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November 26th, 2010 23:00
Can a 530 with a E6550 processor run compatible with a 64 bit Windows OS?
I'd like to purchase 64 bit version Windows 7 and move up from the 32 bit version of Vista Home Premium that I have now, however some people don't believe the E6550 Core 2 Duo is compatible with 64 bit systems. I'd like to find out prior to making a purchase.
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fireberd
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November 27th, 2010 08:00
Dell has Vista 64 bit drivers so it will work with 64 bit OS. However, do your homework before installing Windows 7. Dell has Vista drivers but NO Windows 7 drivers, but the Vista drivers usually work OK in Windows 7 since Win 7 is basically "Vista Improved". When you install Windows 7 64 bit you will have to do a complete new install as you can't use an "upgrade" version since you are going from 32 bit to 64 bit. You will also have to install all your programs so make sure you have the full programs with the installer. Backup your user data to CD/DVD's or an external hard drive or a USB flash drive. Many that are upgrading to a different operating system keep the current hardrive and Operating System and buy a new hard drive to install the new OS on. This gives them a "fall back" in case it's needed and also doesn't require backing up user data since the drive isn't being touched.
Windows 7 will install most of the needed drivers however, in most cases you must use the Dell sound driver as a non-Dell sound driver will either not work or not work correctly.
jondan7
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November 27th, 2010 10:00
I am trying to do some homework before attempting a clean install albeit difficult to speak about it on your level. Knowing I need to purchase a Full Version to change the OS, the first thing I worry about is why are there so many different choices and prices available varying up to as much as $200., how do you do enough homework to know enough to buy the right one? Makes one think 'how many variations of Full Version' are there? I've seen Full Versions priced from $119. - $339. and many in between. I know I want to get out of Vista and expand my ram from the 1 GB that came with to the 4 GB that is supposed to be available. I don't intend to add a hard drive because I have no desire to keep anything Vista, but I would like to know if my 530 can upgrade to a better processor like a new i7 or something? I guess that would depend on the ability of my motherboard? Maybe better to just buy new off the Dell Assembly Tables, but I sure like to try a Home Build one day.
fireberd
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November 28th, 2010 03:00
You can't upgrade to an i7, i3 CPU, etc. There may be some CPU upgrades but in most cases it's not worth it. I upgraded my Dimension E510 from the original Pentium D805 to a Pentium D925 that had many added functions and slightly faster speed - it was a waste of $$ as it didn't make the PC run faster or run programs faster or better.
The Windows 7 HOME PREMIUM is the version for most home users. Buy an "OEM" version, which is less expensive. The only difference between OEM and a full version is the free support from Microsoft for the Operating System and you can only legally install the OEM version on the initial PC it's installed on. If you built a new PC, for example, you couldn't legally use the OEM version on that new PC and transfer the activation to the new PC (you can only use a copy of Windows 7 on one PC even if it's a full version - no different than XP or Vista).