How to change windows 7 64 bit os to 32 bit?

[yasser72]

How to change windows 7 64 bit os to 32 bit?

 

[rgd1101]

no change, need to reinstall.

 

[Alabalcho]

Get DVD for 32-bit Windows, save ALL of your data, reinstall Windows.
No other way around.

btw, why you want to do that? Any special hardware for which there're no x64 drivers?

 

[jrizzz]

You need to uninstall the 64 bit and go out and buy/install the 32 bit one.

 

[unoriginal1]

No need to buy 32 bit. The same product key will work for both.

Please don't delete the "program files x86 (64 bit) folder" Things will "magically" stop working.

A clean install is needed. (as numerous posters have said) But the question of why... should be answered first.

 

[daswilhelm]

just delete the "Program Files" (the 64 bit one) folder from your C drive in my computer and the "Program Files (x86)" (the 32 bit one) folder will take over.

easy as pie

you serious with that?

 

[nitrium]

But the question of why... should be answered first.

Probably has old incompatible hardware. But there are imo other legitimate reasons, specifically if you have < 2GB of RAM (or don't need more).

1. If you have limited storage (for example a 60GB SSD - commonly used as boot drives and in laptops), x64 Windows takes up SIGNIFICANTLY more space, leaving less room for apps and games. I have both an x64 and x86 box - Windows on one is 23.5 GB, and on the other just 13.6 GB. That is the equivalent of one whole AAA game. This should also, in theory at least, impact loading performance (e.g. boot times), but my hardware is far too different for me to verify that. Anyone tried it?
2. If you have slow internet (e.g. modem), and/or tiny data cap (common in many countries outside of the US) the drivers (e.g. graphics drivers, Windows updates etc) are SIGNIFICANTLY larger (generally around 40%) for x64 Windows, wasting precious bandwidth. Case in point is the Nvidia Geforce driver: for x86 121 MB, and x64 169 MB (or 40% larger).

 

[yasser72]

you serious with that?

daswilhelm,...if i delete x64 bit folder from my c drive are you sure it won't affects my entire system?

 

[nitrium]

daswilhelm,...if i delete x64 bit folder from my c drive are you sure it won't affects my entire system?

No DON'T do that! That is just about the worst advice I've ever read on a forum.

 

[gomerpile]

you serious with that?

What a dipstick to give advice like that

 

[4745454b]

IDK, in the days of cheap harddrives I'm not sure that really a valid concern.

Might also want to consider VMware. Dosbox if whatever he trying to do old enough. In this day and age I'm not sure 16/32bit really applies anymore. (I know it does as most apps are still 32bit, but they also have no issues running on/in x64.)

 

[daswilhelm]

daswilhelm,...if i delete x64 bit folder from my c drive are you sure it won't affects my entire system?

do NOT attempt that.

 

[yasser72]

do NOT attempt that.

so what i'm gonna do to install the 32 bit?

 

[unoriginal1]

so what i'm gonna do to install the 32 bit?

First take a look at Nitriums post regarding the question you haven't answered. WHY do you want to change to 32 bit? If your reasons fall under what he said. IE: < 3GB RAM etc etc. Then you need to do as almost everyone has said.

back up your data and do a CLEAN install

 

[yasser72]

First take a look at Nitriums post regarding the question you haven't answered. WHY do you want to change to 32 bit? If your reasons fall under what he said. IE: < 3GB RAM etc etc. Then you need to do as almost everyone has said.

back up your data and do a CLEAN install

because i want to install my new windows 8 pro 32 bit,but it asking me the 32 bit installer so the process cannot continue

 

[yasser72]

Probably has old incompatible hardware. But there are imo other legitimate reasons, specifically if you have < 2GB of RAM (or don't need more).

1. If you have limited storage (for example a 60GB SSD - commonly used as boot drives and in laptops), x64 Windows takes up SIGNIFICANTLY more space, leaving less room for apps and games. I have both an x64 and x86 box - Windows on one is 23.5 GB, and on the other just 13.6 GB. That is the equivalent of one whole AAA game. This should also, in theory at least, impact loading performance (e.g. boot times), but my hardware is far too different for me to verify that. Anyone tried it?
2. If you have slow internet (e.g. modem), and/or tiny data cap (common in many countries outside of the US) the drivers (e.g. graphics drivers, Windows updates etc) are SIGNIFICANTLY larger (generally around 40%) for x64 Windows, wasting precious bandwidth. Case in point is the Nvidia Geforce driver: for x86 121 MB, and x64 169 MB (or 40% larger).

i have a 4 GB of RAM and a 640 GB of HDD,the reasons i wanted to change my current os windows 7 X64 bit is that some applications didn't work on a X64 bit os like for example the AUTOCAD when i try to install it,it asking me the 64 bit installer to proceed installation...

And i have also my new windows 8 and the same thing happened,it asking me the 64 bit installer to proceed the installation...so what should i do?

Hope you can give me some peice of advice regarding this matter 😉

 

[_kaos_]

because i want to install my new windows 8 pro 32 bit,but it asking me the 32 bit installer so the process cannot continue

i have a 4 GB of RAM and a 640 GB of HDD,the reasons i wanted to change my current os windows 7 X64 bit is that some applications didn't work on a X64 bit os like for example the AUTOCAD when i try to install it,it asking me the 64 bit installer to proceed installation...

And i have also my new windows 8 and the same thing happened,it asking me the 64 bit installer to proceed the installation...so what should i do?

Hope you can give me some peice of advice regarding this matter 😉

Upgrade to Win 8 pro 64-bit...simple as that
Don't go back to 32-bit, you won't be able to use more than 4 GB of RAM
Just get the 64-bit version of those program which won't work.

 

[yasser72]

i have a 4 GB of RAM and a 640 GB of HDD,the reasons i wanted to change my current os windows 7 X64 bit is that some applications didn't work on a X64 bit os like for example the AUTOCAD when i try to install it,it asking me the 64 bit installer to proceed installation...

And i have also my new windows 8 and the same thing happened,it asking me the 64 bit installer to proceed the installation...so what should i do?

Hope you can give me some peice of advice regarding this matter 😉

Upgrade to Win 8 pro 64-bit...simple as that
Don't go back to 32-bit, you won't be able to use more than 4 GB of RAM
Just get the 64-bit version of those program which won't work.

so what i'm gonna do with those applications,put it in a thrash bin?

could you define what is the difference between the x64 bit and 32 bit?

your respond is highly appreciated

 

[nitrium]

so what i'm gonna do with those applications,put it in a thrash bin?
could you define what is the difference between the x64 bit and 32 bit?
your respond is highly appreciated

I don't know what kaos is smoking, but pretty much all 32 bit apps work on x64 (the major exception being hardware drivers). It highly unlikely you have purchased any specific x64 only apps (they usually (if not always) bundle them with the 32 bit versions), so there is likely ZERO reason to use 64 bit Windows instead of 32 bit UNLESS you want/need to use more than 4GB RAM. In your case, since you apparently ALREADY HAVE 64 bit Windows the ONLY CRITICAL reason to switch AWAY from it is in the case of legacy hardware where there are no 64 bit drivers (assuming the issues I highlighted in my a previous post are not relevant to you). It really is that simple.

To summarize:
Essentially ALL 32 bits apps/games will work on 64 bit Windows
Essentially NO 32 drivers will work on 64 bit Windows
There is NO reason to use 32 bit Windows UNLESS you want to use old hardware that has no 64 bit drivers available
There is NO reason to use 64 bit Windows UNLESS you want to use more than 4GB RAM

 

[aosot]

need to reinstall.

 

[_kaos_]

yasser72 wrote :

so what i'm gonna do with those applications,put it in a thrash bin?
could you define what is the difference between the x64 bit and 32 bit?
your respond is highly appreciated

I don't know what kaos is smoking, but pretty much all 32 bit apps work on x64 (the major exception being hardware drivers). It highly unlikely you have purchased any specific x64 only apps (they usually (if not always) bundle them with the 32 bit versions), so there is likely ZERO reason to use 64 bit Windows instead of 32 bit UNLESS you want/need to use more than 4GB RAM. In your case, since you apparently ALREADY HAVE 64 bit Windows the ONLY CRITICAL reason to switch AWAY from it is in the case of legacy hardware where there are no 64 bit drivers (assuming the issues I highlighted in my a previous post are not relevant to you). It really is that simple.

To summarize:
Essentially ALL 32 bits apps/games will work on 64 bit Windows
Essentially NO 32 drivers will work on 64 bit Windows
There is NO reason to use 32 bit Windows UNLESS you want to use old hardware that has no 64 bit drivers available
There is NO reason to use 64 bit Windows UNLESS you want to use more than 4GB RAM

OP wants to upgrade from 64-bit Win 7 to 32-bit Win 8. We all know this is not possible....

I'm assuming OP want to take advantage of Win 8 upgrade offer.

i want to install my new windows 8 pro 32 bit,but it asking me the 32 bit installer so the process cannot continue

since he is running the installer from current OS. Had he been using a bootable media-he would not be facing this problem.

OP already has Win 7 64-bit! He could just upgrade it to Win 8-64 bit. He won't lose any of his programs, data etc. 32-bit program will work just fine. And for those that don't work(esp. CAD/CAE softwares) he can just get the 64-bit versions
Unless OP has a license for full installation of Win 8, he will need to first re-install Win 7 32 bit and then upgrade to Win 8 32 bit.

 

[yasser72]

thanks a lot pal for all your suggestions,it helps me a lot & i'm very much appreciated!Jazakallah khair (May God rewards your good deeds),...Salam

 

[spiketheaardvark]

Some older 32bit programs used a 16bit installer. So the program will theoretically run in Win 64 bit but can't be installed (64bit can't run 16bit). You could try move the program folder from a 32 bit machine, but that's messy and doesn't always work. Win 7 pro offered XP mode which vitalized 32bit win xp. This would let you install your software. Looks like Win 8 doesn't offer that but you could use a third party setup like VMware(free) to do the same thing it's just a little more work.

 

[clarp]

I have the same problem with an older version of autocad (ACAD2000) it will run on a W7pro 64 bit machine in the XP virtual machine which I downloaded from Microsoft. However having the virtual machine is a pain in the neck since I have to keep the XP machine and the W7Pro updated as well as two set of antivirus software to update. Generally a pain in the neck. Much easier to run a 32 bit version of W7 which will run my ACAD 2000 or keep my old XP machine alive but, it is getting too old to last much longer. Yes the product key is the same for the 32 bit version of W7 and you can find a download of the iso for the OS that will legally install on the machine you currently have W7 64 bit installed on. A clean install of the 32 bit OS should work. After you download the iso and burn it to DVD you will need to set the boot order to the make the DVD drive first and it will instal the 32 bit OS. Seems a pity to do that if you have an older 32 bit machine you can keep for autocad only.

 

[swagnuggets123]

How to change windows 7 64 bit os to 32 bit?

why would you want to?