Installing Windows7 and using 3 os(s)
Saturday, October 31, 2009 by DaveBax | Discussion: Personal Computing
Hello, can I install windown 7 32 bit and 64 bit on different partitions? I already have vista on one hard drive and 7RC on a different hard drive. going to get rid of the Rc and install the full version of 7. Would like to install both versions the 32 bit and 64 bit on the second hard drive just on different partitions. Not sure if you can have 3 OS on the same computer even if you are splitting them between two hard drives. Thank you. Dave
Reply #2 Saturday, October 31, 2009 5:27 PM
Ok thanks. I will be installing in about 30 minutes. I was also worried about the Microsoft key if it would let me register them both. I will decide real soon.
Reply #3 Saturday, October 31, 2009 5:36 PM
When you install, be sure to uncheck the box to let windows automaticaly activate. This will give you 30 days instead of 3 to decide which one you want to activate, since you will not be able to activate both with the same key.
Reply #4 Saturday, October 31, 2009 5:39 PM
off topic, but relevent:
Hi Dave! Good to see ya about 
Reply #5 Saturday, October 31, 2009 5:49 PM
Hi Tim, I'm worling real hard to get back into this but also very hard. Thanks carguy. Based on what you are saying I can't register both. I'm still deciding if I should go with 64 bit. I have always used 32 and never had any problems. However I have both disk now and most of you folks are running 64 I guess it will be best for me. I know my system can handle it.
Reply #6 Saturday, October 31, 2009 5:59 PM
I have Windows XP Professional 32-bit on one partition (separate hard drive), Windows Vista Ultimate 64-bit and Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit are installed on a second hard drive split into two partitions. What you are wanting to do should not be a problem, although I cannot imagine why you would want both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7 on the same system. 
Reply #7 Saturday, October 31, 2009 6:01 PM
Thank LightStar. I guess only because I, a bit afraid of things not working with 64 and if they didn't I would have 32. I'm not going to worry about it and just go with 64.
Reply #8 Saturday, October 31, 2009 6:12 PM
I'm on vista now but time to jump on my other hard drive and put 7 - 64bit on.
Reply #10 Sunday, November 1, 2009 10:11 PM
There are a few gotchas from when 64 bit was new, like Starforce 3.0 and older Tages protected titles, but nothing really to worry about. If your Vista is 32 bit, then nothing worth mentioning. I certainly wouldn't bother with two copies of 7 though, it's so rare anything has issues anymore in the consumer space.
Reply #11 Sunday, November 1, 2009 10:19 PM
I am on 64, havent had anything not run yet.
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Reply #1 Saturday, October 31, 2009 4:48 PM
I don't see why not... I know that with my motherboard it is possible. When I boot, I can bring up the boot menu, select which hard drive to boot, and then if there's more than one OS on that drive it let's me select which one. It would work on mine, should work on yours.