How can I install Ubuntu 14 64 bit along side a 32bit Ubuntu on a dual boot system?

Question

My system is dual booted one with WIndows 7 32 bit and other with Ubuntu 10 32 bit. But my lap supports 64 bit. I want to install 64 bit ubuntu on my system. Will it be best to uninstall old Ubuntu 32 bit from my system and then install 64 bit of it or install it afresh by keeping ubuntu 32 bit on one side afraid of loosing files. I am not sure whether i have created a separate partition for ubuntu 32 bit during my installation, but pretty sure the primary boot system was windows.

Answer 1

Here is what you can do:

Take a large usb or hard drive, connect it to your computer and download the files on the ubuntu os that you want.

Next, go into windows and remove all the ubuntu files.

Then re install the new ubuntu on the partition.

Your good to go!

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

It would be very difficult for a non-expert to install 64-bit Ubuntu over 32-bit without losing files.

So it is strongly recommended to back up your files.

As for dual boot of 32-bit and 64-bit it is possible but in my opinion, not effective in the long run in terms of hard disk space and hardware performance, because you will have to resize partitions or remove 32-bit Ubuntu sooner or later.

You do have separate partitions for Ubuntu.Ubuntu always sits in another partition than Windows. It is never inside Windows.

So the best thing you can do is to backup files (both Ubuntu and Windows files for being more confident), and make a clean install of Ubuntu 64-bit by removing 32-bit version.