Has Distinction Between 32bit And 64 Os Gone Away

[MeetJohnDoe]

I am noticing more and more consumer level mainstream desk PCs are coming standard with Vista 64 bit OS. For new many new software, I am seeing that the system requirements don't make any mention or distinction between 32 bit or 64 bit Vista. Therefore, is Vista designed to run both native 64 bit programs and older legacy 32 bit designed software? Under Vista, is there no a dinstinctiion between 32 bit and 64 bit application software? (I am still happily using XP-SP3 but thinking of buying a new desktop. Want to know if my 32bit software will run if buy new PC with 64 bit Vista.)

[Wash]

Most 32 bit programs will run just fine on 64 bit windows. There are however some exceptions such as WorldView and some others. They are few and far between and less distinction all the time. I have been using VISTA 64 for a couple years now and only occasionally do I run into soemthing that won't work.

I am also running Windows 7 and have decided to go back to 32 bit version since there are very few programs that are designed for 64 bit but over the next few years there will be more and more developers working that route. The main virtue of the 64 bit version now is the fact that you can use more memory effectively with it whereas the 32 bit software restricts your memory to 6 gig. I suspect that limitation will be circumvented with tweeks to Windows 7 as it gets a bit more mature.

Not a big deal either way, so not much risk one way or the other.

Edit to correct spelling error.

Edited June 27, 2009 by Wash

[trogers]

I am still happily using XP-SP3 but thinking of buying a new desktop. Want to know if my 32bit software will run if buy new PC with 64 bit Vista.

Take note of the DRM feature of Vista which may restrict your access to some software and data files.

[garyh]

The 64 bit operating systems also have a 32 and 64 bit web browser, you can not use the 64 bit version for sites such as Youtube because there is no 64 but adobe flash, but the 32 bit browser is fine. I have 64 bit vist and windows 7 on 2 seperate computers and so far the only issue to arise is the 64 bit browser issue.

[jackdanielsesq]

We have had this discussion vis-a-vis 64bit Linux for a long while now. There is so little advantage over 32bit so as to be negligible.

It is more of a hardware windup as far as the average Joe Sixpack goes. For desktop applications its superfluous. By the time it becomes

mainstream ya gonna need more, new hardware - again. The +4G argument is another excuse for sloppy code in both O/S & applications

I am in XP SP2 right now - it is locked down and hardened, never update anything on it, why futz with it.

I spend 99% of my day in Linux, then shell out to XP to exercise it, do sundry other firmware updates, AV, etc.

Never bothered with M$ Virus - what a dog. Keep what ya have. How many browsers/email clients can ya utilize?

BR>Jack

Remember - if it aint broke - dont fix it till it is!!

[surface]

Win Vista and Win 7 use quite a bit more memory than XP, when it's available, and makes running many apps much smoother. Windows 32 bit is limited to 3.2GB of usable memory.

I have my taskbar set 3 levels high as I usually have 10 or more different app windows open, along with 20 - 40 firefox browsers with many tabs each. I generally use 2.5 - 4.5GB on my 8GB system just for the desktop apps, then once I start some virtual machines any free memory is used pretty quickly. Memory is dirt cheap these days, so there's really no point in purchasing less than 4GB. For this reason alone, you should go with 64 bit Vista on a new PC and you'll get you're free upgrade to Windows 7. Your main problem will be finding a computer with 64 bit Vista here in Thailand as I usually see 32 bit versions on computers at Pantip and Fortune.

Most 32 bit software will run without problems, but you some software needs to be updated to work properly.

Want to know if my 32bit software will run if buy new PC with 64 bit Vista.

Which software? A search on google should reveal if your software runs on 64 bit Vista or not. If not you could contact the developer through their website if they don't mention anything in their system requirements.