Vista 64 bit vs 32 bit

I'm purchasing a new laptop in a day or so. I've been reading up on th
pros and cons of Vista 32 bit vs 64 bit

Everything I've read has been pretty dated, around 2007. They all sai
a lot of the issues should be fixed in the future. Well it's 2 year
later and there doesn't seem to be any new info floating around

With the current version of Vista x64 can you still disable the signe
driver requirement by hitting F8 while it's booting

Are the software compatibility problems worked out

Is there anyway around only being able to use 64 bit drivers? And ho
available are they

Do you think the gain you get with x64 is worth it? I'm putting in 4G
of ram

I remember there was issues with programs having 16 bit installers tha
wouldn't run

What's everyone's input

Thank

--
Bombadillio

Two days ago, I personally installed and "upgraded" my one-year-old laptop
from 32-bit Vista Ultimate to 64-bit Vista Ultimate. I discovered the
manufacturer of the laptop automatically included processors that would
support 64 on all their newer machines at the time of manufacture, even
though they loaded 32 on it; so, I decided to go ahead and upgrade. (Laptop
has 2.2 processor; 4 gigs of RAM, Nvidia 256 card, etc.) I checked to be
certain that all hardware installed - video card, wireless, mousepad, etc. -
had 64-bit drivers available for download. So, I spent most of the day
backing up everything; clean-installing the O.S.; securing various drivers;
patching the O.S., etc. It took some time, but all the drivers for the
hardware mounted flawlessly.

Outside of Office 2003, which installed easily - one, small problem
concerning the Office Assistant, which I found a workaround for - I have
very few other pieces of software: Avast!, Adobe, Windows Defender, Canon
printer/Fax/Scanner, etc.

I'll leave the answers to most of your questions for others. I can only say
that I've noticed a positive difference in the laptop's performance under 64
as compared to 32. It's not huge, but it is noticeable.

Hope this helps.






"Bombadillio" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I'm purchasing a new laptop in a day or so. I've been reading up on the
> pros and cons of Vista 32 bit vs 64 bit.
>
> Everything I've read has been pretty dated, around 2007. They all said
> a lot of the issues should be fixed in the future. Well it's 2 years
> later and there doesn't seem to be any new info floating around.
>
> With the current version of Vista x64 can you still disable the signed
> driver requirement by hitting F8 while it's booting?
>
> Are the software compatibility problems worked out?
>
> Is there anyway around only being able to use 64 bit drivers? And how
> available are they?
>
> Do you think the gain you get with x64 is worth it? I'm putting in 4GB
> of ram.
>
> I remember there was issues with programs having 16 bit installers that
> wouldn't run.
>
> What's everyone's input?
>
> Thanks
>
>
> --
> Bombadillio

Thank

I remember something about real player not working either. The mai
thing I'm worried about is the drivers having to be 64 bit and the 1
bit installers. If I take a notion to download something older, I woul
like it to work. I would also like all my current peripherals to wor
as well. It just seems strange that Microsoft would isolate you fro
too many things and still expect people to by their OP

--
Bombadillio

"Bombadillio" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I'm purchasing a new laptop in a day or so. I've been reading up on the
> pros and cons of Vista 32 bit vs 64 bit.
>
> Everything I've read has been pretty dated, around 2007. They all said
> a lot of the issues should be fixed in the future. Well it's 2 years
> later and there doesn't seem to be any new info floating around.
>
> With the current version of Vista x64 can you still disable the signed
> driver requirement by hitting F8 while it's booting?
>
> Are the software compatibility problems worked out?

You'll need to check with the vendors of the apps you need to use.

> Is there anyway around only being able to use 64 bit drivers?

Nope.

> And how available are they?

It depends.

You'll need to check with the vendors of the hardware you have, or need to
use.

In some cases, the lack of support is surprising, given that one of the key
benefits of x64 is use of more memory. As an example, you'd think that
ProTools, a major piece of audio/video production software capable of
creating and manipulating rather large file sets, would be an early adopter
of 64-bit OS's. But you'd be wrong, as *only* 32-bit OS's are supported.


> Do you think the gain you get with x64 is worth it? I'm putting in 4GB
> of ram.

Not for me, there isn't. And the cases where something isn't supported is
a deal-killer for me.

I choose an OS on the basis of whether or not it can run the tools I need
to use.

> I remember there was issues with programs having 16 bit installers that
> wouldn't run.

The issue is with the 16-bit installer, not the app.

And for me, some of the legacy apps I have to run use 16-bit installers.

> What's everyone's input?

Your decision should be influenced by your circumstances.

HTH
-pk

>
> Thanks
>
>
> --
> Bombadillio

"Bombadillio" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I'm purchasing a new laptop in a day or so. I've been reading up on the
> pros and cons of Vista 32 bit vs 64 bit.
>
> Everything I've read has been pretty dated, around 2007. They all said
> a lot of the issues should be fixed in the future. Well it's 2 years
> later and there doesn't seem to be any new info floating around.
>
> With the current version of Vista x64 can you still disable the signed
> driver requirement by hitting F8 while it's booting?
>
> Are the software compatibility problems worked out?
>
> Is there anyway around only being able to use 64 bit drivers? And how
> available are they?
>
> Do you think the gain you get with x64 is worth it? I'm putting in 4GB
> of ram.
>
> I remember there was issues with programs having 16 bit installers that
> wouldn't run.
>
> What's everyone's input?
>
> Thanks
>
>
> --
> Bombadillio


Generally the reports are good. Most installs go well and drivers can be
found. There are some exceptions. If there is some piece of must-work
hardware or some must-have software then check first to make sure there are
drivers or that it works on 64-bit Windows.

Saucy

Erm, so can I ask, if according to my specs, should I upgrade to x6
bit? Since when i bought my computer, it was x32 bit though

[image
file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg]x64 Famil
6 Model 15 Stepping 1
Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T5550 @ 1.83GH
Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset Famil
er... Need me give more specs

--
SomeH0

'[image: http://www.speedtest.net/result/392762391.png]
(http://www.speedtest.net)

I've been running Vista 64 with 8GB of RAM for almost a year & so far
like it! But there are problems with some devices & software. Vista 6
is somewhat backward compatible to 32 bit programs & most will work i
it. Vista 64/32 is very picky where device drivers are concerned. M
best advice is to run MIcrosoft's Vista HCL program.
What won't fully run or run at all are-
(a)some external peripheral devices (printers, AIOs, scanners, cd/dv
buners, tape drives, etc.) that are 2 or more yrs old may not work. I
they work at all they'll work as general devices without the whistles
bells that XP allowed you to use. Even if the manufacturer has Vist
drivers available the peripheral devices may still not function fully.
(b)AIO/scanner scanning photo/image software sucks both in Vista 32
64. And if you do a lot of photo/image scanning you better stick with X
or have a dual O.S. boot PC.
(c)older software that specifically needs a 32bit platform & a singl
core CPU. And it doesn't matter if the software is business or hom
(games included). Older software that ran in Windows 98 & was updated t
XP &/or ran on a single core PC will probably not work in either Vist
32/64. Because almost all Vista 32/64 PC's have 2 or more core CPU's
Even if you can get this sofware to run the multible CPU cores wil
eventually cause corruption of the software's data files. Even you us
core assigning software you're still going to eventually have dat
corruption problems.
What tends to run-
(a)most of the other external peripheral devices (zip drives, cd-rom
cd/dvd-rom drives, floppy drives, etc.) will propably work as long a
they are USB. Because most USB devices Vista will recognize & setu
automatically.
(b)all Microsoft programs including Office 2000 & up
(c)all software that is no older then 1 - 2 yrs & that Vista update
are available including both business & home. This is a try & se
situation. Even some games that are programmed for a 64 bit O.S. may no
run. I have gamers that I support & I've run into a few problems & a
this time there aren't any solutions.
"I just love Microsoft, but I have to thank them! They've give
PC/Network Support Techs like me a lot of work."
Jim W

--
jxw20
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http://forums.techarena.i

I think all the problems are the lack of interest in making software to
support 64 bit OSs. Now hardware manufactures are giving the software
venders no choice since only OS you can get now with new computers is Vista
64. I hear windows 7 will clear most of these problems up since it's Vista
the way it should have been..

"jxw207" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I've been running Vista 64 with 8GB of RAM for almost a year & so far I
> like it! But there are problems with some devices & software. Vista 64
> is somewhat backward compatible to 32 bit programs & most will work in
> it. Vista 64/32 is very picky where device drivers are concerned. My
> best advice is to run MIcrosoft's Vista HCL program.
> What won't fully run or run at all are-
> (a)some external peripheral devices (printers, AIOs, scanners, cd/dvd
> buners, tape drives, etc.) that are 2 or more yrs old may not work. If
> they work at all they'll work as general devices without the whistles &
> bells that XP allowed you to use. Even if the manufacturer has Vista
> drivers available the peripheral devices may still not function fully.
> (b)AIO/scanner scanning photo/image software sucks both in Vista 32 &
> 64. And if you do a lot of photo/image scanning you better stick with XP
> or have a dual O.S. boot PC.
> (c)older software that specifically needs a 32bit platform & a single
> core CPU. And it doesn't matter if the software is business or home
> (games included). Older software that ran in Windows 98 & was updated to
> XP &/or ran on a single core PC will probably not work in either Vista
> 32/64. Because almost all Vista 32/64 PC's have 2 or more core CPU's.
> Even if you can get this sofware to run the multible CPU cores will
> eventually cause corruption of the software's data files. Even you use
> core assigning software you're still going to eventually have data
> corruption problems.
> What tends to run-
> (a)most of the other external peripheral devices (zip drives, cd-rom,
> cd/dvd-rom drives, floppy drives, etc.) will propably work as long as
> they are USB. Because most USB devices Vista will recognize & setup
> automatically.
> (b)all Microsoft programs including Office 2000 & up
> (c)all software that is no older then 1 - 2 yrs & that Vista updates
> are available including both business & home. This is a try & see
> situation. Even some games that are programmed for a 64 bit O.S. may not
> run. I have gamers that I support & I've run into a few problems & at
> this time there aren't any solutions.
> "I just love Microsoft, but I have to thank them! They've given
> PC/Network Support Techs like me a lot of work."
> Jim W.
>
>
> --
> jxw207
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> jxw207's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/jxw207.htm
> View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/vista-help/1122282.htm
>
> http://forums.techarena.in
>
>
>
> ---
> avast! Antivirus: Inbound message clean.
> Virus Database (VPS): 090213-0, 02/13/2009
> Tested on: 2/14/2009 4:34:39 PM
> avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2009 ALWIL Software.
> http://www.avast.com
>
>
>


---
avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
Virus Database (VPS): 090213-0, 02/13/2009
Tested on: 2/14/2009 4:39:08 PM
avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2009 ALWIL Software.
http://www.avast.com

"SomeH0w" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> Erm, so can I ask, if according to my specs, should I upgrade to x64
> bit? Since when i bought my computer, it was x32 bit though.

The system specs, frankly, have nothing to do with whether or not you
"should" shift OS versions.

What does influence the OS choice is whether:

a) Apps you need to run *will* run under it - not all apps will;
b) Apps you need to run will benefit from the change in OS.

Neither of these are guaranteed to be the case, and if they won't run or
there is no benefit, why change OS?

Choose an OS based on the apps you need to run and the work you need to do.

HTH
-pk

>
> [image:
> file:///C:/Users/Owner/AppData/Local/Temp/moz-screenshot.jpg]x64 Family
> 6 Model 15 Stepping 13
> Intel Core 2 Duo CPU T5550 @ 1.83GHz
> Mobile Intel 965 Express Chipset Family
> er... Need me give more specs?
>
>
> --
> SomeH0w
>
> '[image: http://www.speedtest.net/result/392762391.png]'
> (http://www.speedtest.net)

"Dr Puter" <> wrote in message
news:%...
>I think all the problems are the lack of interest in making software to
>support 64 bit OSs.

Since in many cases there doesn't appear to be any tangible benefit from the
effort and expense required for the development effort, the lack of interest
is understandable.

For example, it's telling that ProTools is just not supported under 64-bit
OS's, and if anything might benefit from the extended memory capability of a
64-bit OS, it's a multitrack audio/video recorder capable of (and very often
used for) creating and processing very large files.

> Now hardware manufactures are giving the software venders no choice since
> only OS you can get now with new computers is Vista 64.

Sorry, but this is just not true. A quick trip to the Dell or HP sites
will show that not only is 32-bit commonly available on new models, so is XP
Pro.

> I hear windows 7 will clear most of these problems up since it's Vista the
> way it should have been..

I suggest that you're buying into the hype a bit early.

HTH
-pk


>
> "jxw207" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>>
>> I've been running Vista 64 with 8GB of RAM for almost a year & so far I
>> like it! But there are problems with some devices & software. Vista 64
>> is somewhat backward compatible to 32 bit programs & most will work in
>> it. Vista 64/32 is very picky where device drivers are concerned. My
>> best advice is to run MIcrosoft's Vista HCL program.
>> What won't fully run or run at all are-
>> (a)some external peripheral devices (printers, AIOs, scanners, cd/dvd
>> buners, tape drives, etc.) that are 2 or more yrs old may not work. If
>> they work at all they'll work as general devices without the whistles &
>> bells that XP allowed you to use. Even if the manufacturer has Vista
>> drivers available the peripheral devices may still not function fully.
>> (b)AIO/scanner scanning photo/image software sucks both in Vista 32 &
>> 64. And if you do a lot of photo/image scanning you better stick with XP
>> or have a dual O.S. boot PC.
>> (c)older software that specifically needs a 32bit platform & a single
>> core CPU. And it doesn't matter if the software is business or home
>> (games included). Older software that ran in Windows 98 & was updated to
>> XP &/or ran on a single core PC will probably not work in either Vista
>> 32/64. Because almost all Vista 32/64 PC's have 2 or more core CPU's.
>> Even if you can get this sofware to run the multible CPU cores will
>> eventually cause corruption of the software's data files. Even you use
>> core assigning software you're still going to eventually have data
>> corruption problems.
>> What tends to run-
>> (a)most of the other external peripheral devices (zip drives, cd-rom,
>> cd/dvd-rom drives, floppy drives, etc.) will propably work as long as
>> they are USB. Because most USB devices Vista will recognize & setup
>> automatically.
>> (b)all Microsoft programs including Office 2000 & up
>> (c)all software that is no older then 1 - 2 yrs & that Vista updates
>> are available including both business & home. This is a try & see
>> situation. Even some games that are programmed for a 64 bit O.S. may not
>> run. I have gamers that I support & I've run into a few problems & at
>> this time there aren't any solutions.
>> "I just love Microsoft, but I have to thank them! They've given
>> PC/Network Support Techs like me a lot of work."
>> Jim W.
>>
>>
>> --
>> jxw207
>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>> jxw207's Profile: http://forums.techarena.in/members/jxw207.htm
>> View this thread: http://forums.techarena.in/vista-help/1122282.htm
>>
>> http://forums.techarena.in
>>
>>
>>
>> ---
>> avast! Antivirus: Inbound message clean.
>> Virus Database (VPS): 090213-0, 02/13/2009
>> Tested on: 2/14/2009 4:34:39 PM
>> avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2009 ALWIL Software.
>> http://www.avast.com
>>
>>
>>
>
>
> ---
> avast! Antivirus: Outbound message clean.
> Virus Database (VPS): 090213-0, 02/13/2009
> Tested on: 2/14/2009 4:39:08 PM
> avast! - copyright (c) 1988-2009 ALWIL Software.
> http://www.avast.com
>
>
>