Upgrading To Vista Premium

[sladekr]

Hello, this is my first time here, but would like to ask for your help. I am
running XP Home edition, and want to upgrade to Vista Premium 64 bit. I went
to Microsoft site, and it told me to do the following to see if I can run 64
bit version. Go to my computer, system, advanced, environment variables, look
for processor_architecture. It says if I have a 64 bit processor it will have
a x64, if 32 bit it will have a x86. Well I am running a Athlon 64x2 dual
core 5600+ 2.81 GHz, and it shows up in environment variables as x86. Can
anyone tell me why it is showing I have 32 bit, when in fact I am running a
64 bit processor. PLEASE HELP.
I want to make sure I buy the correnct version.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

All AMD64 processors are 64bit. You are running XP Home, which is a 32bit
(x86) operating system so your environment is x86 regardless of the
processor. 64bit processors can run either a 32bit OS or a 64bit OS. You
are simply running a 32bit version of Windows on your 64bit capable machine.
No problem with that.

You can use a Vista Home Premium x64 upgrade edition with your XP Home, but
you cannot upgrade the XP Home software with it. VHP x64 will require
replacing XP Home, not upgrading it. It is not possible to migrate from
32bits to 64bits by performing an upgrade in place.

What you can do is purchase Vista Home Premium upgrade edition in a store or
from an online outlet like Amazon, send for the 64bit dvd, and then install
VHP x64 using the upgrade edition product key that is in the box you bought
in the store. VHP retail copies only contain a 32bit dvd but you are
entitled to order the 64bit dvd from Microsoft for $10. The instructions
are on a paper in the box.

The first step is to make sure that the manufacturer of your computer has
provided Vista x64 drivers for your computer. You did not give the make and
model of your computer so you are on your own to do that.

 

[sladekr]

Hi Colin, thank you very much for the info. You answered all my questions
perfectly. I built this computer, and have upgraded it many times. I have
gone to the Microsoft website, and have run their upgrade advisor, and all my
hardware is compatible with Vista except for my Pinnacle AV/DV, which is no
big deal. Once again thank you and you were a great help.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

Caution: The upgrade advisor does not check for x64 compatibility. Only
x86. It assumes you are upgrading to Vista x86. In fact the advisor does
not even run in a 64bit OS. To migrate to x64 you need to check on
compatibility for your devices and programs yourself. Sorry about that.

Hi Colin, thank you very much for the info. You answered all my questions
perfectly. I built this computer, and have upgraded it many times. I have
gone to the Microsoft website, and have run their upgrade advisor, and all
my
hardware is compatible with Vista except for my Pinnacle AV/DV, which is
no
big deal. Once again thank you and you were a great help.