Which Version of Vista 32/64 bit?

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Guest

Okay, pardon me if i am ignorant of this answer, but i received my CDs from
MS in the mail just yesterday and i dont know which CD to install for Vista..
the 32bit or the 64bit and does it make a difference?

Im planning on installing it on a Sony VAIO 800 Mhz 512 RAM 80GB laptop...
just off the top of my head.. thanks...

Im also backing up my files, pics, docs, etc...just in case, but im not
really sure if something terribly wrong occurs, how i'll revert back to the
existing Windows XP version that originally came on my laptop when i bought
it.. hmmm.. ill have to work on that one..
 
Well, you need a 64-bit processor to run a 64-bit OS. And your 800MHz chip
isn't. Also, if I were you, and I'm not, I'd spend about six hours reading
all the posts about how people have messed up their only computer before you
even think of trying Vista out on yours.

Tip: for backing up stuff, buy a nice 200GB external hard drive (around
$150) and use it. You'll be so happy!
 
and to add to that, the chances that you will be able to "revert" back to
your current XP setup is <5% unless you buy some imagine tools...
 
I prefer pixie dust, myself, actually. Much faster application and has a
broad reach of uses.
 
Thanks for the tips..i actually just got off Sony's website for support (cuz
im at work and not at home with my laptop) but i found the actual specs on my
laptop...do these work with the 64bit or 32bit OS? You know, i downloaded the
program from Microsoft that analyzed my PC last night and apparantly
"checked" for compatibility and while it said it was good to install, it
neglected to tell me which CD to do , hence why i am asking.. and I will now
go to BestBuy and buy an external hard drive to back up everything before
doing this thing..

Here are the specs in detail:
Processor-Intel Pentium M 740 (1.73 GHz, 2MB L2 cache)
Front Side Bus Speed - 533 MHz
Chipset - Intel 915 PM
Memory - 512MB PC-3200 400MHz DDR2
 
Thanks for the tips..i actually just got off Sony's website for support (cuz
im at work and not at home with my laptop) but i found the actual specs on my
laptop...do these work with the 64bit or 32bit OS? You know, i downloaded the
program from Microsoft that analyzed my PC last night and apparantly
"checked" for compatibility and while it said it was good to install, it
neglected to tell me which CD to do , hence why i am asking.. and I will now
go to BestBuy and buy an external hard drive to back up everything before
doing this thing..

Here are the specs in detail:
Processor-Intel Pentium M 740 (1.73 GHz, 2MB L2 cache)
Front Side Bus Speed - 533 MHz
Chipset - Intel 915 PM
Memory - 512MB PC-3200 400MHz DDR2
 
Now is the time to work on "What If" scenarios. If this is your only
computer, at a minimum you need to partition your hard drive and install
Vista on the 2nd partition.
 
Colin.... thanks.. you think with those specs on my laptop, ill be okay? Of
course, ill backup everything i cant live without on an external hard drive...
 
The Intel Pentium M series is not a 64-bit processor.

So use the 32-bit, also called x86, edition.

And make sure you have your Windows XP restoration CD, plenty of doughnuts
and some Advil handy.
 
okay... well, this is my newest PC..my other PC is a desktop VAIO that is
only 256 MB RAM and is about 2 yrs old, if that tells you a lot.. :)

It sounds like i have to start reading up on how to partition my hard drive,
because i am not aware of how to do that.. unfortunately. Im a web developer
but not too hardware savvy...as you can tell.. sorry..
 
okay... well, this is my newest PC..my other PC is a desktop VAIO that is
only 256 MB RAM and is about 2 yrs old, if that tells you a lot.. :)

It sounds like i have to start reading up on how to partition my hard drive,
because i am not aware of how to do that.. unfortunately. Im a web developer
but not too hardware savvy...as you can tell.. sorry..
 
hahaha... thanks Mark.. ill keep that in mind and swing by the Krispy Kreme
after BestBuy for an external HD..
 
hahaha... thanks Mark.. ill keep that in mind and swing by the Krispy Kreme
after BestBuy for an external HD..
 
Vista scales to hardware very well. You will not get Glass (takes a special
driver from Sony for Vista for your adaptor, which they probably will not
do), but that is just special effects.

If your laptop requires the use of a hidden recovery partition or recovery
cd's to reinstall XP then stop now and prepare.

Even if you back up your system drive to an external hard drive the backup
program may not work in Vista and you might not be able to restore that way.
The problem is getting XP back on your machine so you can do the restore.

Installing Vista seems to disable the function key used on a lot of
computers to start the recovery process. Please post back on how you plan
to proceed and whether or not you have an XP cd or just recovery cd's or
just a hidden partition.
 
The two-year old desktop may be the better bet because ram is cheap (take it
up to 1GB) and the second hard drive should be perfect. I don't like
fooling around with my laptops because of proprietary hardware and drivers.
 
It would probably also be easier to upgrade a video card if necessary to get
Aero Glass if Aero Glass was important to you...
 
Purchase PartitionMagic by Norton. It seems to be the industry standard,
and I am hesitant to try freeware when performing such actions. About
$70.00 but I find it absolutely invaluable.

If you would like, I can write out a detailed, step-by-step on how to
install Vista on a system with one hard-drive and several partitions and
email it to you. My way prevented such things as boot file overwrites and
the like.

Mark
 
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