Installing 32 bit over 64 bit

[curlyrai]

I have a desk top with windows 7 32 bit that has older software. I purchased a laptop that has windows 7 64 bit. I tried to install my older software on the laptop, but was unable because of the 64 bit operating system. Can I install Windows 7 32 bit over the 64 bit, so I can keep my older software.

 

[theog]

Your older software may not work with Windows 7 32 bit.
Check for updates for the software.

 

[whs]

You will have to reinstall your programs. That is not an "upgrade". But you must have a different problem. 32bit programs usually run perfectly well in a 64bit system. In fact, most of the programs on my 64bit systems are 32bit. So I do not think switching to 32bit in your case will buy you anything.

If those are XP programs, you can run them in compatibility mode - but not in the Win7 Home editions.

 

[Brink]

Hello Curly Rai, and welcome to Seven Forums.

It depends if your 32-bit Windows 7 is a retail or OEM copy.

If OEM, then no. You will not be able to install it on another computer since it can only be reinstalled and activated on the same computer that it was first activated on.

If retail, then yes. However, you will have to do a clean install to replace the 64-bit Windows 7 with the 32-bit Windows 7 and activate it with the product key that came with the 32-bit Windows 7. If for some reason it will not activate normally online, then you can do a phone activation instead. You will also have to reinstall all drivers (32-bit) and programs afterwards.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

 

[pparks1]

You will have to reinstall your programs. That is not an "upgrade". But you must have a different problem. 32bit programs usually run perfectly well in a 64bit system. In fact, most of the programs on my 64bit systems are 32bit. So I do not think switching to 32bit in your case will buy you anything.

Depends, if his older programs are 16bit programs....16bit apps run perfectly fine under 32bit operating systems, but not under 64bit operating systems.

 

[whs]

You will have to reinstall your programs. That is not an "upgrade". But you must have a different problem. 32bit programs usually run perfectly well in a 64bit system. In fact, most of the programs on my 64bit systems are 32bit. So I do not think switching to 32bit in your case will buy you anything.

Depends, if his older programs are 16bit programs....16bit apps run perfectly fine under 32bit operating systems, but not under 64bit operating systems.

32bit Vista yes, but I think in Win7, they put away with 16bit support all together (except for XP mode).

 

[pparks1]

You will have to reinstall your programs. That is not an "upgrade". But you must have a different problem. 32bit programs usually run perfectly well in a 64bit system. In fact, most of the programs on my 64bit systems are 32bit. So I do not think switching to 32bit in your case will buy you anything.

Depends, if his older programs are 16bit programs....16bit apps run perfectly fine under 32bit operating systems, but not under 64bit operating systems.

32bit Vista yes, but I think in Win7, they put away with 16bit support all together (except for XP mode).

Nope, Windows 7 will run 16 bit apps and it doesn't need XP Mode. Trust me, I work for a company that still has a product that uses a 16bit installer. We have to tell people all of the time that Windows 7 will work just fine, as long as it's 32bit. The program will not install or run in Windows 7 64bit.

 

[whs]

Depends, if his older programs are 16bit programs....16bit apps run perfectly fine under 32bit operating systems, but not under 64bit operating systems.

32bit Vista yes, but I think in Win7, they put away with 16bit support all together (except for XP mode).

Nope, Windows 7 will run 16 bit apps and it doesn't need XP Mode. Trust me, I work for a company that still has a product that uses a 16bit installer. We have to tell people all of the time that Windows 7 will work just fine, as long as it's 32bit. The program will not install or run in Windows 7 64bit.

Right, provided you run them in Windows Virtual PC - else they will not run (or everybody else on the web is wrong - which is possible).

 

[pparks1]

The 16 bit installer will run and the software will work just fine natively on Windows 7 32-bit.

The 16 bit installer will NOT run and the software will not work natively on Windows 7 64-bit...without using XP Mode of some other form of virtualization software to present a suitable 32-bit operating system.

So, if the OP has software that will not run on 64-bit Windows....it's possible that it's 16 bit software that might work on Windows 7 32bit. Perhaps he is using my companies application

 

[mlevy]

If those are XP programs, you can run them in compatibility mode - but not in the Win7 Home editions.

Compatibility mode is available, XP Mode is not. XP Mode is the VM, compatibility mode is a feature built into the core that allows you to change a shortcut's properties to run it with 2000, XP or Vista compatibility. Of course, that doesn't help with the 16-bit installer on the 64-bit version of Windows.