Boot 64bit Win7 on 32bit processor installed on 64bit

[d1ag0n]

Can I boot Windows 7 64bit on a 32bit processor if the Windows installation took place on a 64bit processor?

 

[mavroxur]

No.

 

[4745454b]

You need a 64bit CPU to run 64bit code. Are you sure your CPU is 32 bit? There hasn't been a 32bit CPU sold in quite some time.

 

[Ijack]

I'm not sure if they still sell 32-bit Atoms, but they certainly did until very recently.

Trying to run Windows on a machine other than that it was installed on is always problematic and in this scenario it is impossible.

 

[4745454b]

I wouldn't know. I don't look at low power CPUs. Via might still sell some 32bit CPUs, but all of AMD and Intels current consumer models support 64bit.

 

[vvhocare5]

I swear these questions get weirder and weirder. I am a total fan of someone testing something for themselves to observe the results, but in this case I wonder about the future of the human race...

 

[4745454b]

It's usually best to not think about it.

 

[d1ag0n]

I originally installed Win7 64bit on an AMD Phenom 2 X6 but then that mobo died or ram was incompatible or some bologna asus fed me.

I put my old Core 2 Duo 6600 2.4ghz and board back in and tried to boot the old OS but it blue screened.

I installed Win7 64bit on another partition and thats working fine.

So, 4745454b, you're telling me all this time I had a 64bit processor and didn't know it?

 

[4745454b]

Both the Phenom 2 x6 and E6600 are 64bit CPUs. If you had something (ram or board you said) die, that has nothing to do with your CPU not being able to run 64bit code. If you switch from an AMD board with an AMD chipset to an Intel board with a different chipset, it won't be able to load windows because the harddrive driver is attempting to use the old AMD driver. They are not interchangeable. You said you installed win7 64bit on a different partition, so obviously the E6600 is 64bit compatible? (unless you meant to say you installed win7 32bit.) All of the Athlon 64 and many of the P4s were 64bit. I'm almost tempted to say all S775 Intel CPUs have been 64bit, but I think there were a few Celerys that weren't.

 

[d1ag0n]

I had no idea this processor was 64bit. It's a T6600. I'm gonna give you the best answer because you took this thread much farther than I expected. You have to be right about the Intel vs AMD. I've swapped systems on Windows before but I don't think I ever went from AMD to Intel.

 

[d1ag0n]

Best answer selected by d1ag0n.