Some questions before Ultimate 64bit Clean install

I have a new HD and a Vista Ultimate full retail edition, and I am going to install the 64bit version. Some questions that come to mind are;

1. My current HD has a Vista Premium 32bit OS installed. Can I just take the HD out and put it in another machine, with the already registered Premium OS and use it? Are there some hardware incompatiblities that would interfere with using the still existing 32bit OS on this HD?

2. I have onboard sound and I also have a Creative Extreme Gamer Pro card. Should I install it on the 32 bit OS before I put it in the 64bit OS? (that's probably a strange question ).

3. When I have done a clean install of XP Pro I had to first install, after the loading of the OS, an Ethernet driver from the motherboard CD to get started. How does this work with my attempt of installing a Vista Ultimate 64bit OS; meaning do I need an Ethernet driver for my Dell TP406 Intel X38 Express chipset (ICH9R)? or does a Vista 32bit or 64bit OS install handle this differently?

4. What BIOS changes do I need to perform before installing the 64bit OS? I have already set the boot device to the CD ROM.

5. I read something that I should only have 2gb installed when a 64bit OS is installed and after the OS is loaded, and all Vista updates have been installed, then I can install the DIMMs that I have. I now have 4ea 1gb DIMMs installed and want to install 4ea 2gb DIMMs after the OS is loaded. Does this method sound reasonable?

6. Is there anything else that may be important that I should do, besides backing up whatever files I want to install on the new HD, before I do the clean install? I read a tutorial on how to do a clean install on this site and it's done very well, indeed.


Any inputs will be appreciated.

Win95 said:

My current HD has a Vista Premium 32bit OS installed. Can I just take the HD out and put it in another machine, with the already registered Premium OS and use it? Are there some hardware incompatiblities that would interfere with using the still existing 32bit OS on this HD?

Click to expand...

This version would have to be full retail and not OEM, as OEM are forever tied to the first mobo it's installed on and cannot be moved.

I haven't had time to read all your questions, more later.






Later Ted

Yes, it's a full retail version of Vista Ultimate with a 32bit and a 64bit DVD.

Hello again.

Then you should be able to move it; you may have to reactivate it with MS.
















Later Ted