How to install 32bit and 64bit on the same computer?

ashdavid · 01-09-2008, 11:46 PM

I want to know how to install 32bit and 64bit on the same computer? Can I partition off one hard drive and install seperately or will I have to install on two seperate drives and disconect the I don't want to use at that time when booting up?
Edit: OS is vista BTW

PC eye · 01-10-2008, 12:03 AM

That depends on the version of Windows for that. XP also has a 64bit Pro edition and will install to a second partition on a drive while Vista "loves" that first one always! That was seen when trying to install just the 32bit edition to a second partition and instead it wanted to replace XP Pro refusing to go onto the second.

With either XP or Vista on two separate drives you don't have to unplug either if you are dual booting both edititions. To see each installed separately you then unplug one to see Windows installed onto the other along with a separate boot information record there. Then you unplug that one after to see the other edition go onto the other drive.

Once both drives see a working copy of Windows running you then can decide which will be the default boot device and automatically load the OS on that at powerup. One tip on running two OSs on two separate drives is the F8 or F key designated to bring up the boot device menu seen on most boards. That allows you to select between floppy, optiical, or the other hard drive from the one assignes as the default.

Note that this will load the other edition for a one time only session since you have to press the F key until changing the boot order to make the other then the default. Make sure to run the other edition every so often or sometimes it may fail to load. XP was recently reinstalled here with Vista having been default for a lengthy period in order to see XP load normally again.

ashdavid · 01-10-2008, 12:46 AM

Thanks for the reply.

I was intending to go with Vista Ultimate OS as I believe it has two disks of 32 and 64bit in the one package.

I don't know how to enable dual booting entries, but will try and do a bit of research. Will dual booting make the system slower?

PC eye · 01-10-2008, 02:05 AM

First of all dual booting sets one drive as the boot drive regardless of the version installed onto it. As the default copy of Windows loads you will then see the option to boot the other instead. That will be an entry in one edition's boot loader. With XP that would be something seen in the boot.ini file while Vista sees it's own over the 2000/XP type seen in the previous versions.

Apparently you are looking at a combo package rather then the usual one version per box or OEM buy there. Microsoft probably has that seen as a package deal to sell their both types of their new version as one. Sometime you'll see a 3pack of OEM disks for one edition as well depending on where you shop.

As for dual booting itself you never notice any major slowdown except when first booting the system. There you will then be seeing a lag for display of the OS choice menu. The boot information section in the msconfig utility can be used to lower the amount of time that is displayed to see Windows load up faster.

At present both XP and Vista are now separate while the last build saw XP Home and Pro along with Vista following it's release all configured in a multiple boot there. The main problem will only be seen when a need to reinstall Windows at some point comes up. Then all versions(except Vista tying everything together when going on last) would need to be reinstalled just due to one.

Two editions of the same version of Windows could see the last reinstalled without need for the first to see the same. The last detects all others and adds the one or more into it's own boot loader.

quyloc · 01-10-2008, 08:47 AM

Sure. You can. Just install 2 different operating systems on 2 different partitions

PC eye · 01-10-2008, 11:53 PM

Vista wants the first however while XP will easily go onto a second primary. That's one thing to be aware of about the new version of Windows. If it detects an existing installation on the first it will refuse the second. At some point I'll try again with only seeing an empty first primary to see if I can get it to go on the second.

One thing about reinstalling XP when two drives are plugged in with Vista on the first drive on the system to know is that the installer will goof Vista up a little when going to install or reinstall XP on a second drive. All versions look for the first drive to place boot information there regardless of where the Windows files are going.

If you have Vista on the first like adding a second drive in later make sure to unplug that first or you will have to boot up with the Vista installation disk in order to use the automatic fix startup problems tool. There's no more recovery console seen for manually using the "Fixboot" and "Fixmbr" commands in order to see the new boot information written there.

01-09-2008, 11:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
ashdavid Silver Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 101	How to install 32bit and 64bit on the same computer? I want to know how to install 32bit and 64bit on the same computer? Can I partition off one hard drive and install seperately or will I have to install on two seperate drives and disconect the I don't want to use at that time when booting up? Edit: OS is vista BTW Last edited by ashdavid; 01-10-2008 at 12:03 AM.

01-10-2008, 12:03 AM	#2 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,998	That depends on the version of Windows for that. XP also has a 64bit Pro edition and will install to a second partition on a drive while Vista "loves" that first one always! That was seen when trying to install just the 32bit edition to a second partition and instead it wanted to replace XP Pro refusing to go onto the second. With either XP or Vista on two separate drives you don't have to unplug either if you are dual booting both edititions. To see each installed separately you then unplug one to see Windows installed onto the other along with a separate boot information record there. Then you unplug that one after to see the other edition go onto the other drive. Once both drives see a working copy of Windows running you then can decide which will be the default boot device and automatically load the OS on that at powerup. One tip on running two OSs on two separate drives is the F8 or F key designated to bring up the boot device menu seen on most boards. That allows you to select between floppy, optiical, or the other hard drive from the one assignes as the default. Note that this will load the other edition for a one time only session since you have to press the F key until changing the boot order to make the other then the default. Make sure to run the other edition every so often or sometimes it may fail to load. XP was recently reinstalled here with Vista having been default for a lengthy period in order to see XP load normally again. __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

01-10-2008, 02:05 AM	#4 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,998	First of all dual booting sets one drive as the boot drive regardless of the version installed onto it. As the default copy of Windows loads you will then see the option to boot the other instead. That will be an entry in one edition's boot loader. With XP that would be something seen in the boot.ini file while Vista sees it's own over the 2000/XP type seen in the previous versions. Apparently you are looking at a combo package rather then the usual one version per box or OEM buy there. Microsoft probably has that seen as a package deal to sell their both types of their new version as one. Sometime you'll see a 3pack of OEM disks for one edition as well depending on where you shop. As for dual booting itself you never notice any major slowdown except when first booting the system. There you will then be seeing a lag for display of the OS choice menu. The boot information section in the msconfig utility can be used to lower the amount of time that is displayed to see Windows load up faster. At present both XP and Vista are now separate while the last build saw XP Home and Pro along with Vista following it's release all configured in a multiple boot there. The main problem will only be seen when a need to reinstall Windows at some point comes up. Then all versions(except Vista tying everything together when going on last) would need to be reinstalled just due to one. Two editions of the same version of Windows could see the last reinstalled without need for the first to see the same. The last detects all others and adds the one or more into it's own boot loader. __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

01-10-2008, 08:47 AM	#5 (permalink)
quyloc New Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Posts: 4	Sure. You can. Just install 2 different operating systems on 2 different partitions __________________ Windows Registry Expert

01-10-2008, 11:53 PM	#6 (permalink)
PC eye Diamond Member Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Inside a pc Posts: 18,998	Vista wants the first however while XP will easily go onto a second primary. That's one thing to be aware of about the new version of Windows. If it detects an existing installation on the first it will refuse the second. At some point I'll try again with only seeing an empty first primary to see if I can get it to go on the second. One thing about reinstalling XP when two drives are plugged in with Vista on the first drive on the system to know is that the installer will goof Vista up a little when going to install or reinstall XP on a second drive. All versions look for the first drive to place boot information there regardless of where the Windows files are going. If you have Vista on the first like adding a second drive in later make sure to unplug that first or you will have to boot up with the Vista installation disk in order to use the automatic fix startup problems tool. There's no more recovery console seen for manually using the "Fixboot" and "Fixmbr" commands in order to see the new boot information written there. __________________ Youtube falls short of Google's expectations http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5336532 Congress studies how people track your online use http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/Ahe...ory?id=5337932

01-10-2008, 12:46 AM	#3 (permalink)
ashdavid Silver Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 101	Thanks for the reply. I was intending to go with Vista Ultimate OS as I believe it has two disks of 32 and 64bit in the one package. I don't know how to enable dual booting entries, but will try and do a bit of research. Will dual booting make the system slower?

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