Solved How To Switch From 64 to 32 Bit?

[Milanodan]

Thanks, all.

Just remembered something. WiFi is a MUST for the laptop. Is W2000 compatible with WiFi?--don't think so.

 

[Britton30]

Thank you Greg, I was unaware of that stipulation.

There you go Milanodan, but first you should check to see if the software you have is even compatible with Win7.
It sounds like it may be too old?

 

[Milanodan]

Thank you Greg, I was unaware of that stipulation.

There you go Milanodan, but first you should check to see if the software you have is even compatible with Win7.
It sounds like it may be too old?

Yes, my old software is a problem. It runs fine on W2000. If I could get W2000 to work with WiFi I'd be all set. That's why I think I need both op. versions with some kind of boot manager.

 

[Britton30]

You could still set up a dual boot system by installing XP (which you would need to buy) on its own partition. OR the upgrade to Win7 Pro with XP MODE, it's free from MS.
Hmm, I'm not sure if one can buy XP now.

 

[Milanodan]

You could still set up a dual boot system by installing XP (which you would need to buy) on its own partition. OR the upgrade to Win7 Pro with XP MODE, it's free from MS.
Hmm, I'm not sure if one can buy XP now.

Looks like W2000 won't do well with new hardware, so that's out. Guess I'll go for the Win 7 PRO upgrade and see if I can get the XP/virtual thing to work.

I'll also try Greg's procedure on the clean Win 7 reinstall. Maybe there's light at the end of the dark tunnel--that's not an onrushing train!

 

[beman36]

first off I would not DOWNGRADE your OS for an old outdated program! there is TONS of free substitutes out there! there is GIMP which is an equivalant of photoshop! also there is paint.net! which is another great photo editing and BOTH ARE FREE!! why on earth would you wanna downgrade to less superior OS?!! I cant beleive no one has discruraged you from making a BIG mistake! also ALL programs work in X64 bit and for older programs you just have to run them in compatiblity mode! I play a game over 10yrs old and runs great in se7en X64 bit! there is TONS of bigger/better software out there!

 

[Milanodan]

You could still set up a dual boot system by installing XP (which you would need to buy) on its own partition. OR the upgrade to Win7 Pro with XP MODE, it's free from MS.

What's FREE? Don't I have to buy the PRO version of Win 7 and THEN get the free XP thing?

 

[Britton30]

Make sure the Pro upgrade in a Genuine Windows DVD, there's a lot of fakes out ther and some with nasty malware installed.
It seems the upgrade is the better idea, you'd get WiFi and your software useage with XP mode.

 

[beman36]

no re-read my post! I was talking about the photo editing software! your seven OS is fine! you dont have to go through all that hassle!

 

[Milanodan]

first off I would not DOWNGRADE your OS for an old outdated program! there is TONS of free substitutes out there! there is GIMP which is an equivalant of photoshop! also there is paint.net! which is another great photo editing and BOTH ARE FREE!! why on earth would you wanna downgrade to less superior OS?!! I cant beleive no one has discruraged you from making a BIG mistake! also ALL programs work in X64 bit and for older programs you just have to run them in compatiblity mode! I play a game over 10yrs old and runs great in se7en X64 bit! there is TONS of bigger/better software out there!

Some people can learn something like a foreign language easily, or Morse Code, or how to run programs like Photoshop. Others, like me, simply cannot learn such things, even after spending 6+ years in Italy. Computer software takes me a very long time to learn.

However, some things, like my field of metallurgy, come easily. I can build a supercharged nitro burning funny-car engine, figure out why nuke power plant/aircraft metals break/corrode, etc., but these computers and I don't get along well.

 

[beman36]

here is an example of what I was able to make using a free photo editing software! I'm not saying your gonna be able to do stuff llike that but I'm trying to show you how much theres better software out there for ya without going through all the hassles of trying to upgrade and downgrade this and that!
http://www.sevenforums.com/1421973-post1509.html

 

[Milanodan]

Make sure the Pro upgrade in a Genuine Windows DVD, there's a lot of fakes out ther and some with nasty malware installed.
It seems the upgrade is the better idea, you'd get WiFi and your software useage with XP mode.

Good idea! That way I should be able to easily do a clean re-install--I hope. Plus I'll have the DVD (s) to fix my future screwups.

Hey, I'm no longer a JUNIOR member!!!

 

[beman36]

trust me learning a new software is WAAY LESS OF A HASSLE than trying to downgrade/upgrade and the best ones are not that difficult to use! I find paint.net is the easiest to use and learn!

 

[Britton30]

I have to respectfully disagree with your Beman. You are a GFX-er and graphics program may be 2nd nature. I can reinstall or upgrade a system much easier than learning Gimp as example.
I am trying Gimp and paint.NET too, but look at my sig.
Milanodan we have laid out many options for you here, pick one and let us know how it goes.

 

[PeaB4YouGo]

Thank you Greg, I was unaware of that stipulation.

There you go Milanodan, but first you should check to see if the software you have is even compatible with Win7.
It sounds like it may be too old?

Yes, my old software is a problem. It runs fine on W2000. If I could get W2000 to work with WiFi I'd be all set. That's why I think I need both op. versions with some kind of boot manager.

This post makes me think you might be served by VM VirtualBox from ORACLE, or something similar.

 

[WebMattR]

Okay. Kids. We have WAY too many hands in the cookie jar. No offense, I understand everyone wants to help and has different ideas on how to do it, but if we all tell him how to do six different things at the same time, he'll probably get a headache.

Personally, I'd say try GIMP out. I know you said you don't take well to new software, but we're more than happy to help. PLUS, it's eons easier to install this software than pretty much anything that's been suggested.

Download GIMP: GIMP - The GNU Image Manipulation Program

 

[unifex]

This is an interesting thread since it touches on a rather generic issue - hardware manufacturers seem to have a rather limited support cycle for their products and are not eager to update their software once the new OS appears on the market. Given that there is very little one can do to influence the manufacturers, there are several options available, most (if not all) of them already outlined in this thread. Unfortunately, there seems to be none that would not incur at least some additional expense.

Since you have the Home edition of Windows 7, the XP mode is not available for you. But if you have already purchased a Win2K DVD, as you have indicated, then I would simply go with the dual-boot scenario. Just follow the steps in the tutorial (use method two, since you have Windows 7 installed already) and it's not that hard.

I would not worry about the fact that Win2K is not supported anymore by Microsoft. However, I would use it only to run that software that does not run on Windows 7, such as things needed to run your scanner, and keep it offline (after getting all the available updates, I think these are still available even though there will be no new ones). This way you won't need to spend money on an anti-virus for Win2K. if you need to share your images on the internet you could always switch to Windows 7 after the scanning is done. This might be less convenient compared to running just one OS for all purposes, but then you would need to purchase a new copy of the Photoshop and from what I understand something to actually run the scanner - I am not sure, if Photoshop can handle that part as well (Nikon software for the scanner does not appear to get updates for Windows 7).

Finally, there is indeed free graphics software. But, if you have an older scanner, you need something to run it and here GIMP and company won't help you. They can be used for working with the scanned image, but let's face it, they are not as capable as Photoshop. Of course, I don't know your skill level or your intentions, for some tasks GIMP is quite sufficient, for others Photoshop is necessary.

 

[Nigsy]

Finally, there is indeed free graphics software. But, if you have an older scanner, you need something to run it and here GIMP and company won't help you. They can be used for working with the scanned image, but let's face it, they are not as capable as Photoshop. Of course, I don't know your skill level or your intentions, for some tasks GIMP is quite sufficient, for others Photoshop is necessary.

In GIMP:

File > Create > scanner/camera and it will pick up Twain devices and allow scanning.

If you are proficient in photoshop, you will find Gimp and excellent free alternative. I switched to it for the same reasons as the original OP - I had a free version of photoshop (Came with an old scanner) that just would not run in a 64 bit environment.


I agree with going for a dual boot scenario - If you already have the w2000 disc, why pay out more money for an upgrade, install XP mode blah blah.

Just set up a dual boot system, and switch OS when you need to.

Have a look at the below link for W7/W2000 dual boot setup guide.

http://www.thpc.info/dual/win7/dualboot_win7+2k_on_win7.html

 

[unifex]

In GIMP:

File > Create > scanner/camera and it will pick up Twain devices and allow scanning.

Well, trouble is you need a driver for your device. Here's a quote from the TWAIN website:

"Question: I lost the driver diskette or CD that came with my scanner or digital camera. Where can I get the TWAIN Driver for my device? Answer: You need to get the driver for your device from the scanner or digital camera vendor. The TWAIN Working Group does not maintain any scanner or digital camera drivers."

Similarly, the SANE project page lists supported devices and your particular device might or might not be supported. In particular, Nikon Coolscan support is rather poor.

If you're lucky and your older device is supported, i.e. you have a working driver and GIMP picks it up - great. But there is no guarantee that will actually happen. I am not saying that Photoshop is any better in this regard, you still need drivers, but if the OP has a software bundle that's already working for him on Win2K, then it seems that dual-booting with Win2K is the easiest way to keep using the old scanner.

Of course, one could buy a whole new scanner and avoid all these problems, but that's a whole different investment and it does not look like that's what the OP is looking for...

 

[Nigsy]

Well you live and learn....I've never had a problem with gimp picking up my old lexmark or HP scanners nor my old Kodak camera...I will agree on the dual boot scenario, it is the forward in this case.