16-bit programs on 64-bit CPUs

[Jack]

Can 16-bit DOS programs run okay on 64-bit CPUs?
I heard about 32-bit would be no problems, would 16-bit ones be okay too?


Thanks
Jack

 

[Guest]

I'm not 100% sure but I think it's like this:

Current "64 bit" PC CPU's are actualy 32-bit-but-extended-to-64. Which means
that they still run 16 bit and 32 bit. So they are able to run 16 bit, 32 bit
and 64 bit operating systems.

Whether the particular 16 bit-software can be executed then depends on the
operating system instead of the CPU, I think the 64 bit version of XP will
apparantly no longer support 16 bit.

 

[Tim Slattery]

Can 16-bit DOS programs run okay on 64-bit CPUs?
I heard about 32-bit would be no problems, would 16-bit ones be okay too?

If you're running a 32-bit OS (like WinXP) on your 64-bit hardware you
should be able to run your 16-bit apps. Pretty much any 32-bit OS
(definitely including WinXP) will run 16-bit apps.

But 64-bit OSs can be a different story. 64-bit WinXP will not run
16-bit apps.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Can 16-bit DOS programs run okay on 64-bit CPUs?
I heard about 32-bit would be no problems, would 16-bit ones be okay
too?

The issue is with the operating system, not the CPU. If you are running
32-bit Windows XP (even on a 64-bit CPU), yes. you can run 16-bit
applications (at least many of them; some won't run even on a 32-bit CPU).

However, if you are running 64-bit Windows XP, no you can't run 16-bit
applications.