Question on 64 bit vs. 32 bit Vista

  • Thread starter Thread starter rmo555
  • Start date Start date
R

rmo555

My understanding is that if I want to use more than 4GB of RAM, I have
to get the 64 bit version. If I do, is it still possible to run all my
32 bit apps? Old apps? Hope I asked this question using the correct
terminology. The reason I'd like to consider 64bit is for speed and
the ability to run more apps in the background.
 
Hi,

Yes, most if not all of your 32-bit applications will run in the 64 bit
version of Vista. Vista uses WoW (Windows on Windows) to allow the software
to run in a virtualized 32 bit environment.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Hi,

I should add that the trouble you may run into is with finding driver for
some hardware. While most pc hardware now has 64 bit drivers, some add-ons
like camera's are not there yet. You will want to check before making the
change (and it's a clean install only, there is no upgrade path).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
Vote for my shoe: http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com
 
Hi, rmo555.

Rick's comments are right on. I'd like to add just a little.

When I first tried 64-bit Windows (WinXP x64) about 5 years ago, 64-bit
support ranged from non-existent to very poor. During the long Vista beta,
64-bit support got better and better. By the time Vista went RTM in
November 2006, most hardware and software ran as well in 64-bit as in
32-bit.

Now, nearly 3 years later, the list of non-supporters of x64 is pretty
short. The most glaring, for me, is Adobe Flash Player. It won't run in
the 64-bit version of Internet Explorer, but it runs fine in 32-bit IE on
64-bit Vista or Win7.

RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
(e-mail address removed)
Microsoft Windows MVP
Windows Live Mail 2009 (14.0.8089.0726) in Win7 Ultimate x64
 
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