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Thread ID: 110106 2010-06-03 12:47:00 Windows 7 Install Problem zqia014 (13726) Press F1
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1106449 2010-06-03 12:47:00 Hi all,

Just got a new setup. i7 2.8Ghz, 6Gb Ram, ASUS P7P55 LX Motherboard, 500Gb Western Digital Black 32mb Cache Harddrive.

Anyway my question is, can a 64 bit Windows 7 install as a 32 bit due to hardware issues? My friend gave me what he said was a 64 bit Windows 7 disk, but I installed it and was surprised to find that it was a Win 7 32bit which can only use 3Gb of ram. During the installation it said Windows 7 Professional x86, I was told x86 is for a 32bit system? 64 bit systems should say x64 right?

Cheers for any advice
zqia014 (13726)
1106450 2010-06-03 12:52:00 Thats right x86 can only use 3.25 - 3.5 GB. And x64 is 64 bit, which can use as much as you want (the mobo / CPU has to support 64 bit as well) / how much the mobo can handle (thats if you can get that amount in NZ) Speedy Gonzales (78)
1106451 2010-06-03 20:59:00 Anyway my question is, can a 64 bit Windows 7 install as a 32 bit due to hardware issues? What Speedy wrote explains the difference between the two very nicely, but as for installing as a 32bit when its a 64 DVD -- generally no.

Its like upgrading from a 32 bit OS to a 64, you cant do it, you have to install it from fresh.

I have installed a 64bit W7 OS on hardware a LOT older than yours and its always showed up as 64Bit.

Some Name brand PC's & laptops when you first fire them up, you have the option of installing either 32 or 64 Bit versions of the OS, so its one or the other.
wainuitech (129)
1106452 2010-06-03 20:59:00 Well buy a 64bit copy. You can't use your friends anyway. pctek (84)
1106453 2010-06-03 21:04:00 Under MS's E-Academy I had 32bit W7 that was 32bit only. I had to get the 64 bit version CD.

For big brand PCs I guess like Wainui it could be either as an option. I do recall an advert saying 32bit/64bit.
Nomad (952)
1106454 2010-06-03 22:35:00 If you tried to load in a 64bit OS and the hardware wouldn't take it, you would get an error messages something Like this (www.imagef1.net.nz(Large).JPG) - notice the last message. wainuitech (129)
1106455 2010-06-04 01:53:00 Well buy a 64bit copy. You can't use your friends anyway.

Unless it can be registered on multi PCs as some licence allow. Anyway that not what he asked.
Mr_Olympia (7727)
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