Restoring from 32-bit to new 64-bit Windows 10
(SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT SITUATION FROM THE USUAL)
I have several drives which were backed up successfully on a 32-bit Windows 10 computer using ATI 2016. These drives were on one hard disc, partitioned into the primary drive plus several logical drives which contain various software. (The backed-up files are stored on a separate "recovery" drive). The operating system will be changed to 64-bit. This is the procedure I understand I'll need to follow, but would appreciate your comments about this.
The original main disc will not be reused but will be replaced with a newer one, partitioned identically to the original one. On the newly-formatted disc, the new 64-bit will be installed here from the appropriate Windows installation CD. Once installed, the appropriate 64-bit Acronis ATI 2016 will next be installed, and a bootable recovery CD made. Then booting from this CD, can I successfully restore the INDIVIDUAL FILES & FOLDERS from the "recovery" drive to the respective drives on the new disc? (If I understand correctly, I cannot restore a complete drive using the INSTALL WHOLE DISCS & PARTITIONS procedure but must do it by files & folders?) I also understand that the individual software programs on these drives will need to be reinstalled.
Is this the proper procedure? And I assume my current license that I used to install ATI-2016 on my 32-bit machine will also apply when I install to 64-bit?
Thanks......Lee

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Acronis bootable media is both 32 and 64-bit (and Legacy and UEFI too). You can use the 32-bit version on 32 bit or 64 bit machines, but cannot use the 64-bit bootable media on 32 bit machines. Really though, it will pick and use the right one when you boot up. The only thing you need to double check is whether you are booting the legacy mode or the UEFI mode of the bootable media (if your system is configured in the bios so that either is possible - you want to make sure that if your system is UEFI/GPT OS install that you boot the media in UEFI mode and if your OS is a legacy bios install that you boot the media in Legacy mode).
There is NO possible way to restore a 32-bit OS over to a 64-bit OS - this is by Windows design. As questioned above, you CAN restore fiiles/folders back though on any type of system (32 or 64 bit). You DO NOT want to restore Windows folder, System 32 folder, program files (x86), program files, etc back though to try and force Windows and/or applications to work. However, if you want to restore user data like photos, documents, pictures, etc, you can go back and forth between different OS (32 or 64 bit).
Yes, you will need to reoinstall apps in your new 64-bit build since you typcially cannot just copy a folder from program files from one computer to another. The reason you usually cannot do this is because applications also leave several registry keys, services and hidden files all over the system too and just copying the files/folders do not bring them over.
Basically, build your new 64-bit machine. Install apps manually. Import user data from backups if you'd like to. Once you have your new base 64-bit system, start new backups of it and keep the first one as a recovery/restore point in case you ever want to start "fresh" down the road again.
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Got it! Thanks, all; sounds like I'll be keeping plenty busy when the new stuff arrives!
Lee
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