64 bit machine but .....

[Wayne]

Just bought a bare bone 64 bit machine and now I wonder whether I can
install a 32 bit XP professional and all other 32 bit applications on
it. Any problems I am likely to face? Would 64 bit drivers install on
32 bit operating system?

 

[PA Bear [MS MVP]]

[[Forwarded to Win64bit General via crosspost]]

 

[Shenan Stanley]

Just bought a bare bone 64 bit machine and now I wonder whether I
can install a 32 bit XP professional and all other 32 bit
applications on it. Any problems I am likely to face? Would 64
bit drivers install on 32 bit operating system?

The hardware being 64-bit capable doesn't mean much in terms of what OS you
install, yet.

The drivers - you need to have access to the 32-bit drivers. Usually - at
least right now anyway - if there are 64-bit drivers for the hardwware,
there is most definitely 32-bit drivers for it.

Your current 32-bit applications would likely run on a 64-bit operating
system just fine - with no noticable degradation. A few of them might need
tweaking - but those seem to be few and far between.

If you have a decent system (dual-core, 3GB of memory or more, 256MB+ video
card not using shared memory, 80+GB fast hard disk drive) I would recommend
getting Windows 7 x64 and just running that and then using their 'Windows XP
Mode' (just a Windows XP 32-bit virtual machine for the most part) to do
whatever else you might need. You will have less limitation on the system
now (in terms of memory at least) and in the future (as more and more
applications are optimized for 64-bit operation) that way - better long-term
investment, IMO.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Just bought a bare bone 64 bit machine and now I wonder whether I can
install a 32 bit XP professional and all other 32 bit applications on
it.

Yes, you can.

Any problems I am likely to face?

As a result of doing that? No.

Would 64 bit drivers install on
32 bit operating system?

No. Install the 32-bit drivers.

 

[Carlos]

Wayne,
You can install 32 bit XP pro and all your 32 bit applications and you won't
face any issue specific to the 64 bitness of your hardware.
No 64-bit drivers will be necessary as you will be running a 32-bit OS.
Carlos

[[Forwarded to Win64bit General via crosspost]]

Just bought a bare bone 64 bit machine and now I wonder whether I can
install a 32 bit XP professional and all other 32 bit applications on
it. Any problems I am likely to face? Would 64 bit drivers install on
32 bit operating system?