What do you mean "it was set to 32 bit?" You may be confusing two things here.

The processor may be 64b capable, but Vista 32b was installed.

Vista 64b versus 32b is not an install option, they are totally different operating systems.

If you had 64b Vista, then it would have been installed as 64b. It is not generally backwardly compatible with 32b drivers and I am not aware of a method to make 32b drivers work in a 64b environment.

You will need Microsoft's method 1.

As to your hard drive it is not Partitioned to a Bit-count-rule. By all means shrink the single partition and create a second one. That will leave all of the Vista 32 and your files on the shrunk partition. Then install 64b in the new Partition.

I would suggest buying and installing win7 x64 instead of buying a copy of Vista x64.

**BEFORE** doing the 64b upgrade, make sure that there are 64b drivers available for **ALL** of the hardware and software you intend to use.

You may want to rethink that "Experience" level you assigned. ;-)

Dave

 

Dave,

That's what I figured, but I was mislead by a sentence on the Microsoft website:

If you want to move from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows Vista or vice versa, you'll need to back up your files and then choose the Custom option during Windows Vista installation. Then, you'll need to restore your files and reinstall your programs.

That one sentence screwed up everything I thought I new about upgrading to 64 bit. I always used to think that you had to go out and buy the 64 bit OS; however, I assumed that they where referring to a factory reset, considering they never mentioned buying anything.

And yes, if I was to go out and buy anything, I'd go Window 7.
And yes, I understand you need to have all 64b drivers ready to go, but in that cause, I do a fresh install.

You might want to rethink calling out my experience level, considering you're the one that has started over 20 help me threads...All of which were started with-in the year.

Thank You.

 

You might want to rethink calling out my experience level, considering you're the one that has started over 20 help me threads...All of which were started with-in the year.

Way to go to get help dude.

I think you will find my help requests were pretty unique and unusual. A lot of them I finally found a solution and marked Solved myself as no one here could help. One in particular (win98) had stumped ALL of the experts here for many many months. I finally managed to work it out using just plain hard work and digging through the Registry for hours. Never said I know everything, it is all about sharing.

But hey, you must have missed the "wink" emoticon in my previous post.

Dave

 

GO BUY WINDOWS 7!

I STRONGLY suggest it. It is like vista, except about 10 times faster, uses less resources, and has 1/100th the driver problems.

Hell, after a fresh installation of iwndows 7 it found all but one driver on my PC. The one driver was for an older USB thinger I had still attached. And by older, I mean... OLDER lol

And no, you cannot just install vista as 64 bit. You need to purchase either a 64bit upgrade or a 64 bit version. The disc does not give you the option at installation.

As far as I am aware anyways. I have a retail copy of vista sitting here and in all my reinstallations (all like... 4.. fkn vista...) it has never once offered me a chance to install a 32 bit version. You have EITHER 32 OR 64 bit versions.

Again, I strongly suggest 7. It finds nearly every driver when it comes to new(ish) hardware without any problem.

The above quoted sentence from M$ simply assumes you have both versions, were you going to switch between them.

Also, I see where he is coming from with the rethink of your experience level thing. If it were advanced, you would have been around the block when it comes to OS installation and would know that you cannot just "set" the os to 64 bit. Even via reinstallation.
Not that I am insulting you, I am sure you are well trained in photoshop and all the APPLICATIONS you use. But that does not mean you are highly knowledgeable about computers. I do computer work on occasion for an older lady who can fly through paperwork and mortgage stuff on her PC like no other. But she doesn't even know what RAM is.

Do you get what I am saying about the distinction? You may be an advanced CS5 user, but when it comes to the OS its another story.

Of course there are... alternative methods to purchasing windows 7, but we all know that is "illegal".