any way to upgrade from 32 bit linux to 64 bit linux?

[Dy7SLyTq]

i didnt realize this until a little while ago, but now i have some time to devote to the problem. anyways, i accidently grabbed a 32 bit ubuntu disk i made for a friend, instead of my 64 bit disk. i know my arch is 64 bit, so my question is, is it possible to safely upgrade my os to 64 bit without backing up, formatting, and reinstalling?

[Albatross]

Theoretically. I would look for 64-bit packages and replace the relevant 32-bit packages with those. That said, it may be a very time-consuming process

I recall that Ubuntu has an "upgrade" feature in its installer that allows you to replace a preexisting Linux OS on a disk with an Ubuntu release. That may or may not be of help.

-Albatross

[S6k9GNh0]

On Arch Linux, I can do this... but only because I'm familiar with their packaging system. On Ubuntu, I think you can use a 64-bit CD to "repair" the installation. I'm unsure though.

[Duthomhas]

...that said, typically the answer is NO!

Unless your arch specifically says you can do this, you can't.

[S6k9GNh0]

Duoas, he said he has a 64-bit capable CPU.

[ResidentBiscuit]

Can't you just upgrade to the 64 bit kernel?

[S6k9GNh0]

A new kernel might not even be needed. You would just have to get your current package manager to fix the userspace binaries. Really depends on the distro....

[andywestken]

Well, it does appear to be possible. But not safely...

This procedure is, in every possible respect, a bad idea. If it eats your firstborn, please don't come crying to me.

and

Seriously; the official documentation specifically declares this procedure to be impossible, which should give you some idea of how bad an idea this is.

Upgrading Debian From i386 To amd64
http://users.digitalkingdom.org/~rlpowell/hobbies/debian_arch_up/

Andy

Found via:

Is it possible to “upgrade” from a 32bit to a 64bit installation?
http://askubuntu.com/questions/5018/is-it-possible-to-upgrade-from-a-32bit-to-a-64bit-installation