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I can’t possibly reply to them all personally, so I thought I would answer some of the most common/interesting/provocative questions here. So, without further ado…

How do I know whether I can use the 64-bit version of Windows 7 on my PC? Should I even bother?

If you have 4 GB (or more) of RAM, or if you think you might want to use that much memory someday, then yes, you should consider a 64-bit version of Windows 7. The issues involved are the same as they were in August 2008, when I answered some similar questions about Windows Vista. If you’re interested in the technical background, go read that post.

With the exception of some very cheap PCs and netbooks, most PCs manufactured in the past three years or so will run a 64-bit version of Windows. The easiest way to check your system for compatibility is to run the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor, which runs on XP and Vista. Click the 64-bit tab to see the full report.

I’m thinking of upgrading from a 32-bit version of Windows to 64-bit. What should I watch out for?

The biggest stumbling block for x64 upgraders is compatibility, either with a business-critical application or a favorite device. In my experience, printers, scanners, and multifunction devices are most likely to cause problems. Most 32-bit programs will run just fine under 64-bit Windows, but some don’t, and 16-bit Windows programs won’t run at all. You might be able to resolve some compatibility problems using Windows XP Mode, which allows you to connect USB devices to a 32-bit virtual machine.

Oh, and you must do a custom installation to move from 32-bit to 64-bit. An in-place upgrade isn’t supported.

My retail box includes 32-bit and 64-bit disks but only has a single product key. Will that key work for either edition?

Yes. The format of a product key identifies a specific edition of Windows 7 (Home Premium, Professional, and so on) as well as whether it’s a full or upgrade product. But it doesn’t care at all about the 32/64-bit question. The key will work with either version.

There are two DVDs in the Windows 7 box. Does that mean I can install one on my desktop PC and the other on my notebook PC?

If you purchased the Windows 7 Home Premium Family Pack upgrade, then the answer is yes. In fact, you can use the single product key in that box to upgrade three separate PCs in the same household from Windows XP or Vista to Windows 7. But if you purchased a single full or upgrade copy of Windows 7, then you can install it on one and only one PC.