Windows 7: 64x OS running 86x programs?

Good day

I just want to ask, it is possible for a 64x OS to run 86x programs right? Because at the current moment I'm facing with a BSOD problem.. And I'm hopping that it's something to do with the drivers and nothing with the software that I installed..



but I just want to confirm that 86x programs WORKS with a 64x OS.. RIGHT? Like it won't corrupt the OS or damage anything?

Thanks

Yes and no. Any true x86 program will work in a x64 system. However, just because it runs on a x86 system does not mean it is x86. x86 systems will also run 16-bit programs, which x64 does not support.

You can check what type of program it is, in Task Manager. Here is a snip of my processes list on an x64 system.

Edit: forgot to mention, we have an excellent BSOD team on SF. See this post: http://www.sevenforums.com/crash-loc...d-problem.html

Edit #2: I see your BSOD post now.

I see..

Wow.. there is alot on my computer that is running 32x...

Thanks ^ ^

You're welcome.

I'd say most of the programs installed on x64 systems today are x86. With each new program release, this percentage goes down.

I see.. Yeah I actually heard about people saying that 64x is going to take over... As I know that window 7 is the only OS that is going to have 32x... any one after this won't have x32..

but google crhome is 32x... But it doesn't really matter does it?

64-bit programs can make better use of x64 hardware, leading to faster, more efficient programs.

As for the rumors the Windows 7 will be the last OS to support x86 programs, don't put much stock into them. The truth is, no one knows. That is just speculation at this point.

If you are interested, I suggest checking out our sister site for the OS we know nothing about: Windows 8 Forums

I see.. wow.. they kind of start on the next OS already..

mm..

Anyway, but there is another thing that I want to ask, at the moment, I'm running 64x with 2GB ram, but it doesn't give me the FULL 2GB, only 1.8GB, but the reason for me to have installed 64x was because it said to give FULL amount of ram... But then I heard from a friend that it only applied when you have 4GB + ram.. Is that correct?

The truth is, you don't need to be running a 64-bit OS unless you have 4GB+ of RAM. 32-bit can recognize up to 4GB, but in practice, you will only get 3.4 or so.

If it's not too inconvenient, I recommend installing a 32-bit OS, to save resources. Not a big deal...

I suspect that the RAM you are not seeing is taken up by system devices, such as onboard video card, etc. This is normal, and nothing can be or needs to be done about it.

The other thing that comes into play is marketing doesn't count Gigabytes the way we do. If you have 2000 MB they call it 2 GB when it's only 2000 MB. To have 2 GB you need 2048 MB. Likewise they call 4.34 GB DVD discs "DVD5". In fact this Quad core I'm on is the first PC that actually says the number of GB that was sold to me. It says 8 GB ram in My Computer properties. Every other machine if I had a GB ram(according to the ad where I bought the machine) it was really about 1000 MB. They just use the highest number they can pump it up to. Like "16x DVD burns" when only the peak speed at the very end of the burn hits 16x etc..

Since you have a 64 bit OS it should be able to map the memory for the devices outside the 2 GB area of your physical ram. That's probably the real amount of physical memory in the system.

(I could be wrong. I'm not a system builder.. but I know with 4 GB systems the OS can "see" the entire 4 GB because the address space taken up by video and other memory mapped devices can be added on above the 4 GB mark.. since the OS can address greater than 4 GB... if that makes sense. A real hardware guy can explain it better.)

I'm pretty confused lol...

But I think I catch on to what you're trying to say..

Thanks ^ ^