The simple answer: will 32 bit games run on Vista 64 bit?

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Guest

I never see just a simple question with a simple answer.

Before Vista was released there was talk that 32 bit games would not run on
the 64 bit version.

Is this true or false?

If true then do you require addons/patches for Vista 64bit? Yes/No
Additionally, do you need patches to run 32 bit games on Vista 64bit? Yes/No


If yes (and if you know) Does Tripwire's game Red Orchastra ostfront (Played
through Steam) require anything?
 
Guy said:
I never see just a simple question with a simple answer.

Before Vista was released there was talk that 32 bit games would not run
on
the 64 bit version.

Is this true or false?

If true then do you require addons/patches for Vista 64bit? Yes/No
Additionally, do you need patches to run 32 bit games on Vista 64bit?
Yes/No


If yes (and if you know) Does Tripwire's game Red Orchastra ostfront
(Played
through Steam) require anything?
Click to expand...

http://www.steampowered.com, click on support and look for Vista issues, I'm
sure the question has been answered there, but as for the quesiton "Will
32-bit programs run in a 64-bit enviornment?", the answer is...

it depends, but more than likely "True".

But to answer your questions, "Before Vista was released there was talk that
32 bit games would not run on the 64 bit version. Is this true or false?"

the answer is, "False"

"If true then do you require addons/patches for Vista 64bit? Yes/No"

the answer is, "No, patches are not 'required'.", but since answer #1 was
false this answer is invalid.

"Additionally, do you need patches to run 32 bit games on Vista 64bit?
Yes/No"

the answer is, "No, you do not "need" patches to run 32-bit in 64-bit. Would
you benefit from a 64-bit version of a game in a 64-bit enviornement, Yes."

I suggest Google for explinations, unless you would like me to elaborate a
little. I'm sorry I took some liberties in the last question.

-A.
 
In my experience most, but not all 32 bit games will run under Vista 64 bit.
For example, Gothic 3 runs poorly under 64 bit Vista but fine under 32-bit
Vista. Half-life 2 and HL Episode One run under Vista 64, but with some
crashes. There is a known incompatiblity there. Sometimes you will find, as
well, that user account control interfers with some games. It is very
important to run the latest graphic card driver updates to avoid problems
but even this is not a guarantee. This means even using the beta version as
you need to do with Bioshock (nvidia driver).

Sorry, no easy answer.
 
garfield said:
guy,,

actually it will run to 64 bit since 32 bit is older version.
Click to expand...

Because the 64-bit OS emulates the 32-bit instructions, I know. Was going to
say something like 64-bit runs 32-bit apps, but if you can get a 64-bit
version of the app it'll run "better" (hate that word).

Second, don't call me "guy,,", cat..
 
Actually this answers all my questions, let me restate my new found
understanding:

Microsoft did its usual sorry job of rushing something to market without
enough testing so that as long as the moon is not full and Mars is on the far
side of the sun you have a 50/50 chance that Vista 64 will be backward
compatible enough to run your 32 bit game with only a few crashes a day. If
your very lucky the game manufacturer will find a way to get around
Microsoft's half @ss methods and get you running until 64 bit games become
available. Mostly it will be a crap shoot.

Is that essentially it? ;-)
 
Guy said:
Actually this answers all my questions, let me restate my new found
understanding:

Microsoft did its usual sorry job of rushing something to market without
enough testing so that as long as the moon is not full and Mars is on the
far
side of the sun you have a 50/50 chance that Vista 64 will be backward
compatible enough to run your 32 bit game with only a few crashes a day.
If
your very lucky the game manufacturer will find a way to get around
Microsoft's half @ss methods and get you running until 64 bit games become
available. Mostly it will be a crap shoot.

Is that essentially it? ;-)
Click to expand...

Na, I'd say your chances of running any "game" or program under Vista x64
with "zero" problems or tweaking, is about 90%. With Tweaking about 97%, in
fact most people I've talked to who were running Vista 64-bit, and not
realizing they were running the 64-bit version (HP sells a Quad Core at Best
Buy with Ultimate x64 installed), had no issues with compatibility.

If you have problems running programs it's because Vista has some new stuff
that older programs need a little coaxing to understand what's going on. As
for crashing my Vista box has been online for a month or so without
restarting (sleeping only). Of course I'm not running x64, so your milage
may vary.

MS did 3 years of dev time on Vista, it was hardly rushed. If they wanted to
rush it, it would of been released before Christmas of 2006 instead of in
Early 2007.

-a.
 
RiverDog said:
In my experience most, but not all 32 bit games will run under Vista 64
bit. For example, Gothic 3 runs poorly under 64 bit Vista but fine under
32-bit Vista. Half-life 2 and HL Episode One run under Vista 64, but with
some crashes. There is a known incompatiblity there. Sometimes you will
find, as well, that user account control interfers with some games. It is
very important to run the latest graphic card driver updates to avoid
problems but even this is not a guarantee. This means even using the beta
version as you need to do with Bioshock (nvidia driver).

Sorry, no easy answer.
Click to expand...

Running Vista 64 bit, & the only game I could not get to run was 'Act of
War'
will it did not run on XP 64bit as well, so it's not Vista

I installed MOHAA Spearhead last night to play again & it runs great, even
better
then it did on XP.

Reading some of the posts seem as most users that are having problems are
ones
that have got new brand name computers, & most of the ones that say, my one
works
great, have whiteboxs ones, are the brand name using crap parts?

Thank god we can build our own!!!
 
Reading some of the posts seem as most users that are having problems are
ones
that have got new brand name computers, & most of the ones that say, my
one works
great, have whiteboxs ones, are the brand name using crap parts?

Thank god we can build our own!!!
Click to expand...

Indeed, you pay for what you get. The reason PCs are so cheap now compared
with ten years ago is the quality of the hardware has dropped. Luckily we
can build are own and get quality parts, unlike a certain other platform.

--
Paul Smith,
Yeovil, UK.
Microsoft MVP Windows Shell/User.
http://www.dasmirnov.net/blog/
http://www.windowsresource.net/

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