32 Bit Apps on W7-64?

[Milanodan]

Found this sentence in a PC magazine article.

>"This means you can still run 32-bit OSes and applications on a 64-bit processor."<

Well, just about every app I have bought won't run on my fairly new Asus, which came with W7/64 already installed, and something like 750 MB of memory. What is the "secret" to getting older apps. to run?

 

[alphanumeric]

Compatibility mode? I personally haven't had to use it yet on my 7 ultimate x64 install. Asus M2N68-AM SE2 µATX Motherboard with 2 gigs of DDR 2.

 

[TheSchaft]

I haven't had any problems running 32 bit apps on my Windows 7 64 bit machine. (In fact, IE8 32 bit is recommended over the 64 bit version because the 64 bit version doesn't support Flash.)

 

[Milanodan]

Compatibility mode? I personally haven't had to use it yet on my 7 ultimate x64 install. Asus M2N68-AM SE2 µATX Motherboard with 2 gigs of DDR 2.

Huh? This is all Greek to me.

 

[tw33k]

Compatibility mode? I personally haven't had to use it yet on my 7 ultimate x64 install. Asus M2N68-AM SE2 µATX Motherboard with 2 gigs of DDR 2.

Huh? This is all Greek to me.

He's just saying that on his system he has no problems with x86 apps.

 

[alphanumeric]

Compatibility mode? I personally haven't had to use it yet on my 7 ultimate x64 install. Asus M2N68-AM SE2 µATX Motherboard with 2 gigs of DDR 2.

Huh? This is all Greek to me.

You mentioned you were using an ASUS system in your first post. My system is based on an ASUS motherboard so I mentioned that in my post, that is all.

 

[tw33k]

Compatibility mode? I personally haven't had to use it yet on my 7 ultimate x64 install. Asus M2N68-AM SE2 µATX Motherboard with 2 gigs of DDR 2.

Huh? This is all Greek to me.

You mentioned you were using an ASUS system in your first post. My system is based on an ASUS motherboard so I mentioned that in my post, that is all.

Seeing all the ?s in his specs shows that we need to avoid tech terms as much as possible when helping him.

 

[Jonathan_King]

Try this tutorial: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html

 

[alphanumeric]

I noticed that too, I didn't look until after my last post. Milanodan do you know if your processor is 32 bit or 64 bit? If 64 bit do you know if you are running the x64 version of windows 7? To find out hold your windows key down and press the Pause/Break key. That should bring up the "system" page listing your processor and system type.

 

[Milanodan]

Thanks for the help so far. I am simply unable to keep pace with all this new computer stuff, but fortunately for me the automatic settings usually work.

Just before the first Pentium chips were made, I actually got sent over to the still-being-constructed Fab 11 and 12 plants in Chandler, AZ. I was employed for 26 years by the local power company, which runs the biggest nuke power plant in the US. My job was metallurgical failure analysis/corrosion problem solving, and there was a short period of time when a few of us engineers were being sent out to solve other, non-company problems. The power co. didn't want to make a profit from our work, and only charged our overhead/salary costs to the customers.

We received a MAYDAY/SOS call from the company building the Fab plants--they had also done work out at the nuke. Seems they were conducting a walk-through of the buildings with the "chip-maker" bosses, and discovered many water leaks at welds in their good-size stainless steel cooling water pipes.

I got sent over to find out what was going on. Had them cut out some pipe samples and took them to a local met. lab. we used. I also had them X-ray every weld in all that pipe, and there was a huge amount of it. I soon had the answer (which I probably shouldn't get into here), and gave them a formal presentation on what happened and a relatively easy way to fix it.

So there I was on the official day the plant opened, and all they gave me was an opening day coffee mug! But the best part was that I had a badge from them, and their cafeteria was FAR better than the one at the nuke. For years after that, every time I was in the area at lunch time I'd zip in there and buy a great lunch.

Anyway, the Windows check says the model is an Asus CG 5270, Rating 3.6, Processor is an Intel 2Quad Q8300 @ 2.5 GHz, 8 GB memory, and the system is 64 bit.

I run the latest Firefox--no problems. But I have some old mapping apps, Photoshop (light edition) etc., and when I try to install them I get a message telling me to ask the manufacturer for a 64 bit version.

 

[TheSchaft]

......

Anyway, the Windows check says the model is an Asus CG 5270, Rating 3.6, Processor is an Intel 2Quad Q8300 @ 2.5 GHz, 8 GB memory, and the system is 64 bit.

I run the latest Firefox--no problems. But I have some old mapping apps, Photoshop (light edition) etc., and when I try to install them I get a message telling me to ask the manufacturer for a 64 bit version.

Sounds like some of your older apps will only run in compatability mode, a way Microsoft has of allowing some older software to run in a Windows 7 environment.

SevenForums of course has a tutorial for that, which was mentioned a couple of posts ago

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html

See if that helps any.

 

[Milanodan]

Didn't help. None of my apps are even recognized, so I can't tell if the "Compatibility" thing would work. For instance, I have Photoshop 4.0 LE--can't find it doing the comp. check.

 

[alphanumeric]

OK, it sounds like your problem is not so much running 32 bit apps on 64 bit windows, but actually trying to run really old apps on a new version of windows. Some really old legacy apps may not run even under compatibility mode. If you need that program bad enough you may have to buy a more current version. What was your previous OS and did they work on it? If it was XP you could also try the windows XP mode for windows 7. Its a free download from Microsoft.
Download Windows XP Mode

Aside from games I try to run the latest and greatest of what ever program I need. If it has a 64 bit version thats a bonus but they seem to be few and far between. I can't remember having a problem installing any 32 bit app on my 7 x64. Drivers for legacy hardware is more of a problem for me. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Milanodan]

Thanks. My last op. sys. was W2000 Pro. I still have the old computer with it installed, so I can still run the old stuff. And yes, some of my old stuff is really old--15 years or so. Much of it was free, bundled with hardware I bought.

 

[nutpantz]

i have heard that anything with 16-bit code WILL NOT WORK at all with win 7-64
regardless of compatibility mode
so if your software is older than 2000 or around that year you may be out of luck.
unless you run a virtual machine (like vmware) and run a older OS like XP..

that would be my guess.

requirements for Photoshop 4.0 LE
Windows 3.1, 95/NT or Macintosh, Power Macintosh
486 or higher processor
16MB RAM (32MB Recommended)
25MB hard disk space, CD-ROM drive, 256-color display adapter (24-bit recommended)

anything made for win3.1 is not very likely to work with win7 64

( you might try windows xp mode) (which is just a free xp that runs in a free virtual machine)
nutz

 

[bobkn]

(snip)
( you might try windows xp mode) (which is just a free xp that runs in a free virtual machine)
nutz

XP mode is only available for free with Win7 Professional or Ultimate. It may be possible to run the virtual machine under Home Premium, but it doesn't include a free XP license.

 

[nutpantz]

(snip)
( you might try windows xp mode) (which is just a free xp that runs in a free virtual machine)
nutz

XP mode is only available for free with Win7 Professional or Ultimate. It may be possible to run the virtual machine under Home Premium, but it doesn't include a free XP license.

so just get one of the many free virtual machines out there
and install your old windows 2000 on it. then have fun.

sure you could spend more money on a feature of win7 that they thought was important enough to create. for people who had enough money to get it free with their version. but why when ther are tones of free version out there and you already have paid for xp (or 2000) already. just it stall the one you already have.

nutz