32 bit / 64 bit

[mt1]

Hi guys.
As you probably noticed lately, gaming industry publishes games compatible with 64 bit only machines. good example of that is the latest "Dragon Age: Inquisition" game, which you can't run on a 32 bit computer.
As a gamer who run games on win 8.1 32 bit machine (compatible with 64 bit) i've come to a cross road - seems like I have no option but to install the new 64 machine and risk the rest of my work because of the new Windows installation.
my first Question is - Can i install 64 bit alongside 32 bit on the same drive? will i be able to keep working on windows 8.1 32 bit and play on the other after restart?
second - is it possible/recommended to install 64 bit on a virtualBox for example?

Thank you dearly for advice and knowledge

 

[mcnumpty23]

yes you can dual boot them

virtual box is ok but i wouldnt try gaming on it

 

[mt1]

can you please explain what are the draw backs stemming form such a maneuver? if there are any...?

 

[mt1]

+ do you know any online guide that explains how to do this dual boot without destroying everything

 

[mcnumpty23]

not really any drawbacks--other than problems on the hard drive could take both out

but if you had a spare hard drive it would be better to put 32bit on one and 64bit on the other

 

[mcnumpty23]

plus if you have important data on there you should have already have made a back up of it

 

[mt1]

I do have a spare HD, actually more than one, but they are external and used for backups.
win 8.1 32 bit is already installed on the main hard drive ( C: )and i don't want to change it - lots of work, apps and programs are stored there and this is the main reason i'm looking for another way to install the 64 bit...

 

[mcnumpty23]

could just pick up a drive from ebay--they are dirt cheap nowadays

in theory dual booting on one drive is simple enough--but if your stuff is important then why take the tiny chance of disaster when

changing partitions and boot records

 

[mt1]

ok. I can spare one of the outer drives for installing win 64 bit, but is it any good for gaming? won't it slow things down considerably?

 

[mcnumpty23]

and if using 2 drives--disconnect all drives including external ones

only plug in the drive you want 64bit on

then they have separate boot records so if one fails or gets corrupted the other will still boot

 

[mcnumpty23]

no it wont slow things down

in fact it can take more ram than 32bit so can actually be an advantage over 32bit

 

[mt1]

i'll try it.
thanks a bunch. appreciate your help.

 

[mcnumpty23]

you are welcome

 

[mt1]

by the way, by "disconnect all drives including external ones" you mean disconnecting the only internal one as well?

 

[mcnumpty23]

only have the drive you are installing windows to connected

 

[mt1]

thank you

 

[orlbuckeye]

OS are usually backwards compatible. Meaning a 64 bit OS will run 32 bit software but a 32 bit processor won't run 64 software.