How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

b9anders · 2009-01-17 12:32:32

I feel terribly noobish, but by sheer chance I just discovered today that my processor is 64-bit. For some reason, I have just always assumed it was 32-bit. Which means I have been running i686 all this time on my arch install.

So here I am wondering, how to make the switch? I have so many tweaks in various configs, I'd rather not do a clean re-install unless I have to, so what would I need to do to make the swittch to x86_64? I am thinking change the repos in pacman.conf and then run:

pacman -Qq > pkglist
for pkg in $(pacman -Qqm); do
  sed -i "s#^${pkg}*##" pkglist
done;
pacman -S $(cat pkglist)

Are there other things I should check up on?

PS. I know I don't have to switch, but I'd like to.

Last edited by b9anders (2009-01-17 12:38:55)

Cew27 · 2009-01-17 12:39:36

no real point going 64 bit unless you have more than 3 gig of ram imo

wonder · 2009-01-17 12:41:54

do a clean installation

Runiq · 2009-01-17 12:46:38

To combine the two posts above: You don't really need to switch unless you have more than 3-4 gigs of ram, and IF you switch, you do have to re-install. The benefits of a 64-bit system are hardly noticable, though; unless you do some really computing-intensive tasks, particularly with floats iirc.

EDIT: I, too, switched just out of curiosity, though.

Last edited by Runiq (2009-01-17 12:51:41)

agapito · 2009-01-17 14:45:15

Cew27 wrote:

no real point going 64 bit unless you have more than 3 gig of ram imo

+1

Ranguvar · 2009-01-17 19:12:48

There are speed boosts, both due to 64-bit and because of more instruction support (SSE, SSE2)... x264 is 10% faster, for example. But this topic has been discussed to death already...

heleos · 2009-01-17 19:55:21

The question wasn't about the difference between x86_64 and i686, he already stated that he wanted to switch to 64 bit. His question was how to go about doing it. The best way is to just do a clean install. You can backup the configs you don't want to lose in the switch-over

generic_ · 2009-01-17 20:02:50

If your just doing to for the ram you can recompile/config your kernel for higher ram support up 64 GB if im correct although it may have gone up. But basically Don't try switch without a clean install, it wont be pretty and there will probably be alot of left over crap and other problems. It will be less of a headache. Also backing up config files like heleos said might be a good idea. If you need help with that ask, people will be happy help.

Heller_Barde · 2009-01-17 20:10:07

i would prepare for a reinstall and then still try your method... sounds very interesting just to try it. if it fails, you can still reinstall

cheers Barde

b9anders · 2009-01-18 00:16:57

Heller_Barde wrote:

i would prepare for a reinstall and then still try your method... sounds very interesting just to try it. if it fails, you can still reinstall
cheers Barde

Think that will be the experiment.:D

Arch Linux

#1 2009-01-17 12:32:32

How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

#2 2009-01-17 12:39:36

Re: How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

#3 2009-01-17 12:41:54

Re: How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

#4 2009-01-17 12:46:38

Re: How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

#5 2009-01-17 14:45:15

Re: How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

#6 2009-01-17 19:12:48

Re: How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

#7 2009-01-17 19:55:21

Re: How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

#8 2009-01-17 20:02:50

Re: How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

#9 2009-01-17 20:10:07

Re: How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

#10 2009-01-18 00:16:57

Re: How do I change my install from i686 to x86_64?

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