Can 64bit data be transferred to 32bit data?

[NotquiteanooB]

I have Vista Ultimate 64bit and plan to clean install to Win 7 Pro 32bit. I have a partition with numerous TV show downloads and wonder if I back these up on an external HD (in 64bit), when the change to Win 7 Pro 32 bit is completed, can they be transferred to a 32bit partition ?

 

[Nothinman]

Partitions, filesystems, etc in general aren't 32-bit or 64-bit, at least not in the way you're thinking. Whatever format your TV shows are in is irrelevant, as long as you have the proper codecs installed they'll play just fine. You don't need to do a backup/restore unless they're on the same filesystem as Windows itself that you're formatting.

And why would you move backwards to a 32-bit OS?

 

[NotquiteanooB]

Thanks Debian;
Why go back to 32 bit?
1. Cost of OS .. 32 bit Win 7 Pro on sale $125 Cdn.
2. Many of the apps I have are Win XP era 32bit. (yeah I knoe they would run as x86 compatability.)
3. Not happy with the 64bit Vista crap I have running on 2 PC's that have too many failures.
4. I'm very happy with a PC that is running smoothly on Win 7 Pro 32bit, no fails, or BSOD's since installed 6 months ago.
5. I can't see or measure the difference between systems running 64bit or 32 bit; but I do know this .. the units running Vista are frigging slow !

Do you think that I can clean the OS partition only and install Win 7 on it and still access the apps and data on the other partitions ? I was planning a full wipe of all partitions and a totally clean install of Win 7, then copy the saved data (TV files) back to the newly partitioned HDD , from the external HDD.

 

[NotquiteanooB]

Sorry Nothinman; I meant that last message for you. I got locked onto the Debian logo !

 

[RebateMonger]

As nothinman notes, the video files will transfer to your 32-bit system just fine.

Since they are on a different partition, they shouldn't be lost in the transition unless you purposely or accidentally delete or reformat that partition. But it never hurts to have a fresh backup.

I'm finding that Win7 Ultimate x32 works very well for my new desktop. I have concerns about x64 drivers for some old (and new) peripherals and the 3 to 4 GB of usable memory in Win7 x32 handles my games and work tasks just fine. I have servers with x64 and plenty of memory if I need that capability.

 

[Nothinman]

1. Cost of OS .. 32 bit Win 7 Pro on sale $125 Cdn.

The cost is the same, a Win7 license works for 32-bit or 64-bit releases.

2. Many of the apps I have are Win XP era 32bit. (yeah I knoe they would run as x86 compatability.)

Exactly, they should all run just fine.

3. Not happy with the 64bit Vista crap I have running on 2 PC's that have too many failures.

But it's not fair to blame the 64-bit release without knowing why the failures are happening. They could just as easily, even moreso probably, happen on a 32-bit install.

4. I'm very happy with a PC that is running smoothly on Win 7 Pro 32bit, no fails, or BSOD's since installed 6 months ago.

And? 64-bit Windows 7 is the exact same software.

5. I can't see or measure the difference between systems running 64bit or 32 bit; but I do know this .. the units running Vista are frigging slow !

So? That's a Vista issue, not 64-bit one. All installing a 64-bit Windows does is limit you to only 32-bit apps. You have no choice to run 64-bit software all all without a reload. If you install the 64-bit release you can run all the 32-bit software you want and still run any 64-bit apps that you might find.

 

[xSauronx]

As nothinman notes, the video files will transfer to your 32-bit system just fine.

Since they are on a different partition, they shouldn't be lost in the transition unless you purposely or accidentally delete or reformat that partition. But it never hurts to have a fresh backup.

I'm finding that Win7 Ultimate x32 works very well for my new desktop. I have concerns about x64 drivers for some old (and new) peripherals and the 3 to 4 GB of usable memory in Win7 x32 handles my games and work tasks just fine. I have servers with x64 and plenty of memory if I need that capability.

fwiw, ive been running 7 64-bit since the RC and havent had any serious issues. things generally run stable and quick for me and ive been pretty pleased with the OS

/i just really, really miss compiz and aptitude