Need to upgrade to 32-bit ubuntu

[desdenova]

Hi,

I have been running Ubuntu Hardy LTS edition for some time now, but I just realised that my kernel is the i686 one... so I wish to upgrade to the 64-bit edition (without losing all the additional softwares I have installed on the current version)

Is this possible... if so, how ?

Thanks for any responses ...

[Thelasko]

This question is asked about once a week. Please search the forums before posting. (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=366707)

[cariboo907]

The only way you can do an upgrade from a 32bit version to a 64bit version is to do a clean install. Unfortunately th 64bit version will not work with your processor.

Jim

[cjazz]

The only way you can do an upgrade from a 32bit version to a 64bit version is to do a clean install. Unfortunately th 64bit version will not work with your processor.

Jim

Excuse me? Where does OP identify his or her processor?

[Sef]

Excuse me? Where does OP identify his or her processor?

From the i686 kernel, if I am correct.

desdenova:

If you want to double check if you can use the 64-bit or not:

Applications > Accessories > Terminal

paste or type in this code:

uname -m

If you can run 64-bit, it will say x86_64.

[John.Michael.Kane]

Hi,

I have been running Ubuntu Hardy LTS edition for some time now, but I just realised that my kernel is the i686 one... so I wish to upgrade to the 64-bit edition (without losing all the additional softwares I have installed on the current version)

Is this possible... if so, how ?

Thanks for any responses ...

Without knowing your hardware config, it will be hard for forum members to tell you if you can or cannot run a 64 bit OS.

First to make sure your hardware supports 64 bit you can run the command below. Which will tell you if have a 64 bit aware processor.

cat /proc/cpuinfo

Regarding your main question of upgrading to 64 from 32 bit. There have been discussions on this and the consensus seems lean to having to do a reinstall, and backing up your data before doing so.

[Sef]

Regarding your main question of upgrading to 64 from 32 bit. There have been discussions on this and the consensus seems lean to having to do a reinstall, and backing up your data before doing so.

I know of no other way to upgrade to a 64-bit from a 32-bit system.

[rsambuca]

Sef, those instructions you gave don't give the 64 bit info capabilities of the processor.

[Sef]

Sef, those instructions you gave don't give the 64 bit info capabilities of the processor.


I realized that when I read john's post. I had thought about cpuinfo, but forgot the differences between that and free -m.

[desdenova]

Hi Again....

Thank you all for taking a such a keen interest in this post... and sorry for repeating an oft asked question.

Sef : I am pretty sure my AMD64 processor can handle a 64-bit OS ;) also - I have already done a cpuinfo to make sure.

Also - I had already checked the earlier posts regarding the same problem with earlier versions of Ubuntu, but was somewhat hopeful... that the latest release would have somehow implemented this feature (although I am not sure of the technical difficulties involved)

As far as I can think, since a 64-bit linux can also run many 32-bit softwares... it should really be possible to enable a person to switch his kernel to a 64-bit one, and still retain his working 32-bit softwares. I do hope this small insignificant features will find its way into Ubuntu in a future release.

I need to do a lot of setup now... thanks to you all!!

Cheerios!!

[peakshysteria]

Most 32-bit softwares have 64 bit equivalents. Which is some of the point of changing to a 64 bit OS. No point in running a 64 bit Ubuntu with everything else 32-bit.

[desdenova]

Most 32-bit softwares have 64 bit equivalents. Which is some of the point of changing to a 64 bit OS. No point in running a 64 bit Ubuntu with everything else 32-bit.

Thanks Peakshysteria... I appreciate your words of encouragement... will surely upgrade my Os -and all the software that i can.

[crjackson]

As far as I can think, since a 64-bit linux can also run many 32-bit softwares... it should really be possible to enable a person to switch his kernel to a 64-bit one, and still retain his working 32-bit softwares. I do hope this small insignificant features will find its way into Ubuntu in a future release.

I need to do a lot of setup now... thanks to you all!!

Cheerios!!

Actually it is possible, just not practicle I suppose. I have never done this myself, but I have read a few posts where the 64-bit kernel was transplanted into a 32-bit install to gain access to large amounts of memory. Upgrading and/or changing all the other libs and packages however would be a different story. I sure it's POSSIBLE but hardly worth the effort.

[Thelasko]

...but I have read a few posts where the 64-bit kernel was transplanted into a 32-bit install to gain access to large amounts of memory.
Wouldn't it be much easier to simply install PAE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extensions) support?

[Sef]

I would also think about dual booting. OpenJDK (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=774956) is not 100% compatible with Java. Over 90% of the time it is, but there are sites where it will not work. It really depends on if your sites are compatible or not with OpenJDK.

[crjackson]

Wouldn't it be much easier to simply install PAE (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Physical_Address_Extensions) support?

I not arguing the merits, I'm just stating it has reportedly been done.