Vista has me stumped.....

[Panama Red]

I've run into this problem before but figured I'd ask if others have a solution to this ridiculous issue. We all know Vista comes in 32 bit and 64 bit. However, the only way to find out which version is installed is to boot the pc and check in System Properties. I can find no way to tell on a non-booting system.

Right now I have an HP laptop that will not boot. I get a bsod with Stop 7e. Hard drive and memory tests show no issues. I've tried the Vista Repair option and attempted to boot to Last Known Good Configuration. Nothing works. Says it can't be repaired. The owner didn't make Recovery Disks and the HP site only tells me the computer came with Vista Home Premium - not whether it's 32 or 64. I have both 32 and 64 bit Vista Ultimate disks that can be used to reinstall the os but none of the factory installed programs would be available. So, I'd prefer to spend the $16 and order recovery disks from HP. BUT! Which ones do I order?! This is, without a doubt, the dumbest oversite MS ever made when releasing an operating system.

[ryuk999]

by boot do you mean can't get into vista or can't even get a bios screen?
cause i was thinking if you could get into the bios you could just go look up which processor you got lol

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by ryuk999 by boot do you mean can't get into vista or can't even get a bios screen? cause i was thinking if you could get into the bios you could just go look up which processor you got lol

Yes, I can get to the bios but the bios doesn't list the Operating System. Knowing what processor won't tell you anything about the OS unless you only have a 32 bit cpu. Then you could only run a 32 bit OS. But a 64 bit processor will run either operating system. Wanna guess which processor is in this HP? It's a 64bit.

[Masaki 7-11]

An option would be to use a Linux livecd to access the Vista partition, from there you should be able to see if it's 32 or 64 bit.

[David M]

If the laptop still has its original OS then would referencing the laptops serial number in HP's website tell you which OS the machine was sold with? ....sort of like going online with a Dell Service Tag Number to look up a computers specifics.

[Panama Red]

Originally Posted by David M If the laptop still has its original OS then would referencing the laptops serial number in HP's website tell you which OS the machine was sold with? ....sort of like going online with a Dell Service Tag Number.

Tried that one too, David. HP doesn't list by serial number like Dell. They use the Product Number instead and only list the OS as "Vista Home Premium" without any notation as to 32 or 64 bit.

I'm trying something else right now that I just discovered. If it works, I'll post back with a solution.

[Panama Red]

Found the solution. There is another option in the repair area called Windows Recovery (or something like that - didn't write it down). That option allows for a full backup of user files/favorites/etc to another connected hard drive. This is a 17" wide screen unit with 2 hard drives installed so I saved the backup to that drive. The WR then reformatted the first hdd and returned the unit to it's original, factory configuration. No Recovery Disks were required. Odd part is, I couldn't see any Recovery partiton when I had the hard drive attached to my computer. Oh, well. It all worked out. Btw, it's 32 bit Vista.

[Petef56]

Originally Posted by Panama Red I've run into this problem before but figured I'd ask if others have a solution to this ridiculous issue. We all know Vista comes in 32 bit and 64 bit. However, the only way to find out which version is installed is to boot the pc and check in System Properties. I can find no way to tell on a non-booting system.

I'm guessing here, but you know how Windows has a folder named \System32 ?

Well I'm guessing that the 64 bit version has a folder named \System64. Is that true? Even if not true, the System32 folder has many files with the "32" suffix that would indicate which version it is.

If it is true, you could use a Linux live CD or Windows recovery console any method that allows you to see the folders on the hard drive to take a look at the Windows sub-folder names or filenames to see if it's the 32 bit or the 64 bit version.

---pete---

[EzyStvy]

Program Files
Program Fies (X86)

If both folders are present-> 64bit OS

[David M]

Interesting...puzzle solved.

[HAL9000]

Originally Posted by EzyStvy Program Files Program Fies (X86) If both folders are present-> 64bit OS

DOH!!!... I was looking all over for an answer to this one and here it was sitting on my computer the whole time LOL.

[Panama Red]

Thanx Stvy. That's one to remember. Much appreciated.