My new laptop is 64bit but is preinstalled with 32bit... why would they do this?

[Paul-JC]

Since my computer is 64bit, wouldn't it make more sense to have 64bit OS as
well?

Thanks
Paul

--

HP Pavilion DV9417ca Entertainment Laptop
AMD Turion 64x2 1.8GHz
160GB/2GB/Nvidia GeForce Go 6150
Windows Vista Ultimate 32bit

 

[Ken Triebold]

HP thinks you will have less problems with 32 bit Vista, and since they, as
the OEM supplier have to provide OS support to you, that is why they install
32 bit. Didn't you ask if this computer came with a 64 bit OS before you
bought it? Have you discussed this issue with the seller of this laptop?

 

[V Green]

Not really, what with the lack of driver support.

They just don't want you yelling at them when you
find you can't find a printer driver, etc. so they install
for compatability.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Since my computer is 64bit, wouldn't it make more sense to have 64bit OS as
well?

Not necessarily.

The advantage of running a 64-bit version of Windows exist only if you
also run 64-bit applications under it. Bear in mind that there are
very few such applications available yet. If you are presently running
32-bit Windows, you don't have any 64-bit applications, so to achieve
any advantage, you not only have to replace Windows, but also your
applications, *if* (and that's a big "if") 64-bit versions exist.

Also note that you will need 64-bit drivers for all your hardware.
Those drivers may not all be available, especially if some of your
hardware is a few years old. So it's possible that you might also have
to replace things like your printer, scanner, etc.

So the answer to your question is that it's probably a poor idea
right now. That will undoubtedly change in a few years, but for now,
64-bit Windows mostly means extra trouble and expense for little or no
benefit.

 

[Paul-JC]

I did ask HP and they basically said it was for compatibility ... however, I
don't believe a work these people say so I'm asking you guys.

When I bought my laptop that wasn't one of the things that I thought of...
it was mostly the toys it came with
I have spent too much time with HP support just to get this thing to not
crash, I was just happy it works better now (and was sent back for warranty
twice (ha-ha, the stupid keyboard was touching the main board and causing
shutdowns).