista... That should not cause any issues when installing x64 win7 right? I wont be planning on using it at all in the future, only incase of absolute emergenices.
Zeuzzz Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,241

12th August 2009, 03:52 PM	#10
stup_id Critical Thinker Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Ubiquitous Posts: 262	I'm positiv you can go on just be sure to not tell Windows 7 to install in that partition

17th August 2009, 11:53 AM	#11
Zeuzzz Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,241	Originally Posted by stup_id I'm positiv you can go on just be sure to not tell Windows 7 to install in that partition Well, I installed win 7 ... and I think I didn't install it in the recovery partition I installed in the partition with 200 gig free, the other one only had 5 gig free. Run into a major issue though. I was mainly changing to x64 to use the memory for music production as I've got signed on a record label recently and could do with the extra... but my MIDI keyboard (radium 61 from m-audio) does not even have any x64 drivers yet, even for vista let alone win7. I checked everythings compatability apart from my keyboard The other thing is that when I press f5 when its booting the factory reset option seems to have gone from the recovery options menu. For gods sake! Gonna have a beer, go to bed, and have another crack at this tomorrow. Dont have a clue what to do atm, the 4 gigs would be nice for producing high end music, but I'd much rather go back to x86 with 3 gig and be able to use my keyboard.
Zeuzzz Banned Join Date: Dec 2007 Posts: 5,241

17th August 2009, 01:06 PM	#12
dtugg Banned Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: NWO headquarters Posts: 7,898	What you could do is install a 32 bit Windows virtual machine and you would be able to use the keyboard in that. Specifically, Windows XP mode, Microsoft has the RC available for free. This may not be acceptable because the performance won't be as good. You are probably best off putting a 32 bit OS back on. I would use Windows 7 x86 (the Vista x86 driver for the keyboard would almost certainly work). If you are more comfortable putting Vista back on, you won't be able to use the recovery partition without a recovery DVD since Vista is not installed anymore. There is a link to torrents for one here. If that does not work, you could either borrow somebody's Vista DVD (I am assuming you don't have one), or you could just download Vista via bittorent and use your key.
	Last edited by dtugg; 17th August 2009 at 01:09 PM.