X32 - X64 - X86

[Daffy D]

I am running XP Pro and always considerd that I had x32 whatever that is.

This never seemed to be a problem for me as any downloads and programs for XP worked fine. But now I notice increasingly versions of updates and upgrades specifying for x32 or x64 or x86.

Had a look at my system

Click Start, click Run, type cmd in the Open box, and then press ENTER.

At the command prompt, type "set", and then press ENTER.

Note the string that is displayed next to PROCESSOR_IDENTIFIER.

And noticed I had "x86 family 6 Mode 15 Stepping2, GenuineIntel"

Does this mean I should only update versions for x86 in future?

Microsoft Support

[surface]

x86 is the name of instruction set used by most Intel and AMD CPU's. Mac's, before they started using Intel CPU's, had CPU's using the PowerPC instruction set, usually built by Motorola and IBM. Software written and compiled for a particular instruction set will not work on another instruction set. As well as supporting x86, Microsoft Windows is available for the IA-64 instruction set, which is used by the Intel Itanium CPU, developed by Intel and HP. Linux is available for many more instruction sets than the two I mentioned above.

Since the x86 instruction set was extended to support 64 bits, we now see x86-32 and x86-64 to differentiate between what the hardware and software support. x86-32 CPU's will only run 32 bit software. x86-64 CPU's will run both 32 bit and 64 bit software, and you're operating system may support running both at the same time.

Windows Vista/Server x32 Edition is the 32 bit version of Windows. This can be installed on computers with either x86-32 or x86-64 CPU's. You can only run 32 bit software on this version of Windows.

Windows Vista/Server x64 Edition is the 64 bit version of Windows. This can only be installed on computers with an x86-64 CPU. You can run both 32 and 64 bit software on this version.

Windows XP Pro is 32 bit. <- Your version. You want to download x86 32 bit versions of software. Most websites will simply state that the software will run on 32 bit versions of Windows, instead of x86-32, since most people don't know what x86-32 means.

Windows XP Pro x64 is 64 bit, and also supports running 32 bit software.

Edited November 29, 2008 by surface

[Daffy D]

Thanks Surface for your clear comprehensive and understandable answer. Another item to add to my personal database of knowledge.

Thanks