32-bit operating system to a 64-bit operating system

On 09/25/2017 06:28 PM, Paul wrote:

[snip]

A certain range of versions of DataRAM RAMDisk are capable
of using PAE space. The RAMDisk runs in Ring0. Thus, I
can have 3.2GB of memory for WinXP (in Ring3 application space),
and 4GB for the RAMdisk (in Ring0 driver space),
out of 8GB total on a 32-bit OS.

I had that installed when I was using XP on a system with 8GB. When that
machine died I installed 64-bit Windows 7.

The real ****er, is DataRAM removed the PAE capability.
Newer versions of their software no longer have that setting.
Almost like "someone asked them nicely to remove it" :-(
But, I have the capability I need here, so I no longer
care about this. My copy works...

Â*Â* Paul


--
90 days until the winter celebration (Monday December 25, 2017 12:00:00
AM for 1 day).

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"There are no sects in geometry." [Voltaire, Philosophical Dictionary,
1764]

On 09/25/2017 06:54 PM, wrote:

[snip]

I guess it would not work with Win 10. Almost all machines come with 8
gigs these days. I went up to 16 gigs on one laptop. Never noticed any
difference although I doubt I would.

I have one machine with 32GB. It helps when running multiple virtual
machines at the same time.

KenW

--
90 days until the winter celebration (Monday December 25, 2017 12:00:00
AM for 1 day).

Mark Lloyd
http://notstupid.us/

"There are no sects in geometry." [Voltaire, Philosophical Dictionary,
1764]

Mark Lloyd wrote:
This is still not as completely successful as with Linux (for one
thing, there's still that **** registry)
Exactly!

--
Take care,

Jonathan
-------------------
LITTLE WORKS STUDIO
http://www.LittleWorksStudio.com

On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 19:28:42 -0400, Paul
wrote:

wrote:
On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 06:36:45 -0600, Albert
wrote:

I have Windows 10 Home with a 32-bit operating system, x64-based
processor and I would like to go to a 64-bit operating system. Can I
and if so how do I without losing any data on my computer change to a
64 bit operating system.

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 1703
OS Build 15063.608
Product ID 00326-10000-00000-AA088
Processor Intel (R) Core (TM) i17-479K CPU @ 4.00 Hz 4.00 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (2.69 GB usable)
System type 32-bit operating system, x 64-based processor
PN and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

Reading posts in the thread, wasn't there some setting one could use
to increase memory seen by 32 bit OS. Been a few years if I remember
correctly and don't remember who, what, where or when !!


KenW

That's called PAE, and yes, it can. You can have 64GB of RAM
usable in a 32-bit OS.

The limit is 16 GB and it requires the computer to have 2 extra
address lines.

Each process cannot access more than
two to four gigabytes, so one 32-bit process is not allowed to
own the whole thing. That takes a good deal of the "fun" out of it.

However, the implementation of the "Microsoft memory license",
prevents this from happening.

How the memory license works, is pretty specific. There is
4GB of address space allowed in Ring 3. Ring 0 (kernel and
driver space) is not limited.

I have 8GB of memory installed on this WinXP Sp3 x32 machine.

I had a server with 8 Pentium 3 CPUs and 8 GB RAM using PAE.

SP3 enables PAE to get the NX bit in the page table.
As a side bonus, that leaves the PAE door open.

A certain range of versions of DataRAM RAMDisk are capable
of using PAE space. The RAMDisk runs in Ring0. Thus, I
can have 3.2GB of memory for WinXP (in Ring3 application space),
and 4GB for the RAMdisk (in Ring0 driver space),
out of 8GB total on a 32-bit OS.

The real ****er, is DataRAM removed the PAE capability.
Newer versions of their software no longer have that setting.
Almost like "someone asked them nicely to remove it" :-(
But, I have the capability I need here, so I no longer
care about this. My copy works...

Paul

On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 06:36:45 -0600, Albert
wrote:

I have Windows 10 Home with a 32-bit operating system, x64-based
processor and I would like to go to a 64-bit operating system. Can I
and if so how do I without losing any data on my computer change to a
64 bit operating system.

You can simply upgrade without losing any data or settings.
You may need a licence key if you upgraded free from
Windows 7 32 bit.

Mark Lloyd wrote:

(for one thing, there's still that **** registry).

The Registry is journaled.

The Registry is saved in Restore Points.

The file system (NTFS) is journaled.

What's not to like ? :-)

And as it turns out, the Registry is a "file system".
For the longest while, I thought it was a database,
but a discussion thread describes what it does as a
file system. Think of it as a bitmap file holding
a file system image, and then a file system driver
extracts individual "files" (entries). The OS makes
at least a couple hundred accesses a second to the
Registry, and the hard drive light doesn't even blink.

*All* file systems can be corrupted, with enough
hardware damage to storage. And you design your
storage methods, for the right compromise values
to account for that.

And no system is completely resistant to bad RAM.
"Good" computers have ECC, but the marketing people
don't want us to have that on desktops. And that
leaves all OSes with an exposure with regard to
integrity of operation. You can corrupt anything
you read into bad RAM, and copy out again. This is
how I was able to make a backup in Macrium, which
worked fine when it was done (Macrium Reflect Free
didn't complain), but when I later ran a "Verify"
on the MRIMG, it failed. Bad RAM used for disk
buffering, did that. The checksum was computed
on the file, before the RAM buffer was written into
the MRIMG. I had a couple backups ruined that way,
until the RAM was replaced (on this machine).

The single biggest exposure on Windows now,
is the possibility of bad RAM. You should test
the RAM on your computer, on at least a yearly
basis just for safety. Cheap RAM seems to have a
median life of 2 years or so, before something
happens. The RAM I had die, was Kingston, and the
error condition was flighty enough, I was not
able to fault isolate to the nearest stick, and
had to replace the whole set. Each stick would
test good by itself, but only when the whole
set of sticks was installed, would the error
come back.

Paul

Lucifer Morningstar wrote:
On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 06:36:45 -0600, Albert
wrote:

I have Windows 10 Home with a 32-bit operating system, x64-based
processor and I would like to go to a 64-bit operating system. Can I
and if so how do I without losing any data on my computer change to a
64 bit operating system.

You can simply upgrade without losing any data or settings.
You may need a licence key if you upgraded free from
Windows 7 32 bit.

With the Digital Entitlement recorded on the Microsoft server,
together with the hardware hash that identifies your machine,
you should not need to do that if installing to the same
machine. It should activate on its own. Just click Skip
and it will figure it out.

If you change the motherboard, then the computed hash will
not be locatable on the Microsoft server, and some other
means will be needed.

If you do a brand new install (not a repair or upgrade
install) on a virgin computer, then obviously a license
key is going to have to come from somewhere.

Windows 8 and Windows 10 machines, have an ACPI table
called MSDM in the BIOS. That contains a license key.
Each BIOS chip has a different key stored in it.
For a Windows 10 machine that came with Win10 Pro
from the factory, it is that MSDM table that
authorizes it. If you want to take a retail
Win10 Pro 15063 DVD and reinstall a non-OEM OS, that
key will activate it. So as well as Digital Entitlement
stored on the server (indexed by hardware hash), really
modern machines (that shipped with Win10) also have a
key in the BIOS. And that's why those machines no longer
have a COA sticker on the outside of the chassis.

Paul

| And while I am writing, remember that even if you have a 64bit OS
| installed, when you go to run a 32bit program, you will still run into
| the 4GB memory limitation. Just something to keep in mind.

True, each 32-bit process will have that limitation. But you can have
many of those processes running at the same time while using no (or
very little) swap space. That can speed things up a good deal.

--
Tim Slattery
tim at risingdove dot com

On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 06:36:45 -0600, Albert
wrote:

I have Windows 10 Home with a 32-bit operating system, x64-based
processor and I would like to go to a 64-bit operating system. Can I
and if so how do I without losing any data on my computer change to a
64 bit operating system.

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 1703
OS Build 15063.608
Product ID 00326-10000-00000-AA088
Processor Intel (R) Core (TM) i17-479K CPU @ 4.00 Hz 4.00 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (2.69 GB usable)
System type 32-bit operating system, x 64-based processor
PN and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

If I upgrade from Windows 10 home to Windows 10 Pro will I be able to
change to a 64-bit operating system from a 32 bit operating system
during the Pro installation?

Albert

Albert wrote:
On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 06:36:45 -0600, Albert
wrote:

I have Windows 10 Home with a 32-bit operating system, x64-based
processor and I would like to go to a 64-bit operating system. Can I
and if so how do I without losing any data on my computer change to a
64 bit operating system.

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 1703
OS Build 15063.608
Product ID 00326-10000-00000-AA088
Processor Intel (R) Core (TM) i17-479K CPU @ 4.00 Hz 4.00 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (2.69 GB usable)
System type 32-bit operating system, x 64-based processor
PN and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

If I upgrade from Windows 10 home to Windows 10 Pro will I be able to
change to a 64-bit operating system from a 32 bit operating system
during the Pro installation?

Albert

32-bit to 64-bit requires clean install.

Technically, it doesn't really have to (as Program Files could be
migrated to Program Files x86), but that's the way it is. Going
the other direction, taking a 64 bit OS to 32 bit, would be a
disaster. I don't see the other direction to be quite as tough.

You can only do things that the migration logic supported during
a Repair or Upgrade installation. That's why these limitations
exist.

Win7 Sp1 -- Win10 (same bitness)
Win8.1 -- Win10 (same bitness)
Win10 -- Win10 (same bitness)

Win10 was unusual in supporting that many options.
Normally, only the previous OS (8.1) would have been supported,
but that didn't fit the business plan MS constructed.

This article, by Andre the voice of Microsoft, shows there
is an Anytime Upgrade inside Win10 Home, to take it to Pro.
This would take 32 bit to 32 bit. Or, it would take the
64 bit OS to 64 bit. It doesn't allow changing bitness.
It cost $99 to do this, when the difference at the
store between Home and Pro is *not* $99. And as you can
imagine, such a license key is *bound* to cause problems
later. The Windows Media Center on my copy of Win8.1
is like that, and it means extra steps if I ever need
to re-install. And with the license server, you never
know when something will tip over on you.

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/upg...grade-feature/

Notice the comments in there, that the process did not go
smoothly. It seemed to get stuck at 100%.

If you buy a Win10 license key, you should be able to
download any media you need. Which will prevent you
from being suckered by "kits" on Newegg, for a variety
of prices. You should be able to download a 15063 DVD with

x64 Home and Pro, or

x32 Home and Pro

Two OS flavors fit on one DVD, because most of the
files are in common between the two OSes. In your case,
you would only use the 64 bit DVD, knowing it can only
be used (right now) to do a Clean Install of Pro and start
all over again. Being stuck in 32 bit land, for $99, isn't
helping. And sooner or later, if you want 64 bit, it means
a clean install.

When you do a Clean Install, by booting the computer with
the DVD you downloaded, you are offered the choice to select
Home or Pro on the disc. Some Microsoft DVDs have even more
choices, but this one would be a "typical" screen. So this
screen shows me starting a Clean Install on this VM.

https://s26.postimg.org/4o26ae0tl/Clean_Install.gif

Paul

Paul wrote in news
Albert wrote:
On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 06:36:45 -0600, Albert
wrote:

I have Windows 10 Home with a 32-bit operating system, x64-based
processor and I would like to go to a 64-bit operating system. Can I
and if so how do I without losing any data on my computer change to
a 64 bit operating system.

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 1703
OS Build 15063.608
Product ID 00326-10000-00000-AA088
Processor Intel (R) Core (TM) i17-479K CPU @ 4.00 Hz 4.00 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (2.69 GB usable)
System type 32-bit operating system, x 64-based processor
PN and touch No pen or touch input is available for this
display

If I upgrade from Windows 10 home to Windows 10 Pro will I be able to
change to a 64-bit operating system from a 32 bit operating system
during the Pro installation?

Albert

32-bit to 64-bit requires clean install.

Technically, it doesn't really have to (as Program Files could be
migrated to Program Files x86), but that's the way it is. Going
the other direction, taking a 64 bit OS to 32 bit, would be a
disaster. I don't see the other direction to be quite as tough.

You can only do things that the migration logic supported during
a Repair or Upgrade installation. That's why these limitations
exist.

Win7 Sp1 -- Win10 (same bitness)
Win8.1 -- Win10 (same bitness)
Win10 -- Win10 (same bitness)

Win10 was unusual in supporting that many options.
Normally, only the previous OS (8.1) would have been supported,
but that didn't fit the business plan MS constructed.

Some recommendations from personal experience. Don't just backup your
system drive before doing a clean install. If you have room in your PC,
get another physical drive and add it to your system. Then, depending on
the size of the new drive and whatever else you might use it for, either
clone your system drive to the new drive, or create a partition on the
new drive of appropriate size, and clone the current system drive to
there. That way, if (more likely when) the need arises you can quickly
look at the old system, and copy any data files that you might need
without having to restore a backup. It would probably be a good idea to
make that new drive large enough for a second partition that you can
clone the new system too as well.
If you don't have room to install an additional drive, you could get an
external drive, either USB or eSATA, and use it for the cloning.
I have supported Windows since version 3.1, and have learned a few things
about upgrades and system restorations. The biggest thing is never
destroy the original document/file if you don't have to. That way you
always have something to go back to if you have to start all over again.
And plan before starting, and take copious notes while doing whatever.
Trust me, you will NOT remember that important piece of data if you need
it later. And save those notes for a while. Sometimes things don't pop up
right away, and it helps to have your notes on what you did, how you did
it, WHY you did it, and when you did it. Whatever is on your current
system drive has value, and may not be replaceable/recoverable. When I
was doing this for a living I used to tell people that "Paranoia is a
useful trait", 'cause Murphy is out there, and he is an ingenious *******
when making things go wrong. Good luck.

On Wed, 27 Sep 2017 14:30:26 -0600, Albert
wrote:

On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 06:36:45 -0600, Albert
wrote:

I have Windows 10 Home with a 32-bit operating system, x64-based
processor and I would like to go to a 64-bit operating system. Can I
and if so how do I without losing any data on my computer change to a
64 bit operating system.

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 1703
OS Build 15063.608
Product ID 00326-10000-00000-AA088
Processor Intel (R) Core (TM) i17-479K CPU @ 4.00 Hz 4.00 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (2.69 GB usable)
System type 32-bit operating system, x 64-based processor
PN and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

If I upgrade from Windows 10 home to Windows 10 Pro will I be able to
change to a 64-bit operating system from a 32 bit operating system
during the Pro installation?

If going from home to pro you will need a pro key.
You can upgrade from Windows 10 home to pro using the pro key.

Albert

Paul wrote:
Albert wrote:
On Mon, 25 Sep 2017 06:36:45 -0600, Albert
wrote:

I have Windows 10 Home with a 32-bit operating system, x64-based
processor and I would like to go to a 64-bit operating system. Can I
and if so how do I without losing any data on my computer change to a
64 bit operating system.

Edition Windows 10 Home
Version 1703
OS Build 15063.608
Product ID 00326-10000-00000-AA088
Processor Intel (R) Core (TM) i17-479K CPU @ 4.00 Hz 4.00 GHz
Installed RAM 16.0 GB (2.69 GB usable)
System type 32-bit operating system, x 64-based processor
PN and touch No pen or touch input is available for this display

If I upgrade from Windows 10 home to Windows 10 Pro will I be able to
change to a 64-bit operating system from a 32 bit operating system
during the Pro installation?

Albert

32-bit to 64-bit requires clean install.

Technically, it doesn't really have to (as Program Files could be
migrated to Program Files x86), but that's the way it is. Going
the other direction, taking a 64 bit OS to 32 bit, would be a
disaster. I don't see the other direction to be quite as tough.

You can only do things that the migration logic supported during
a Repair or Upgrade installation. That's why these limitations
exist.

Win7 Sp1 -- Win10 (same bitness)
Win8.1 -- Win10 (same bitness)
Win10 -- Win10 (same bitness)

Win10 was unusual in supporting that many options.
Normally, only the previous OS (8.1) would have been supported,
but that didn't fit the business plan MS constructed.

This article, by Andre the voice of Microsoft, shows there
is an Anytime Upgrade inside Win10 Home, to take it to Pro.
This would take 32 bit to 32 bit. Or, it would take the
64 bit OS to 64 bit. It doesn't allow changing bitness.
It cost $99 to do this, when the difference at the
store between Home and Pro is *not* $99. And as you can
imagine, such a license key is *bound* to cause problems
later. The Windows Media Center on my copy of Win8.1
is like that, and it means extra steps if I ever need
to re-install. And with the license server, you never
know when something will tip over on you.

https://www.groovypost.com/howto/upg...grade-feature/

Notice the comments in there, that the process did not go
smoothly. It seemed to get stuck at 100%.

If you buy a Win10 license key, you should be able to
download any media you need. Which will prevent you
from being suckered by "kits" on Newegg, for a variety
of prices. You should be able to download a 15063 DVD with

x64 Home and Pro, or

x32 Home and Pro

Two OS flavors fit on one DVD, because most of the
files are in common between the two OSes. In your case,
you would only use the 64 bit DVD, knowing it can only
be used (right now) to do a Clean Install of Pro and start
all over again. Being stuck in 32 bit land, for $99, isn't
helping. And sooner or later, if you want 64 bit, it means
a clean install.

When you do a Clean Install, by booting the computer with
the DVD you downloaded, you are offered the choice to select
Home or Pro on the disc. Some Microsoft DVDs have even more
choices, but this one would be a "typical" screen. So this
screen shows me starting a Clean Install on this VM.

https://s26.postimg.org/4o26ae0tl/Clean_Install.gif

Paul

For the OP, purchasing the 64 bit media(or license) with the Pro key and
should be fine for upgrading the 64 bit capable device to 64 bit Win10.

For a user with a OEM Win10 Home device with Product Key chip on board(which
takes precedent install and activation) the clean install with 64 bit media
may very well end up with Home 64 bit thus necessitating using the Change
Product key option to go from Home x64 to Pro x64.


--
...winston
msft mvp windows experience 2007-2016, insider mvp 2016-2018