W7 64 bit or 32 bit
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W7 64 bit or 32 bit
I am having to buy a new Desktop. Dell are now offering W7 64 bit. My question. Will my legacy software (including Office 03 - I don't like Office 07) and other non MS stuff (Quiken etc, etc) work on a 64 bit computer?
Cheers
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I'm running 64bit W 7, all my older non 64 bit programs installed themselves into a separate 'program files' directory and run quite happily.
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Professional, mainly because I need the virtual XP facility for a couple of radio data decoding programs that wont run under vista/W7.
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I wonder if the second program files exist under the home version?
I've had W7 sitting on my desk a week now wondering which version to install, having read the web a bit I'm going for the 64 bit version.
I have an XP machine on the same network so if I get 32 bit compatibility issues I'll just have that software on the XP machine.
I've had W7 sitting on my desk a week now wondering which version to install, having read the web a bit I'm going for the 64 bit version.
I have an XP machine on the same network so if I get 32 bit compatibility issues I'll just have that software on the XP machine.
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I chickened out of 64-bit, having read the warnings about software that doesn't work and drivers that don't exist.
32-bit is working tickety-boo on both machines. A couple of minor niggles remain to iron out - I think I've got them cornered now, but they aren't in the documentation (what documentation?)
32-bit is working tickety-boo on both machines. A couple of minor niggles remain to iron out - I think I've got them cornered now, but they aren't in the documentation (what documentation?)
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CBAc & GG
Many thanks for that. I will go for the 64bit W7 when I order the replacement computer from Dell. As far as the computer working VISTA, I will probably wait for SP1 before urgrading. For the other two working XP, I will leave well alone.
BD
Many thanks for that. I will go for the 64bit W7 when I order the replacement computer from Dell. As far as the computer working VISTA, I will probably wait for SP1 before urgrading. For the other two working XP, I will leave well alone.
BD
Last edited by beerdrinker; 4th Nov 2009 at 12:07.
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From MS website:
I highlighted the AV piece - you will certainly have to have a 64-bit version of your AV software as well as 64-bit drivers for peripherals.
Also, it is worth pointing out that 16-bit apps will most certainly NOT work in a 64-bit environment - the Windows-on-Windows (WOW 64) abstraction layer only works "one step" back - i.e. 32-bit on 64, 16-bit on 32.
Finally, while most 32-bit apps will run in a 64-bit environment, they will not be able to take advantage of the 64-bit OS, so will not run as efficiently as a native 64-bit app. This really is unlikely to be a problem for a single-user PC (that spends 99.99% of CPU cycles waiting for user input!), but can be a problem on servers.
SD
Most programs designed for a computer running a 32-bit version of Windows will work on a computer running 64-bit versions of Windows. Notable exceptions are many antivirus programs, and some hardware drivers.
Drivers designed for 32-bit versions of Windows don't work on computers running a 64-bit version of Windows. If you're trying to install a printer or other device that only has 32-bit drivers available, it won't work correctly on a 64-bit version of Windows. For information about updating drivers and troubleshooting issues with device drivers for 64-bit versions of Windows, contact the manufacturer of the device or program.
Drivers designed for 32-bit versions of Windows don't work on computers running a 64-bit version of Windows. If you're trying to install a printer or other device that only has 32-bit drivers available, it won't work correctly on a 64-bit version of Windows. For information about updating drivers and troubleshooting issues with device drivers for 64-bit versions of Windows, contact the manufacturer of the device or program.
Also, it is worth pointing out that 16-bit apps will most certainly NOT work in a 64-bit environment - the Windows-on-Windows (WOW 64) abstraction layer only works "one step" back - i.e. 32-bit on 64, 16-bit on 32.
Finally, while most 32-bit apps will run in a 64-bit environment, they will not be able to take advantage of the 64-bit OS, so will not run as efficiently as a native 64-bit app. This really is unlikely to be a problem for a single-user PC (that spends 99.99% of CPU cycles waiting for user input!), but can be a problem on servers.
SD
