Windows 7: Issues

I'm in love with Windows 7. by far the best Microsoft operating system out since XP (in my opinion) However, I am experiencing a couple of issues.



My system is fairly new, Currently saving up money to build my own machine. Past couple of days i have been experiencing some wack performance. I have been using VMware Workstation and their player to run another Virtual Windows 7 machine. (For software testing purposes) I'll run other background applications such as skype, Firefox, Possibly have music running in the background (The Mars Volta ) I can't take a screen capture - so what i'll probably end up doing next time it happens is bringing out the cellphone to post up pictures.

I want to make sure i am getting the most performance out of my laptop. I always have a USB fan plugged in to keep the system cooled. My first concern is the task manager application. There are certain programs with a *32 next to them. Does that mean that the software is a 32 bit version?

Also...

Going in to C: I noticed from the beginning that there are two program file folders... The regular one and a (x86) folder. It seems that windows has already made the (x86) Folder to be the default destination for installing program files. Reason? and why?

Thanks in advance

If you install a x64 version of Seven, it creates two folders for programs: C:\Program Files for 64-bit software, and C:\Program Files (x86) where Seven installs all native 32-bit software.

A running 32-bit process is marked *32.

Kari

As you can see from my screenshot, i am running firefox *32. Is there a 64 bit version out?

Yes there is. You can download it here. Notice please you can not watch flash-videos (Youtube etc.) on x64-browser, flash exists currently only as 32-bit version. That is the main reason almost everybody still uses a 32-bit IE8 or Firefox.

Kari

You are the man. Thank you Kari

Another question... I might as well take advantage huh? ha ha. I currently have 4GB of ram installed on my computer, how do i know if that all of it is used?

Kari is good and gives accurate and helpful answers, but time to give him a rest. You can determine your memory usage by using task manager (alt, contrl, delete) and then resource manager, go to performance go to resource meter. Good luck

This is that screenshot - Can someone explain whats going on here please...

If you want to check if Seven x64 is using all of your RAM, click and right click Computer. Choose Properties. Look for Installed memory (RAM) under the System. If your system is using all of the RAM, it says 4.00 GB. If not, the amount available and used is told after that in parentheses. For example, a 32-bit Seven can only use about 3.2 gigs so it would say Installed memory (RAM): 4.00 GB ( used 3.2 GB).

If you want to check the current status of your memory, open Task Manager and click the Performance tab. Bottom right you can see the stats.

Kari

I see that your question has beenn answered by Kari, as I was typing, so all I will add is enjoy your OS.

I have music in my external harddrive... I do not want to move those files to my computer but just simply play them from the harddrive. How do i do this with windows media player?