Upgrading VMs to 64 bit

[Brandon7a]

We have four ESX 3.5 servers with Intel Xeon E5335 processors. The virtual machines on all of our host have Windows 2003 R2 32 bit. What would it take to make those virtual machines 64 bit? I'm positive the processors on my ESX servers are 64 bit compatible.

Thanks

[Linjo]

I don't think there is any way to upgrade Windows from 32 to 64 bit.

A new install will be required.

Best regards,

Linjo

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[Brandon7a]

So you're saying I might have to reinstall Server 2003 over top of the existing server but this time choose the 64 bit edition or create a brand new server all together?

[Linjo · Accepted solution]

Well, that is almost the same thing...

There is no way that I know of to move from 32 to 64bit without a destructive install.

Best regards,

Linjo

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[AntonVZhbankov]

Yes, exactly. There is no way to convert Windows 32bit to 64bit.

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MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Brandon7a]

What if I create a new 64 bit 2003 server and then do a complete file level restore on top of it? Will that work?

[krowczynski]

I meant, that this will not work, as 32 ans 64Bit are quiete different!

MCP, VCP

[AntonVZhbankov]

No. You will need to reinstall all the software.

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Brandon7a]

To sum this all up:

There is no way to do a direct upgrade from a 32 bit OS to a 64 bit OS.

When I create a new 64 bit server, restoring the programs will not work.

The only way for this to work is to create a 64 bit server, reinstall all the software and then restore the files?

[AntonVZhbankov]

>When I create a new 64 bit server, restoring the programs will not work.

Some will work, but most of them - no.

>The only way for this to work is to create a 64 bit server, reinstall all the software and then restore the files?

Yes.

---

MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[Brandon7a]

We do not have to purchase a separate license key to use a 64 bit OS correct? We do have a 64 bit Server 2003 disk that came with our purchase.

Thanks

[AntonVZhbankov]

Unlike Windows 2008, Windows 2003 uses different keys for 32 and 64 bit versions.

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MCSA, MCTS, VCP, VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru