=?Utf-8?B?bmVkamluc2tp?= <nedjinski DeleteThis @discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in
news:F641D3D1-62CE-4BAD-A96B-C7006B25E346@microsoft.com:
> I have a Win XP Pro machine with a 1TB hard drive partitioned into 6
> partitions - C,D,E,F,G,H. the OS and all program files are on the C
> partition. the other partitions are storage - non system. the XP Pro
> is a 32 bit install.
> I plan to do a 64 bit Win 7 install over the 32 bit XP Pro.
> questions: will the 64 bit Win 7 installation process affect any of
> the other partitions in any way or only the C: drive? is it only the
> Win XP Pro that is 32 bit, not the whole hard drive? any thing special
> to look out for doing an upgrade install like this?
>
The 32 bits is a function of the Operating System.
It means that the address pointers are all 32 bits or less (4,294,967,295
bytes).
When you install a 64 bit OS, that does not affect the Hard Drive at all.
The 64 bit system will install in the same partition you have Windows XP
32 bit now.
The 64 bits is used within the Operating System, It does allow you have
have much more ram installed. 32 bit systems were limited to less than 4
Gigabytes of ram.
You should be observant and be sure you don't screw up your current
partitions.
Windows 7 will ask where you want to install, pay close attention that
you are putting 64 bit Win7 in the Windows XP partition. Format that
partition so that you get a clean install.
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