how can i turn off 32-bit compatibility in win 7 -64

The relevant page for your question: Performance and Memory Consumption Under WOW64 (Windows)

On the x64 processor, instructions are executed natively by the micro-architecture. Therefore, execution speed under WOW64 on x64 is similar to its speed under 32-bit Windows.

In plain english:

On the processor side:

The CPU reads the actual binary code, which is presented in the form of instructions. These instructions are the "x86" and "x64" that you read/hear about. Now, most people understand that an x86 Processor (pre~2003, 2004) can't run x64 code. That's because the newer standard has commands, syntax, instructions, and data sets that do not exist in the older one. BUT: Understand that the newer x64 instruction set includes everything in the x86 - So any x64 processor can and will fully handle anything that's x86. Indeed, if your processor is a Sempron, P4, or newer, it *is* an x64 processor.

Therefore, as long as the (game) was compiled to the x86 (32bit) standard, the CPU can fully understand and run it because they are still 'speaking' the same language. And the reverse isn't true: Imaging speaking to a grade school child with words and phrases an MBA can use. The kid (older standard) won't understand it. The MBA can fully understand the child, though.



On the side of the OS: There is a similar mechanic, though here it's called an "API" (Application Programming Interface). In very broad terms, it works like the instructions sent to a CPU: These are the commands and formats programmers use to talk to the Operating System, which they use to access system resources like memory and information on the hard drive. You can think of it like the teller window at the bank: It's your way to pass an instruction inside in order to get the result you want. When you go to the teller (API), you have to give her a message (instruction) in the format that that she understands, right? The OS wants to see some Function (Withdrawl), the location required (Account #), and some data set (how much). If you give the teller (OS) that, then you'll get your twenty bucks.

As long as the program (game, whatever) follows the proper API's then it will run on the Operating System.

Therefore: As long as a given (32 bit) game is written to the proper Windows (Vista) API's, and compiled to run on an x86 processor, then it *will* run on 64 bit (Vista).


Generally speaking, when you hear about incompatibilities it's because the programmers who wrote a given application either did not adhere to the proper API spec when they wrote their code, or because they took short cuts (which may no longer work), or because the (new) Operating System's API set is different from the old one.

This is why that 10 year old game, or the printer, or whatever doesn't work any more. The rule "Dont run old sh*t on your new sh*t" exists for a reason, after all



MSDN WoW 64 Page

Running 32-bit Applications (Windows)

logicearth said:

will it ensure that the software providers i buy from have ONLY 64-bit code in the software they sell as 64-bit?
yes.

And why is that important? Not all software is required to be 64 bit.

why is that important?

of the last 15 programs i have tried that "claimed" to be 64bit. 4 really were.
the others had process running in 32bit.
i dont know about you
but if a company lies about its product
i dont buy it
windows 7 64 compatible is not the same a 64-bit program for windows 7 64
its seems more and more people dont mind fudging the truth about their products
or are too lazy to port all the code over in a rush to take my money

if i turn off 32 bit capability, then i dont have to look to the task manager to see if all my process are in 64 bit. it just will not run if it is not 64-bit. easier for me.

thats MY choice.
i like choice
everyone should have the ability to have a choice of their own.
i dont mind at all if it is violently removed from the os.
its is only there for the people to scared to buy windows with out it.

anything that runs should be able to be turned off. one way or another.
other wise it is not much better than a virus

nutz

severedsolo said:

nuts... i appreciate where your coming from about wanting the choice, but try to appreciate that microsoft has to cater for the many not the few, as most new pc's now come with 64 bit preinstalled (all the ones i've seen, aside from a couple of netbooks) can you imagine the uproar if people suddenly found all their old stuff didn't work? it would be like Vista all over again, something MS have been very keen to avoid,

so i can see your point, but i think you'll have to face it, it aint gonna happen

well unless wow64 is integral part of windows 64
(which it may very well be, but not known yet)

long story short if i find the files and dlls that windows uses to start 32bit code
then i can remove them causing an error, which will alert me to the 32bit code.
even better yet if i can find the method that windows uses to start the whole wow64 process
i can block it from ever starting.

which is what type of info i was looking for on this forum
not a big debate on why someone needs it to play last years games or watch utube.
i dont expect micro$oft to do it. i expect the community to hack and patch it into the OS sooner or later

nutz

notsograymatter said:

Well then you're going to need to go and get yourself a copy of Windows Server 2008 R2, Good Luck spending $600+ on an operating system.

Windows Server 2008 R2

thank goodness they are giving away the free beta now for testing.

nutz

nutpantz said:

i would really like to turn off the 32-bit compatibility of windows 7 64 ultimate.
there are very few programs i use that dont have a 64-bit counterpart
and the ones that are 32 bit i am replacing as fast as i can with 64-bit.

i have not been able to find out any way to turn off, remove. prohibit, 32 bit operations.

not to mention i really would like to see how fast my computer goes with after.

nutz

Ok... 32 bit is NOT an emulated mode. 32 bit softare runs right in the 64bit registers of the CPU except it doesn't use the newer 64 bit instruction set. There's no separate CPU mode, there's no emulator, there's no data switching... it's all the same to the CPU.

Disabling 32 bit software will not gain you one single flop of performance and given that 64 bit programs also use 32 bit cpu instructions, it might even slow you down.

Actually it is and does.

If you run a 32bit App in a Windows 64 OS it runs in Wow64 Mode which is emulated.

You can read all about it on MS site and it even states in this mode a 32bit App may (not will) run slightly slower than in a Windows 32bit OS.

I was told this many many years ago when it was XP 64 and the person who told me was in charge of the Windows stuff of IRC #Winbeta (my buddy back then) and now works for MS.

It was this way in XP 64 and is same in Vista 64+Win 7 64.

If you want to run in non Wow64 you install a Windows 32bit OS.

WoW64 - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia