Install x86 (32 bit) now and upgrade to x64 latter ?

  • Thread starter Thread starter BobS
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B

BobS

Ok, I've started my testing using the Vista Ultimate retail package and it
comes with both DVD's for the 32 and 64 bit versions. I loaded up the 64
bit version first on a Sata Raptor drive and while the install saw the drive
and loaded to it - it would hang at the last step of completing the install
when it does its first reboot.

No error message - just a blinking cursor. Have a feeling its not
recognizing the Sil 3132 Sata controller. I would guess the installer is
using a generic Sata driver and since the install upgrade is an image - not
a file transfer, once the install boots on its own - it better have the
right drivers in pace for the critical items - like the boot drive....;-) A
driver may be available that I can load in during the install - I just
haven't found it yet.

This is on an Asus A8N32-SLI motherboard with an AMD x2 processor. I did
load the x64 version onto a standard hard drive (EIDE) and set the BIOS to
boot from that drive instead of the SATA. That worked fine and when I did
the updates, sure enough, there was one for the Sil 3132 Sata controller.
Once that was installed, Vista then could see all my Sata drives.

I did try using the built-in tools and made a backup image of the install on
the EIDE drive and tried to see if the restore program would let me restore
to a different drive. Nope - or at least I don't know the secret handshake
to steer the restore to a different drive. If I could, the that restore
image would be put on the SATA drive and since it's already updated with the
Sata drivers - it should work. Which raises the question - if the Sata
update was available to the MS Update site - why can't I find it? Looked
both at Asus and Nvidia sites - nada. Maybe its on the Silicone Image
site - ya think....(dummy, should have looked there first....) Long
night....


Here's my questions:

If I go ahead now and install the 32 bit version on the Sata drive (assuming
the 32 bit driver is on the install package) and wait for some of the 64 bit
updates to roll out, can I go ahead and upgrade to the 64 bit version after
the 32 bit version has already been activated? I know I would have to do a
clean install but without all the right drivers it doesn't make sense to run
it.

One other question - can the drivers for WinXP Pro 64 bit versions be used
in Vista?

Thank you,

Bob S.
 
Here's my questions:

If I go ahead now and install the 32 bit version on the Sata drive (assuming
the 32 bit driver is on the install package) and wait for some of the 64 bit
updates to roll out, can I go ahead and upgrade to the 64 bit version after
the 32 bit version has already been activated? I know I would have to do a
clean install but without all the right drivers it doesn't make sense to run
it.
Click to expand...

I wouldn't see why not. You may have to end up calling them, but
since you're using the license on the same hardware, it should be ok.
After all MS did clear up that EULA regarding moving licenses from
your old machine to a new one.
One other question - can the drivers for WinXP Pro 64 bit versions be used
in Vista?
Click to expand...

For some devices XP64 drivers will work. Windows 2003 x64 drivers
will also work in some cases. The most important thing is that
they're signed. I was able to use 3Ware's Windows 2003 Server x64
WHQL drivers for my RAID card on Vista x64 and they work great. The
regular XP64 drivers caused Vista's install to fail, similarly to what
you described, but I got the black boot screen message that Windows
failed to load.

I was unable to get nVidia's XP64 MB drivers to install. The
setup.exe launcher errored out saying the OS was wrong.

You should get the WHQL driver from Asus's website and then manually
load the driver on the "Where do you want to install Windows?" screen.
 
BobS said:
If I go ahead now and install the 32 bit version on the Sata drive
(assuming the 32 bit driver is on the install package) and wait for some
of the 64 bit updates to roll out, can I go ahead and upgrade to the 64
bit version after the 32 bit version has already been activated? I know I
would have to do a clean install but without all the right drivers it
doesn't make sense to run it.
Click to expand...

Yes, that will be fine. As you point out, you'll actually have to do a
clean install, but you can switch from 32 to 64 bit using the same key.
One other question - can the drivers for WinXP Pro 64 bit versions be used
in Vista?
Click to expand...

Some will work and some won't. The only way to know for sure is to ask
about specific drivers and see if anyone has experience, or just try them
and see.
 
Tom Porterfield said:
Yes, that will be fine. As you point out, you'll actually have to do a
clean install, but you can switch from 32 to 64 bit using the same key.


Some will work and some won't. The only way to know for sure is to ask
about specific drivers and see if anyone has experience, or just try them
and see.
Click to expand...

Thanks Tom.

Bob S.
 
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