Installing a new OS to install new RAM

[scortlewabermop]

I Have windows 32 bit because I didn't know whether or not my processor supported 64 bit. I just found out that my processor in fact CAN support 64 bit.

My question is: Do I really have to wipe my hard drive to be able to install the new OS? Or is there another way to install it?

 

[LilTwist]

you can create a partition for all the data you dont want to wipe. move all the data over to the partition then do a fresh install of window or you could also if you have 2 hard drives in your build you can just move what you dont want deleted into the hard drive that isnt being formated then take that hard drive out and do a fresh install of window on the one that currently has the 32 bit system in it

 

[USAFRet]

32bit to 64 is a full reinstall. No way around it.
You files can be saved elsewhere, but the OS and applications get a full reinstall.

 

[scortlewabermop]

you can create a partition for all the data you dont want to wipe. move all the data over to the partition then do a fresh install of window or you could also if you have 2 hard drives in your build you can just move what you dont want deleted into the hard drive that isnt being formated then take that hard drive out and do a fresh install of window on the one that currently has the 32 bit system in it

Alright I'll make the partition. Thanks for your help!

 

[scortlewabermop]

32bit to 64 is a full reinstall. No way around it.
You files can be saved elsewhere, but the OS and applications get a full reinstall.

So I would have to reinstall all of my steam games?

 

[USAFRet]

32bit to 64 is a full reinstall. No way around it.
You files can be saved elsewhere, but the OS and applications get a full reinstall.

So I would have to reinstall all of my steam games?

Steam client, yes.
Steam games, not necessarily.
See this: https://support.steampowered.com/kb_article.php?ref=7418-YUBN-8129

This works for most, but maybe not all, Steam games.