64bit or 32 bit

[Philluk57]

hi i'm currently have a amd 64 bit computer runiing windows vista 64 bit
does this meen i can only have the 64 bit version of windows seven or would i be able to install windows 7 32 bit on my 64 bit computer and i know i may seem strange to want to run a 32 bit on a 64 bit but i have my reasons

 

[Mikaka]

You can run both 64 and 32 bit versions.

 

[septprince]

Your computer can run both version. But if you want to update this vista you can update it to windows 7 64bit. And if you want to use 32 bit version you have to perform clean installation.

 

[Dwarf]

If you have a 64-bit processor, then you can install and run either 32-bit or 64-bit versions. See my specs.

 

[TGSoldier]

Question - Why are you going with the 32bit?

 

[Stranger]

I am also curious as to why a person with 64 bit capacity would go with 32 bit. You say you "have your reasons", please share those with us??? I have another friend who has 64 bit capacity but wants a 32 bit install, but that is because he is a total idiot, so I understand in his case.

 

[Antman]

...but that is because he is a total idiot, so I understand in his case.

I know him.

I have a video capture device with a feature that I like very much. It has no 64-bit driver.

 

[Konceptz804]

The only valid reason anyone has for not running a 64bit OS would be software/hardware compatibility issues. Other then that, there is no reason anyone should still be running a 32bit OS.

 

[pparks1]

I am also curious as to why a person with 64 bit capacity would go with 32 bit. You say you "have your reasons", please share those with us??? I have another friend who has 64 bit capacity but wants a 32 bit install, but that is because he is a total idiot, so I understand in his case.

Driver support for a piece of hardware is the primary reason. I've got a few things around like scanners, and a video capture board which offer no 64-bit support. For these, I keep a 32-bit version of Windows XP on an older computer since they are infrequently used...but for somebody without multiple computers this could be a real issue.

Second....most computers sold in the past with less than 4GB of RAM always included 32-bit OS's....even when the CPU supported 64-bit. For this reason, people are comfortable with 32-bit and have some reservations about moving to 64-bit OS's.

I'm just now moving to 64-bit for the first time with Windows 7 and I've had 64-bit supported processors for a number of years now.

The only valid reason anyone has for not running a 64bit OS would be software/hardware compatibility issues. Other then that, there is no reason anyone should still be running a 32bit OS.

Well, software and hardware is just about the only reason that people us computers...so that is a rather large category. And most of the software that people actually use day-to-day isn't 64-bit...so there isn't that much performance being missed out on.

 

[Stranger]

Driver support for a piece of hardware is the primary reason. I've got a few things around like scanners, and a video capture board which offer no 64-bit support. For these, I keep a 32-bit version of Windows XP on an older computer since they are infrequently used...but for somebody without multiple computers this could be a real issue.

.

And the problem with a dual boot system in that case is exactly what?

 

[pparks1]

And the problem with a dual boot system in that case is exactly what?

1). Cost (licensing 2 copies of the OS)
2). Space consumed on the hard drive
3). Unnecessary complexity
4). Not likely that any performance increases would be noticeable by the person
5). Maintaining 2 OS's (defrag, viruses, spyware, malware, software installs).

In my particular case of having 2 machines available...it's nice because I can continue to use my primary box for whatever I want, while the kids simultaneously use the older computer to play their games and surf the web, etc.

 

[Stranger]

1). Cost (licensing 2 copies of the OS)
2). Space consumed on the hard drive
3). Unnecessary complexity
4). Not likely that any performance increases would be noticeable by the person
5). Maintaining 2 OS's (defrag, viruses, spyware, malware, software installs).

In my particular case of having 2 machines available...it's nice because I can continue to use my primary box for whatever I want, while the kids simultaneously use the older computer to play their games and surf the web, etc.

!) no extra cost as the person would obviously already have the existing XP operating system.
2) Space, you are kidding, I maintain a 20Gb partition for exactly this reason, having a laser that I like, but has not vista or w7 drivers, Hard drives are so cheap these days it is ridiculous.
3) what complexity exactly are you talking about? You install XP, then you install Windows 7 and use that mainly, unless of course the option of which OS to boot into confuses you a great deal at start up
4) If the person is only maintaining the secondary OS to use certain hardware who cares about performance?
5) Second OS does not contact web as it is only used for the hardware that will not run under W7, where virus or spyware?

 

[DataMan47]

Well, software and hardware is just about the only reason that people us computers...so that is a rather large category.

pparks1++

And let's not forget the extra memory overhead for WOW64 (and larger code size), which can be a pretty significant hit for systems without a lot of RAM.

 

[fadedrs]

hi i'm currently have a amd 64 bit computer runiing windows vista 64 bit
does this meen i can only have the 64 bit version of windows seven or would i be able to install windows 7 32 bit on my 64 bit computer and i know i may seem strange to want to run a 32 bit on a 64 bit but i have my reasons

you can run either one, but if you are upgradeing from your vista x64 to 7 you will have to upgrade with x64 and the same package you have also (home, home premium, ultimate).

now if you do a clean install you can put what ever you want on it.

 

[DataMan47]

I have a video capture device with a feature that I like very much. It has no 64-bit driver.

Out of curiosity, have you tried it in 64-bit? I have a first-generation digital TV tuner from ATI. They never made 64-bit drivers for this model. All the drivers listed at AMD and in the Windows Update catalog were 32-bit. But then I ended up installing Win64 as a dual-boot for other reasons, and much to my surprise, the TV tuner worked. With the 32-bit drivers. After some investigation, I discovered that for TV tuner drivers, Microsoft provides a thunking layer so that 32-bit drivers could work in 64-bit Windows. (Sadly, there's no thunking layer for sound card drivers, and Creative, being in the PITA that they are, never released 64-bit drivers for their low-end legacy sound cards.) Anyway, I don't know if the same holds for video capture devices (I guess they're sorta similar to TV tuners?)...

 

[pparks1]

!) no extra cost as the person would obviously already have the existing XP operating system.

But the question was whether to use 64-bit or 32-bit. So, if they already have a 32-bit Windows version licensed, there would be a cost to getting a 64-bit version of the OS to install. Seems a bit pointless to pay for 64-bit just because you could run it.

2) Space, you are kidding, I maintain a 20Gb partition for exactly this reason, having a laser that I like, but has not vista or w7 drivers, Hard drives are so cheap these days it is ridiculous.

Sure, drives are cheap and so are some people. Tons of people won't spend the $100 to properly license Windows yet they use it every single day.

3) what complexity exactly are you talking about? You install XP, then you install Windows 7 and use that mainly, unless of course the option of which OS to boot into confuses you a great deal at start up

Some users are barely able to install antivirus or run windows update to get hotfixes without somehow screwing up their computer. I could never imagine my inlaws trying to take a 64-bit operating system and installing a dual boot on their computer.

4) If the person is only maintaining the secondary OS to use certain hardware who cares about performance?

My point about performance was actually geared towards the 64-bit version of Windows. Many average users will really reap no tangible performance benefits of 64-bit. Therefore, for average tasks and with less than 4GB of RAM...I don't see a lot to be gained from dual booting. Just continue to use 32-bit.

5) Second OS does not contact web as it is only used for the hardware that will not run under W7, where virus or spyware?

That's assuming person doesn't access the web. What if their hardware has a problem and they have to start searching the web for a solution? Are they going to instead reboot into their other OS, search for some answers, download what they need, and then reboot back into the other OS to actually try out the solution and see if it works.

<Comment Removed by Dwarf>

Well, if you want to spend the majority of your life with your computer...I guess that is an option for you. However, sooner or later I need a little something else in my life.

 

[Antman]

Out of curiosity, have you tried it in 64-bit ...

It is actually a very old Intel card that doesn't even work in XP. It makes video greeting cards and my Number One likes to send these to friends and family.

 

[Stranger]

But the question was whether to use 64-bit or 32-bit. So, if they already have a 32-bit Windows version licensed, there would be a cost to getting a 64-bit version of the OS to install. Seems a bit pointless to pay for 64-bit just because you could run it.

32 bit license will also activate 64 bit version, if run on the same machine totally legal, no requirement for a second purchase.

Sure, drives are cheap and so are some people. Tons of people won't spend the $100 to properly license Windows yet they use it every single day.

I assume the person has ethics and runs a legit version of their OS

Some users are barely able to install antivirus or run windows update to get hotfixes without somehow screwing up their computer. I could never imagine my inlaws trying to take a 64-bit operating system and installing a dual boot on their computer.

Some people should never use computers, but they do, just look at many questions on this forum

My point about performance was actually geared towards the 64-bit version of Windows. Many average users will really reap no tangible performance benefits of 64-bit. Therefore, for average tasks and with less than 4GB of RAM...I don't see a lot to be gained from dual booting. Just continue to use 32-bit.

This was about using hardware that does not run under W7, not about perfomance.

That's assuming person doesn't access the web. What if their hardware has a problem and they have to start searching the web for a solution? Are they going to instead reboot into their other OS, search for some answers, download what they need, and then reboot back into the other OS to actually try out the solution and see if it works.

The 2nd OS would only be to use the hardware that does not run uner W7, what part of that do you fail to understand?

Well, if you want to spend the majority of your life with your computer...I guess that is an option for you. However, sooner or later I need a little something else in my life.

Been there, done that, (I am female by the way, and, sadly to say a mother also), there are other things to life rather than living through your offspring. I live in the middle of a rainforest and trek into it most days... you do what?

 

[pparks1]

32 bit license will also activate 64 bit version, if run on the same machine totally legal, no requirement for a second purchase.

Ok, since they are technically the same machine...that would be alright.

The 2nd OS would only be to use the hardware that does not run uner W7, what part of that do you fail to understand?

I understand...but what happens when the person boots into XP 32-bit, installs the driver and something doesn't work? What is the most likely place they are going to go first? I would guess google. But are they really going to reboot into the Windows 7 OS and surf from there, to then come back to the 32-bit OS and try to fix the problem.

Plus, when I dual boot...sometimes while I am in the other OS...I want to surf the web or so something else. I don't always reboot to get into the other OS to do this. I would have to believe others are the same.

 

[Scotteq]

hi i'm currently have a amd 64 bit computer runiing windows vista 64 bit
does this meen i can only have the 64 bit version of windows seven or would i be able to install windows 7 32 bit on my 64 bit computer and i know i may seem strange to want to run a 32 bit on a 64 bit but i have my reasons

You will have to do a clean installation to go from 64 to 32 bit. From a licencing perspective, Microsoft make no division between the two: One Licence, One Installation.

Trust you are aware of the detailia regarding address space, and compatibility (Read: If you have a 32 bit app written for XP and it doesn't run on 7 x64, then the chances are it may not run on 7 x86, either.)