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I am using Windows 7 32-bit on a Dell Vostro 1014 (Intel Core 2 Duo T6670 CPU) and now I want install a 64-bit version of Windows.

My questions:

  1. How can I be sure that my laptop is compatible with 64-bit Windows 7?
  2. On the Dell website, I only see drivers for Windows 7 32-bit. Will Windows 7 64-bit supply its own drivers for my laptop, or will I be unable to use the 64-bit version due to the unavailability of 64-bit drivers from Dell?
  3. If I try to install 32-bit drivers on Windows 7 64-bit, will the 32-bit drivers work?
magicandre1981
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user297874
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4 Answers4

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You can get the required drivers from Dell website here If you are doing a clean install Windows will do most of the driver installs for you.

To answer your question you need to use to correct drivers. For a look at how these systems work I suggest you have a read from Microsoft

Matthew Williams
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To answer your questions:

How can I be sure that my laptop is compatible with 64-bit Windows 7?

Your processor supports the "EM64T" instruction set, so at a fundamental level, it is compatible with Windows 7 64-bit. The real question is whether it will run optimally on 64-bit. By optimally, I mean, will it only run the Microsoft built-in drivers, or are there 64-bit native drivers available for the customized hardware.

On the Dell website, I only see drivers for Windows 7 32-bit. Will Windows 7 64-bit supply its own drivers for my laptop, or will I be unable to use the 64-bit version due to the unavailability of 64-bit drivers from Dell?

As you can see from the page linked to by Matthew Williams' answer, it appears that 64-bit drivers do exist for your computer, contrary to what you said. Even without these drivers, though, Windows 7 should at least install and boot up to the desktop, though you may not be able to take advantage of all features/buttons or get the best graphical performance in the absence of 64-bit drivers. That's not a problem for you, though, as the drivers seem to be there.

If I try to install 32-bit drivers on Windows 7 64-bit, will the 32-bit drivers work?

No. It is not possible to make 32-bit drivers work on a 64-bit operating system.

allquixotic
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A. Check the Windows 7 HCL.

B1. Yes. B2. Maybe.

C. No.

joeqwerty
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Simply? Not completely, but as long as you are on ethernet with your laptop when installing Windows 7, it should pick up the drivers automatically. Search for drivers from Dell. Once you have those, have Windows search for drivers. That processor is compatible with Windows 7 64-bit, as I've used it with it before.

Matej
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