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When reinstalling Windows 7, does the language, version, architecture (64-bit or 32-bit) or source (OEM, retail, or MSDN) matter?

My uncle bought Windows 7. It comes with 32-bit and 64-bit install discs. He has a printer that has a 16-bit installer and so has to install the 32-bit version of Windows.

What I want to know is if, later down the line, he wants to go 64-bit can he just wipe his machine and install using the 64-bit disc or does he have to buy another copy of Windows?

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closed as exact duplicate by nhinkle♦ Jun 28 '11 at 1:13

This question covers exactly the same ground as earlier questions on this topic; its answers may be merged with another identical question. See the FAQ for guidance on how to improve it.

3 Answers

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It's possible. The license covers both 32 and 64-bit versions. You can of course only have one installed at any given point.

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Windows 7 can come with 32bit and 64bit versions in same package - well it did for me in UK when I bought Windows 7 home upgrade. As for only having one installed at any given point I'm not sure. The license may rule that you can only be running one of them at any one point.Why would you want both installed? Maybe you want a choice to boot into one or the other, as 32bit supports more older hardware than 64bit (e.g. Yamaha SW1000XG sound card), while heavy duty apps such as Adobe production products require or prefer 64bit. So you would partition & dual boot to suit each of these situations. – therobyouknow Aug 13 '10 at 15:46
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up vote 3 down vote

While this may not answer your question, it is a solution to a different problem:
Your printer's installer can be unpacked and then rebuilt, or you can use the executables themselves, if just the installer is 16-bit. (You can use UniExtract, which is a brilliant bundle of tools)

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That didn't work, sadly but +1 for the info. – Shane Kearney Oct 25 '09 at 16:05
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up vote 0 down vote

I'd tell him to get a new printer. How old is that thing that it has a 16-bit setup?

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