64-bit Windows

[SupSuper]

I can't seem to find any good current info in this anywhere, so I figured I'd ask you wise folk who will surely impel me to use some other OS instead. :p

Anyways, 64-bit Windows: I figure I have a 64-bit processor, might as well match it. So put shortly, what are the differences, what are the issues, what's the compatibility?

[Akuryou13]

64-bit XP is supposed to be crap according to the people I know personally who use it. Vista on the other hand supposedly runs better on 64 bit according to the testimonies of people online that I've encountered.

that's about all I know on the subject, but I figured I'd just throw that out there.

[bloopy]

My work laptop has an AMD 64 processor, but XP 32-bit is running just fine. Getting XP 64-bit would be a disadvantage.

[MtlAngelus]

I've heard it's only useful when you have 4GB of RAM. Didn't hear the reason tho. :p
Oh and it's apparently mostly useful when you do heavy image or film editing and stuff.

[Xinos]

I've heard it's only useful when you have 4GB of RAM. Didn't hear the reason tho. :p
Oh and it's apparently mostly useful when you do heavy image or film editing and stuff.

Because 32bit windows can't support that much ram. I think it's limit is 3Gb.

[Akuryou13]

I think it's limit is 3Gb.something like that I believe as well.

[SupSuper]

Well I installed Vista Business 64-bit today.

Guess what? It works fine. :p

I also got a new hard disk and more memory, so it actually works extra fine.

[SomePerson]

I'm currently running Vista Business 32-bit and have myself been considering upgrading to 64 bit to utilize my 64 bit core 2 duo cpu. So is it still running without problems?

And how does it work exactly, anyways? Microsoft's website confuses me like crazy - so to upgrade to 64-bit you have to order a DVD which I couldn't find the price of, and then does that install to the existing windows easily, or does it require a clean install?

[Xinos]

I'm pretty certain you need a clean install, but I would install it to a new partition.

When I still had XP and just got Vista, I dual-booted. The interesting thing about it was that both OS's changed drive letters when you booted them so Windows would always be on C. and the other Windows drive would became D, so my other disks would have a different set of letters in both versions. Rather annoying, especially since my torrent program and such would get confused.

[SupSuper]

I just got a free Vista Business 64-bit DVD from my MSDN Academic Alliance account, it works like a regular install. I'd guess other DVDs work the same.

Vista 64-bit works, for all matters superficial, like Vista 32-bit. The only things I'd note are:

- You can't upgrade from a 32-bit Windows since the installer is 64-bit, so you have to install it by booting from the disc. If you wanna keep your settings, just use Windows Easy Transfer or dual boot.

- You can't install 32-bit drivers nor unsigned drivers. If your hardware is recent and/or the manufacturer isn't a ****, these should be available in the installation disc, the manufacturer site or in Windows Vista / Update.

- You can still run 32-bit applications but not 16-bit applications, if you depend on any, use Virtual PC. The only 32-bit applications that might not work are system utilities (defragmenters, system optimizers, virtual drives, etc.) and again, there'll be 64-bit versions if the manufacturer isn't a ****.

- There's separate registry nodes and Program Files folders for 32-bit and 64-bit applications, merely for convenience. There's also Internet Explorer in 32-bit and 64-bit, (not that anyone uses it) although the 32-bit version is used by default, since most plugins won't work on 64-bit (and Adobe are ****s for refusing to move up to 64-bit).

[volcane]

http://www.codinghorror.com/blog/archives/000811.html

I'm stillnot clear on this to be honest, I've read that even with a 64bit OS the physical archetecture of a PC may still leave you with problems addressing the memory, but I've also read some articles that contradict that.