Windows 7: 32-bit on a 64-bit system

Hi everybody-
Just purchased a new laptop with Win 7 Home Premium (64-bit) OEM. Coming from a PC with Vista 32-bit, I'm really bummed at how many of my favorite programs I cannot install on the 64-bit system. Unfortunately I just don't know enough about how Win 7 handles 32-bit programs, but I know (I think) it does run them. Looked in Task Manager and have many programs running with the *32 after the program name. Am I missing something in that some programs are running 32-bit and were able to be installed on this 64-bit system? But some programs can't be installed? Sorry for the ignorance and any help in trying to understand this better.
-Mark

You are pretty much right on the money. If a program is showing as *32, it means the actual executable is a 32-bit application that's compatible with your 64-bit OS. That's also why you have a Program Files (x86) directory...so you know when an app is being installed it will choose the proper directory based on its coding.

Some programs, however, are not compatible, and can't be installed. Usually, in those cases, either a 64-bit version exists, or an alternative exists. If you feel that some good system utilities aren't compatible, post them, and well find you some good replacements.

This is probably my 5th year of running x64 exclusively, and I can probably count on one hand the number of apps I have found that will not run and don't have 64-bit equivalents.

Also, if you give us an example of the programs you're trying we could look into some in more depth

Thanks for the reply, Deacon. The one little utility that I've used since my Windows 98 days and that does work on my Vista machine is a little application called PropertiesPlus. Computing just ain't the same without it! To read a brief descriptor you can go to PropertiesPlus | File Management Download | PCWorld.
If you know of something that does what this little app does that would be fantastic.
Thanks for your help.
-Mark