I just ordered the family pack, upgrade 3 PC's to Windows 7... it has both 32 bit and 64 bit versions... my desktop and my 2 kids pc's have vista 32 bit... should I upgrade them to 64 bit on the fresh install, or do I have to stick with 32 bit? Is that set in bios or something?

thx.

Read over the System requirements and see what your various PC's fall under:
http://windows.microsoft.com/systemrequirements


If you go 64bit I would suggest a fresh install (well technically, I always opt for the fresh rather than an upgrade if possible).

Nothing in the BIOS you need to mess with to install Win7 x64 if your installing to the same drive.

If your installing to another drive just assign the boot order correctly to avoid any issues. I would also suggest only connecting the drive you are installing to until install is complete. Once done plug other drives back in.

Good luck!

Mag, if your hardware supports 64-bit, there is no reason not to go that route.


-Skater

After verifying your hardware as advised above, might as well go 63 bit (edit, HUH? 64 bit), unless you run into issues with some app's not liking it. It happens, but not much these days. The installation should tell you if your hardware won't support it.
You can't just upgrade from 32bit to 64 bit, a clean install is required for that anyway.
Note that in Vista (surely in Win7 too, haven't tried a 64 bit in that) if someone in your house prefers IE as their browser, there are 2 variants on there: 32 bit and 64 bit. Often you hear people on 64 bit having issues with websites. They're using the 64 bit IE, which isn't utilized yet. Be sure to use the right one. Seems like that shortcut icon is more quickly found or placed first in the start menu, so people naturally click the wrong one.
Also note that you'll have 2 program directories, one for 64 bit, one for 32.

make sure all your hardware drivers will support 64bit. I DL'd the 64bit version of Win7 RC1 and found out that Actiontec didn't supply 64bit drivers for my wireless adapter. Also had to wait for a few months before SoundMAX released Win7 64bit drivers for my on-board sound.

NUFAN, I would not hold off on W7 x64 for a wireless card... I'd just get another wireless card that is supported.

But all your hardware does not have to be 64-bit compatible... You can run with 32-bit drivers as well.

-Skater

Unfortunately, the Family 3-pack Windows 7 upgrade at $150 will not install unless it finds Windows already installed on a boot drive. You cannot boot from the disk...you have to run it frow the previous version of Windows. The Win7 install disk checks the bit depth of the existing Windows install and will not allow a 32 bit Windows OS to upgrade to 64 bit. You have repurchase the full blown 64 bit version of Win7 *not an upgrade version* to install the 64 bit version clean from a bootable 64 bit install disk. I faced this 'issue' myself and Microsoft states that you cannot upgrade to 64 bit from a previous 32 bit version.

That said, my I was running the 64 bit RC, then installed the 32 bit released version and I just love it. I've had virtually zero driver issues. Dual screen SLI rocks, btw. In Black Shark I can have my Saitek profile app open, a text file to test programming results quickly, my Microsoft X6 gaming keyboard mapping software on my left 23" LCD while in the cockpit of Black Shark with TrackIR running. The mouse moves directly out of Black Shark and onto the left screen so I can pause Black Shark, move to the other LCD and continune the HOURS of controller mapping, testing and retesting...all while running in SLI mode on my dual Nvidia 9800 GTX+ OC's.

I just love this OS folks.

-Surfer

Here is a little article on upgrades.

http://benchmarkreviews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=399&Itemid=38

By the way, I'm running WIN 7 Pro OEM 32bit with no issues as far as hardware is concerned and it's working great. I have two GB of RAM and it idles at 38% usage though.

So that is what is going on with this new W7 OS. Prior to W7 if I chose to operate my 9800 GX2 in SLI it would shut off my other monitor. I noticed with W7 that if I selected SLI it still spanned across my monitors. Interesting...

This article explains how to install the 64bit option from and XP upgrade.

http://www.winsupersite.com/win7/upgrade_02.asp

Had me worried there for a second!

That is really not an upgrade, but a full installation, which is what we have been saying... There is no UPGRADE path from 32-bit to 64-bit, so you have to do a full install. Whether you do that from an upgrade disc or not, has never been at issue. I guess that is sort of confusing...

-Skater

It is confusing because it sounds like you are not allowed to go from XP to W7 64bit with a normal "upgrade" purchase.

I went from XP to 7 without a hitch using an upgrade disc. You need to do a little hocus-pocus trickery but its about as difficult as entering your login and password in this forum. I would also suggest that you be 100% legit when doing this. It's illegal to install an upgrade if you dont have the requisite software in hand and have a proper license for it, as well.