EggXpert

Yes it is possible. http://forums.techguy.org/windows-vista/826989-solved-dual-boot-win-7-a.html

Also check here to make sure the hardware and software you are running is compatible with both 32 and 64. Windows 7 Compatibility Center home

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Tracer beats me to it.

Yup, it will be okay but I have to say to dual boot the same OS,er, RC will be okay but you can't use the same windows 7 although it comes with both 32bit and 64 bit.

intelguy:

Tracer beats me to it.

Yup, it will be okay but I have to say to dual boot the same OS,er, RC will be okay but you can't use the same windows 7 although it comes with both 32bit and 64 bit.

Thanks for the reply but I don't understand your remark about not being able to use the same win7 to install both a 32 bit and 64 bit O/S.  I plan on purchasing the win7 home premium update which, as I understand it, comes with two disks; one for 32 bit and another for 64 bit systems.  Can you elaborate?

Thanks.

blumesan:

Thanks for the reply but I don't understand your remark about not being able to use the same win7 to install both a 32 bit and 64 bit O/S.  I plan on purchasing the win7 home premium update which, as I understand it, comes with two disks; one for 32 bit and another for 64 bit systems.  Can you elaborate?

Thanks.

What in the hell is an "update" the SP has not even been released yet.

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Tracer76:

blumesan:

Thanks for the reply but I don't understand your remark about not being able to use the same win7 to install both a 32 bit and 64 bit O/S.  I plan on purchasing the win7 home premium update which, as I understand it, comes with two disks; one for 32 bit and another for 64 bit systems.  Can you elaborate?

Thanks.

What in the hell is an "update" the SP has not even been released yet.

I'd say "update" is close enough to "upgrade" to let that slide, no?

areber04:

Tracer76:

blumesan:

Thanks for the reply but I don't understand your remark about not being able to use the same win7 to install both a 32 bit and 64 bit O/S.  I plan on purchasing the win7 home premium update which, as I understand it, comes with two disks; one for 32 bit and another for 64 bit systems.  Can you elaborate?

Thanks.

What in the hell is an "update" the SP has not even been released yet.

 

I'd say "update" is close enough to "upgrade" to let that slide, no?

No they are NOT the same at all update = service pack, upgrade is not a service pack its the OS where one has to have an OS already in place.

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Tracer76:

areber04:

Tracer76:

blumesan:

Thanks for the reply but I don't understand your remark about not being able to use the same win7 to install both a 32 bit and 64 bit O/S.  I plan on purchasing the win7 home premium update which, as I understand it, comes with two disks; one for 32 bit and another for 64 bit systems.  Can you elaborate?

Thanks.

What in the hell is an "update" the SP has not even been released yet.

I'd say "update" is close enough to "upgrade" to let that slide, no?

No they are NOT the same at all update = service pack, upgrade is not a service pack its the OS where one has to have an OS already in place.

Sorry, I wasn't commenting on the definition of the word.  As a Home Premium "Update" isn't something that actually exists, I figured it was reasonable enough to assume that it was a simple typo for the word "Upgrade" that it wouldn't need to be pointed out.  It was pretty clear in context that he is referring to the Home Premium upgrade package that comes with both a 32-bit and 64-bit disk.

The home premium update comes with 2 disks, but it's only 1 license.  I'm really not sure if it will work or not, as a the license gets linked to the hardware (i think it's primarily the mobo) when you register... but it's the same hardware in both cases   I'd more likely bet that it will not work.

Are there particular peripherals/plugins that you own already that you have found won't work with 64-bit?  I've never had any issues running everything 64-bit, even old printers and mice.  Some programs won't run in 64-bit mode, but they will install and run just fine in a 64-bit OS, they just run in 32-bit mode.

areber04:

Tracer76:

areber04:

Tracer76:

blumesan:

Thanks for the reply but I don't understand your remark about not being able to use the same win7 to install both a 32 bit and 64 bit O/S.  I plan on purchasing the win7 home premium update which, as I understand it, comes with two disks; one for 32 bit and another for 64 bit systems.  Can you elaborate?

Thanks.

What in the hell is an "update" the SP has not even been released yet.

I'd say "update" is close enough to "upgrade" to let that slide, no?

No they are NOT the same at all update = service pack, upgrade is not a service pack its the OS where one has to have an OS already in place.

 I wasn't commenting on the definition of the word.  As a Home Premium "Update" isn't something that actually exists, I figured it was reasonable enough to assume that it was a simple typo for the word "Upgrade" that it wouldn't need to be pointed out.  It was pretty clear in context that he is referring to the Home Premium upgrade package that comes with both a 32-bit and 64-bit disk.

And this is how people learn to use the correct terminology is to be put in their place it's that simple. Its called "forced to learn" actually and yes that is the term used.

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Thanks everyone for your input.

Sorry to cause a ruckus.  It was a typo; clearly I meant the w7 UPGRADE. 

Tracer- if you have made it your mission to educate the cyber-public regarding the correct use of computer terminology (never mind the basic use of the English language), I wish you much joy and success. 

Still not completely clear as to whether I can install both the 32 bit & 64 bit versions.  However it may turn out that it is not necessary in order to run various plugins, etc.

blumesan:

Thanks everyone for your input.

Sorry to cause a ruckus.  It was a typo; clearly I meant the w7 UPGRADE. 

Tracer- if you have made it your mission to educate the cyber-public regarding the correct use of computer terminology (never mind the basic use of the English language), I wish you much joy and success. 

Still not completely clear as to whether I can install both the 32 bit & 64 bit versions.  However it may turn out that it is not necessary in order to run various plugins, etc.

 Ok 32bit has to be upgraded to 32bit only same goes with the 64bit OS as well. Also for you to install this you have to have both a 32bit and a 64bit copy of Windows XP/Vista. An upgrade does require a previous install of the older OS.

 Something you may want to read.

Clean install with Windows 7 upgrade media? Get th

Dear Microsoft: What's the deal with Windows 7 upg

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tracer

Many thanks for your reply and the included links, which were very informative.

If I understand correctly, I can upgrade from XP-home/32 bit to Win7/64 bit, but I may not (legally) install both the 64 & 32 bit versions of Win7.

Not a problem.

Actually no 32bit has to be with 32bit not 64bit, and vice versa. You cannot have a 32bit OS and install a 64bit over it at all just will not work in fact you will receive an error during Windows install.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions <-- click here and read under Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows?

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Tracer76:

Not a problem.

Actually no 32bit has to be with 32bit not 64bit, and vice versa. You cannot have a 32bit OS and install a 64bit over it at all just will not work in fact you will receive an error during Windows install.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions <-- click here and read under Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows?

tracer

Thanks again for your help.  The link you provided appears to be specific to Vista.  I have found a more general link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions

Under the same topic which you cite it seems to contradict itself:

"Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows?

No. If you are currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can only perform an upgrade to another 32-bit version of Windows. Similarly, if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows, you can only perform an upgrade to another 64-bit version of Windows."

It then goes on to say:

"If you want to move from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows or vice versa, you'll need to back up your files and then perform a Custom installation of the version of Windows you want to install."

 From which I conclude that I can upgrade my current XP/32 bit system to win7/64 bit system, provided I do a Custom installation and all that entails.  Please correct me if I am wrong.

Again thanks for your time.

blumesan:

Tracer76:

Not a problem.

Actually no 32bit has to be with 32bit not 64bit, and vice versa. You cannot have a 32bit OS and install a 64bit over it at all just will not work in fact you will receive an error during Windows install.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions <-- click here and read under Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows?

tracer

Thanks again for your help.  The link you provided appears to be specific to Vista.  I have found a more general link:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-Windows-frequently-asked-questions

Under the same topic which you cite it seems to contradict itself:

"Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows?

No. If you are currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can only perform an upgrade to another 32-bit version of Windows. Similarly, if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows, you can only perform an upgrade to another 64-bit version of Windows."

It then goes on to say:

"If you want to move from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows or vice versa, you'll need to back up your files and then perform a Custom installation of the version of Windows you want to install."

 From which I conclude that I can upgrade my current XP/32 bit system to win7/64 bit system, provided I do a Custom installation and all that entails.  Please correct me if I am wrong.

Again thanks for your time.

What they are talking about is actually a full install meaning you can only use one of these. Then that will give you the custom install option.

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Blumesan: You are correct in what you learned from those links. You cannot install both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions from one license of Windows 7. If you bought two licenses, then yes, you could install both OS's, one version with each license.

In addition, you are correct that you CAN use the Windows 7 Upgrade to upgrade from 32-bit Windows XP or 32-bit Windows Vista to either 32-bit or 64-bit Windows 7.  The caveat to this, as I think you figured out from your reading, is that in order to go from a 32-bit OS (whether XP or Vista) to a 64-bit OS, you cannot do an "in-place upgrade" and must do a "custom install" (in other words, a reformat and fresh install by means of the upgrade disc).

However, as I look at your first post blumesan, I realize it isn't exactly clear. If you are building a new computer, you don't have a previous OS to upgrade from, correct? If that is the case, then Tracer would be correct in pointing you toward either OEM or Retail versions of Windows 7.  Be aware, with OEM, you choose when you order it whether you are ordering 32-bit or 64-bit, it is not both discs.

EDIT: Forgot to say, I haven't had any real issues with 64-bit except for really old games like Motocross Madness 2, and I have heard of some issues with Quickbooks PDF program, so you might just be okay with 64-bit.

Again many thanks to all who have taken the time to help me with my questions.  I hate to beat this subject to death, but I am still a bit confused by some of the answers.  Perhaps this is because I have not fully explained my situation.

tracer:  in your very excellent thread explaining the intricacies of the Microsoft licencing agreement, under Retail Upgrade, who qualifies: 

tracer

Got it!  Thanks again for your patience and all your help.