Can my PC handle more RAM?

[cliffordcooley]

So... What exactly do I do now?

Decide whether you want a 64-bit operating system, which will be capable of using all 4GB of system memory.

Windows 7 has been know to install drivers for much much older hardware than you are currently using. As I stated earlier, there is not much difference between windows 7 and Windows Vista. Windows Vista drivers have always worked as a substitute when Windows 7 drivers were not available.

 

[xXMagicPandaXx]

Gawn dangit, I keep forgeting about tech spot threads and don't reply for ages, sorry all.

So now that we've agreed that my PC is compatible with a 64-bit OS, I would like to convert to a 64-bit OS. What is the next step?

 

[Marnomancer]

To begin with, you can't really "convert" or upgrade to a 64-bit OS. You always have to make fresh install.
Back up all your data first.
You must have a copy of a 64-bit OS at hand. Do you have a 64-bit version of Windows 7? If not, would you purchase it or use another 64-bit OS such as Ubuntu?

 

[xXMagicPandaXx]

To begin with, you can't really "convert" or upgrade to a 64-bit OS. You always have to make fresh install.
Back up all your data first.
You must have a copy of a 64-bit OS at hand. Do you have a 64-bit version of Windows 7? If not, would you purchase it or use another 64-bit OS such as Ubuntu?

I don't mind loosing my current data since I don't have anything important on my PC, if necessary I can head to the PC store and buy a disk to back up my data. If a Windows 7 OS isn't too expensive I'll go ahead and buy a disk. If you could be so kind as to leave me some simple instructions on how to back up my data and install the OS, I can do it when I'm ready and don't have to dig up this thread after a couple of weeks again to ask how to do it.

 

[Marnomancer]

Here you go:

Backup:
Couldn't be simpler than copying all the files (the data to be backed) to a different storage device, say an external HDD.

OS Installation
Simply reboot with the 64-bit installation disk in the CD tray (and set as the first boot device in the BIOS, obviously). Follow the on-screen instructions and select the partitioning system as you want. A "Clean Install" is your only option there.