Upgrading from 32 to 64 bit

[Colin Law]

On 12 August 2016 at 13:27, Peter <petergoggin at bigpond.com> wrote:
> I am considering upgrading my systems from 32 to 64 bit.  I realise this
> means a fresh installation.  I have all of my  home directory backed up to
> an external disk. My email program is thunderbird. Can I restore the 32 bit
> files to the 64 bit system without losing emails , addresses etc?

Your data files, email and so on, should just work, there is no
difference in the stored data between 32 and 64.

In fact you should not have to restore your home directory. If, when
you install, you select "Something Else", select whichever disk
partition is your current '/' partition and set it to mount as '/' but
*do not* tick the Format box, then it will install the 64 bit version
but leave your home directory as it was.  If you have a separate Home
partition then do it with that partition instead and, obviously, mount
it as Home.

>
> How will this affect my virtual machines?

Don't know about that.  My guess would be that they continue as before
but not sure.

Colin