Dual Boot Win 7 32 bit and Win 7 64 bit

[Driftwood42]

I am currently using W7 RC and plan to purchase the Home Premium version - I put RC on a new computer and thus cannot use the upgrade path. Can I install dual boot 32 bit Win 7 and 64 bit Win 7 OS on the same computer and hard drive? If so, how would I go about doing so without losing all my stuff from the RC install?

Alternately, if I install W7 64 bit over the 32 bit RC will I have any problems?

Many thanks to any assistance you can provide.

 

[ulysses35]

I would go for a clean install of 64bit Windows 7 - most 32bit applicatins will work fine anyway - so need to use the 32bit version

I beleive if you have a windows CD that is supported by the upgrade option you lwill be prompted to insert the old windows (XP etc) during Windows 7 installation to verify you have a copy that is possible uo upgrade from.

Windows 7 32 & 64 are on the same disc - only the license key is different

 

[Scotteq]

You may not do what Microsoft call an "In Place Upgrade" (which preserves apps and settings) from 32 bit to 64 bit. You may, however, do a "Custom Install" - this puts your existing 32 bit installation/data into a folder called "WINDOWS_OLD". The 64 bit install will be clean, you will (with a few exceptions) not be able to run apps from the Windows_Old folder, so you'll have to do the reinstall routine. But your Data will be preserved - retrievable from the Windows_Old folder.

If you want to set up a Dual Boot - You'll need to set up a separate drove or partition. Then install 64 bit to that. Once W7 64 is all finished, you may then change the config to dual boot with the other W7 install.