icoeph

I recently purchased a desktop computer with Windows Vista Business (32 bit) as an operating system. I now have a version of Windows Ultimate (64 bit). When I put the disk in the drive, I get a message that The program cannot run because it is a 64 bit program and I am using a 32 bit OS. Is there was any way I could install the new OS without wiping my hard drive and losing all the programs, preferences, and information I have already installed?
Edit/Delete Message

  

Regeneration

No, you need to reinstall Windows, but you can backup your document and settings folder and registry entries and restore it later on.