What kind of precautions should I take when upgrading my computer

[Onceler]

can I keep my current win XP install?
I am currently using WinXp pro 32bit,could I install XP64 on top of it and have all my programs work right without reinstalling everything?

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: Onceler
can I keep my current win XP install?
I am currently using WinXp pro 32bit,could I install XP64 on top of it and have all my programs work right without reinstalling everything?

XP will throw a fit. The two systems are just too different for it to be able to cope.

Your best bet will be to do a fresh install, keeps everything nice and conflict free.

 

[XZeroII]

The above post is correct. It will not work without a reinstall or major work. Just reinstall and save yourself hours of headache.

 

[MedicBob]

Reinstall Windows, drivers, and then programs. Nothing will work right esp. without the correct drivers.

 

[Onceler]

of course I would install the correct drivers what I am asking is that would my already installed programs which are multitudes work

 

[lxskllr]

Nothing will work. You'll either have to reinstall using the automated installer, or do it by hand. Doing it by hand isn't really an option.

 

[plonk420]

you can TRY it... but yes, be prepared to reinstall

going from singlecore AMD to dualcore AMD without reinstalling was a disaster. had some odd issue where apps would take ~10 seconds to load, even a 50-100K app that normally would pop up in a second.

oddly enough on that XP box, i later changed a mobo (incl chipset) AND socket type (939 to AM2) and didn't have to install the OS 😵

even weirder, on this Vista box, i did the same thing 3 times... 939 4200 -> AM2 4200 -> phenom 9550 on one install (and 2 mobo/chipset changes: some odd 939 chipset to 690G (ugh) to 8200)

anecdotally, AFTER all these changes, i had to reregister/authorize vista only upon swapping an optical drive

 

[TheStu]

Originally posted by: plonk420
you can TRY it... but yes, be prepared to reinstall

going from singlecore AMD to dualcore AMD without reinstalling was a disaster. had some odd issue where apps would take ~10 seconds to load, even a 50-100K app that normally would pop up in a second.

oddly enough on that XP box, i later changed a mobo (incl chipset) AND socket type (939 to AM2) and didn't have to install the OS 😵

even weirder, on this Vista box, i did the same thing 3 times... 939 4200 -> AM2 4200 -> phenom 9550 on one install (and 2 mobo/chipset changes: some odd 939 chipset to 690G (ugh) to 8200)

anecdotally, AFTER all these changes, i had to reregister/authorize vista only upon swapping an optical drive

Shoot, I went from a single core Athlon 64 on an ATi chipset, to a dual core Pentium with an intel chipset and Vista booted up just fine. Had to reinstall my video drivers strangely enough (same video card) but everything worked. I eventually reinstalled anyway since it was Vista 32

 

[lxskllr]

Originally posted by: plonk420
you can TRY it... but yes, be prepared to reinstall

Going from XP32 to XP64, there's no way it'll work. All XP32's stuff will get moved to a windows.old folder, and if he's lucky, a small handful of apps will work. The only way to fix it, would be to manually move folders, and hand edit the registry.

 

[bsobel]

Originally posted by: Onceler
can I keep my current win XP install?
I am currently using WinXp pro 32bit,could I install XP64 on top of it and have all my programs work right without reinstalling everything?

You can't install on top, migration from 32 to 64 is not supported (period). Clean install is the only option.

 

[plonk420]

oh, would help if i read the OP better. i blame reading comprehension when i wake up. but then again, i shouldn't be posting if that's the case! D: