32 and 64bits

Would someone please explain to a self taught beginner the difference
between 32 and 64 bits Windows. I am offered both on a new PC and would like
to know what the choice is. Can you also inform me whether ALL software used
on 32bits will be fully functional on 64bits, (subject of course of
compatibility with Win.Vista)?

Zygy explained on 13-4-2007 :
> Would someone please explain to a self taught beginner the difference
> between 32 and 64 bits Windows. I am offered both on a new PC and
> would like to know what the choice is. Can you also inform me whether
> ALL software used on 32bits will be fully functional on 64bits,
> (subject of course of compatibility with Win.Vista)?

Perhaps this article helps?
http://blogs.zdnet.com/Ou/?p=440

--
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I reject your reality and substitute my own.
(Adam Savage)

www.vistabits.nl
(Now also in english)

MSN:
_*mamamegs@gmail.com*_

Hi,

32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) refer to the width of the data path and size
of the packets that the hardware can handle. The larger the better. Right
now, most things are geared towards 32-bit (which has been with us since
Windows95). That will slowly change to x64, but there are growing pains.

The biggest issue with 64-bit at this time is not the software - most
programs will run in 32-bit mode under x64 - but the device drivers. Vista
x64 requires that all device drivers be signed, and many hardware
manufacturers are not fully on board with creating and releasing device
drivers to support the hardware on this platform. What that basically means
is that though most software will often work, some hardware will not. Since
you cannot use unsigned drivers, it's not as easy to find proper supporting
ones. It is critically important before installing x64 to check to see that
there are drivers for all of your hardware. Notably, makers of video capture
cards have been horrendous in not supporting 64-bit, keeping users of
multimedia machines from being able to use this platform.

In Vista x64, you cannot run any 16-bit applications as well, so if you are
using any of these older applications this is an additional consideration.
As well, some antivirus and utility programs use device drivers specific to
their function and you need to check that 64-bit compatible drivers are
available from the program vendor should you wish to use them.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Zygy" <zygy@jan5.wanadoo.co.uk> wrote in message
news:u1nMVkZfHHA.2216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> Would someone please explain to a self taught beginner the difference
> between 32 and 64 bits Windows. I am offered both on a new PC and would
> like to know what the choice is. Can you also inform me whether ALL
> software used on 32bits will be fully functional on 64bits, (subject of
> course of compatibility with Win.Vista)?
>

Many thanks to both of you for the reply. Yours was particularly
comprehensive and I thank you again.
"Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
news:eKMcDnbfHHA.2408@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> Hi,
>
> 32-bit (x86) and 64-bit (x64) refer to the width of the data path and size
> of the packets that the hardware can handle. The larger the better. Right
> now, most things are geared towards 32-bit (which has been with us since
> Windows95). That will slowly change to x64, but there are growing pains.
>
> The biggest issue with 64-bit at this time is not the software - most
> programs will run in 32-bit mode under x64 - but the device drivers. Vista
> x64 requires that all device drivers be signed, and many hardware
> manufacturers are not fully on board with creating and releasing device
> drivers to support the hardware on this platform. What that basically
> means is that though most software will often work, some hardware will
> not. Since you cannot use unsigned drivers, it's not as easy to find
> proper supporting ones. It is critically important before installing x64
> to check to see that there are drivers for all of your hardware. Notably,
> makers of video capture cards have been horrendous in not supporting
> 64-bit, keeping users of multimedia machines from being able to use this
> platform.
>
> In Vista x64, you cannot run any 16-bit applications as well, so if you
> are using any of these older applications this is an additional
> consideration. As well, some antivirus and utility programs use device
> drivers specific to their function and you need to check that 64-bit
> compatible drivers are available from the program vendor should you wish
> to use them.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>
> "Zygy" <zygy@jan5.wanadoo.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:u1nMVkZfHHA.2216@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> Would someone please explain to a self taught beginner the difference
>> between 32 and 64 bits Windows. I am offered both on a new PC and would
>> like to know what the choice is. Can you also inform me whether ALL
>> software used on 32bits will be fully functional on 64bits, (subject of
>> course of compatibility with Win.Vista)?
>>
>

"Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
> In Vista x64, you cannot run any 16-bit applications as well, so if you
> are using any of these older applications this is an additional
> consideration.

Does that mean MS-DOS is completely dead with Vista x64?

I've got a little DOS routine I use for backing up. Can Vista x64 run batch
files?

James

Batch file and Command Prompt stuff should work just fine in 64-bit Vista.
Ever since the start of Windows NT, the Command Prompt window is fully
32-bit and not really MS-DOS. Old old 16-bit apps may not run though.

But, to be clear, the main advantage of 64-bit windows is being able address
more memory. 64-bit apps are not automatically faster than 32-bit, but they
are able to use more than 4Gb of memory. If you don't have any apps that are
using that much memory, it may be perfectly fine to use the 32-bit version
of Windows.

Dave Wood


"James Ivey" <fake@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:%239fBo5ffHHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
>> In Vista x64, you cannot run any 16-bit applications as well, so if you
>> are using any of these older applications this is an additional
>> consideration.
>
> Does that mean MS-DOS is completely dead with Vista x64?
>
> I've got a little DOS routine I use for backing up. Can Vista x64 run
> batch files?
>
> James
>

In message <#9fBo5ffHHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl> "James Ivey"
<fake@sbcglobal.net> wrote:

>"Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
>> In Vista x64, you cannot run any 16-bit applications as well, so if you
>> are using any of these older applications this is an additional
>> consideration.
>
>Does that mean MS-DOS is completely dead with Vista x64?

MS-DOS has been completely dead for some time, with the exception of
some limited backward support for 16-bit apps in a DOS-like framework.

>I've got a little DOS routine I use for backing up. Can Vista x64 run batch
>files?

Yes. The command line is not DOS, and hasn't ever been DOS in NT-based
operating systems (NT/2000/XP/2003/Vista/etc).

--
"Gee, Bill what do you want to do tonight?"
"The same thing we do every night Steve. Try to take over the world!"

Good deal. Thanks Dave.

I'm quite fond of my little DOS routine )

James

"Dave Wood [MS]" <davewood@online.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:eru$FqgfHHA.3648@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Batch file and Command Prompt stuff should work just fine in 64-bit Vista.
> Ever since the start of Windows NT, the Command Prompt window is fully
> 32-bit and not really MS-DOS. Old old 16-bit apps may not run though.
>
> But, to be clear, the main advantage of 64-bit windows is being able
> address more memory. 64-bit apps are not automatically faster than 32-bit,
> but they are able to use more than 4Gb of memory. If you don't have any
> apps that are using that much memory, it may be perfectly fine to use the
> 32-bit version of Windows.
>
> Dave Wood
>
>
> "James Ivey" <fake@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
> news:%239fBo5ffHHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
>> "Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
>>> In Vista x64, you cannot run any 16-bit applications as well, so if you
>>> are using any of these older applications this is an additional
>>> consideration.
>>
>> Does that mean MS-DOS is completely dead with Vista x64?
>>
>> I've got a little DOS routine I use for backing up. Can Vista x64 run
>> batch files?
>>
>> James
>>
>

"James Ivey" <fake@sbcglobal.net> wrote in message
news:%239fBo5ffHHA.4772@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> "Rick Rogers" <rick@mvps.org> wrote in message
>> In Vista x64, you cannot run any 16-bit applications as well, so if you
>> are using any of these older applications this is an additional
>> consideration.
>
> Does that mean MS-DOS is completely dead with Vista x64?
>

Ah..... MS-DOS was "dead" (as in ceased being a foundation for, or part
of, Windows) with the introduction of WinNT 4.0, way back in '96.





--
Bruce Chambers

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