Windows upgrade question

[travis_jeanelle]

Can I upgrade windows vista premium 32 bit to windows 7 premium 64 bit? I cant seem just to find a straight out answer.

 

[aford10]

You can't do an inplace upgrade to the 64 bit version, so you'll be wiping out your drive to install during the install. Or you can do an inplace upgrade to the 32 bit version of windows 7.

 

[Zoron]

No, you won't be wiping your drive... at least not if you have upgrade media. You will be performing a clean install which will back up all of your User folders as well as your Programs Files folders to a folder called Windows.old. If you have anything in any other folders, then it would be a very good idea to back it up... it's a good idea to back up EVERYTHING for that matter... things can and do go wrong after all.

 

[aford10]

Umm, ya, you have the option to back your stuff up because it's going to wipe your drive.

Agreed though, it's a good idea to back up everything you value.

 

[Zoron]

Well not totally wipe the drive... that's what I was getting at.

It's not like formatting the drive and then installing it fresh.

 

[aford10]

To the OPs question though. Yes, you can. I think that's a straight answer.

 

[Zoron]

I just had a look and it turns out all my other folders were intact as well... the only folders that get touched are Users, Program Files, Program Files (x86) and Windows. Still a clean install, but without a format.

I know a straight answer is always nice, but it's not always possible. There are always caveats.... especially when it comes to Windows.