32os to 64os on xps 420

[sludge123]

Hi all, i am awaiting for my vista 64os to arrive from dell. Could anyone please advise me as to what i need to do when putting this os on? Is it simply loading over the top of 32? I assume that all other drivers need loading and if so which ones please?

Thanks

[RobinBredin]

You will have to a fresh install to vista 64, you cannot upgrade to it. Put in your DVD, restart, when the Dell logo appears press F2. Go into your BIOS and rearrange your boot options so your DVD drive is the boot drive. Restart the machine and boot off the disc. However, before you do this make sure you have all your 64 bit drivers downloaded from Dell, you will need them after you install Vista 64bit.

[keithg2]

Additionally, if your XPS 420 has RAID enabled, you will need to download the SATA RAID drivers from Dell's Drivers & Downloads page, extract the files to a USB thumb drive and during the Vista 64bit install, load the SATA RAID drivers. Then, continue with the install.

NOTE: If you have 4GB or more of RAM installed in your system, you might blue screen during the install. If you do, simply remove 2GB and start the install again. After Vista 64bit is installed, add the 2GB back into the system.

[Davet50]

Once you get the OS loaded do not let it update yet. Go to device manager and open it up to look for any devices with a yellow ! or red X next to them those will be the driver you will need to go to the dell Drivers page to download and install.

[jronesi]

All the drivers you will need are available on the Dell web site - just put in your service tag.

[beau511]

I just done it on my XPS 410 with no trouble.

I downloaded all the drivers I tought I needed and put them on a cd and left it in the PC and I don't know if windows took them from the cd but everything worked fine after installation.

Your old Windows will show in  a file X86 I think,

Claude

[packerFan07]

Most importantly - copy your data files (word, excel, music, pictures etc..) BEFORE doing anything - they will be gone along with your applications once 64-bit is loaded (definition of clean install as noted above). 

[sludge123]

thats great information from you all. Thanks very much for that. I await my dvd with anticipation. One thing i meant to ask, is that with the os going to 64 can i now go from 3gb to the 8gb maximum?

[hbk123]

Yes

[WKC3]

How do you go about getting the 64bit OS from Dell?  How much does it cost?  I just got a new XPS730, and want to upgrade, but don't want to have to go spend another $100+ on the DVD if there's a way around that.