Today, more and more often users of modern personal computers are faced with the concept of 64-bit systems. In particular, starting with the Windows 10 operating system, "operating systems" support the 64-bit architecture. Considering the details of operation and technical principles, let's try to find a solution to the problem when a 64-bit system is available for installation. How to switch to it from a 32-bit version of the operating system?
64-bit system: advantages
As for the main features and advantages of 64-bit systems, it is obvious that with the appropriate equipment they can process data streams twice as fast. With their appearance, it became possible to increase the RAM to unimaginable limits. Today it is 192 GB.
Of course, it is very doubtful that some of the users will be able to reach this ceiling. Wait! Computer games that use the most complex graphics are developing very rapidly, so the increase in the bar for using "RAM" is not far off. As far as 32-bit systems are concerned, they do not allow more than 4 GB to be installed (as mentioned above). On older machines, you still need to think about the advisability of such a transition (even if there is support for 64-bit architecture), since the new operating system will work much slower, if only because it will greatly load system resources.
Legacy hardware issues
If you are already wondering how to make the transition to a 64-bit system, it is worth noting immediately the point related to the equipment installed on the computer or laptop. First of all, this concerns the processor itself. First, you need to find out its modification (say, using the Everest utility), and then check the manufacturer's website if it supports 64-bit. The same applies to other equipment such as hard drives, scanners, printers, etc. It may well be that after installing a 64-bit system, they will not work at all. The fact is that there are no drivers for such equipment in their own windows 7, 8 or 10 database, and the developers themselves simply do not release new drivers for outdated equipment.
64-bit system: how to migrate?
Now let's look at the main issue of moving to a 64-bit (bit) version of the Windows operating system. Many users purchase or download a distribution kit that contains a 64-bit system. How to upgrade to it without reinstalling? The question that can be answered unequivocally is: nothing. Let us explain why. This has to do not so much with the file systems as with the system architecture itself. It simply does not provide for an upgrade from a 32-bit version to a 64-bit version, although the file systems may be the same (for example, NTFS). FAT32 is not supported for system drives and partitions.
But on 64-bit systems, you can run 32-bit applications and programs without problems (but not vice versa). As for the installation, you must use the original installation disk and, as the main step, format the hard drive and logical partitions according to the proposed scheme. It goes without saying that valuable information must first be saved on removable media, and previously installed programs and applications will have to be reinstalled. As mentioned above, there is nothing wrong with the fact that they are designed for 32-bit systems, no.
