How to clean install windows 7 (64 bit) to a windows 7 (32 bit) pc?

darshan934

Reputable
Dec 9, 2014
3
0
4,510
I have win 7 32 bit on my pc and would want to upgrade to win 7 64 bit ( i don't like windows 8 yet). I looked up some guides and they said i need to download an ISO, so i did that using a torrent

Question 1: Once i have the ISO, how do i go about the installation?

Question 2: How do i take a backup of all my data, since my data is split over 8 drives (ranging from 500 GB- 1 TB ).

Question 3: I read on the windows forum that you only need to format the C: drive while installing so that you wont lose data in any of the other drives, is this true? if yes, then how do i go about this method?

All help is appreciated. :)
P.S: please make the answers elaborate because i am a newbie at such stuff and don't want to make a mistake.
 

COLGeek

Cybernaut
Moderator
Torrented from where?

You can get the official Windows 7 ISOs from MS and run no risk of using pirated software (possibly carrying all sorts of threats). Get your ISO here:

See links here: http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/cannot-find-digital-river-download-site/66a8439b-0d16-4b70-92f7-1c8486a46ebf

Burn the ISO to DVD. Then boot from the DVD. You have to perform a full (a.k.a. clean or custom) install. You can't "upgrade" from any 32-bit to any 64-bit version of Windows.
 

darshan934

Reputable
Dec 9, 2014
3
0
4,510


Thank you for the reply and the links, i did download the win 7 x64 from where you suggested. Now, before carrying out the installation, how do i make a backup of all my data? or do i just need to back up my C: drive, where win 7 is installed?