New Processor = New Install?

[PeterH]

I'm about to buy an E6600 to replace my super old Intel Pentium 4 2.80GHz. The motherboard I'm using is the Gigabyte 965P-DS3.

I'm running Windows Vista at the moment. I want to know whether I'll need to reformat and reinstall when I install the new processor. Is there an issue over 32/64bit windows installations? That's my worry, because the current install will be 32bit if I have a Intel Pentium 4 2.80GHz, right? And I need the 64bit version for the E6600?

I really didn't want to have to do a clean installation, but it seems that I might have to. If someone could just clarify this for me I'd be thankful.

By the way, I have Windows Vista Business N Edition - though I doubt it makes any difference.


EDIT: Also, same question for my Fedora Core 6 installation on my second hard drive.

 

[PeterH]

I'm not changing motherboard, only processor. What difference will I see between 32bit and 64bit Vista?

 

[PeterH]

If you don't do a clean install then can you 'upgrade' to 64bit Windows without a clean install?

 

[PeterH]

Nope. x64 needs a clean install.

Clean install it is. Thanks for the help everyone.