64 bit or 32 bit? + my documents

[Sheryl]

I have a couple questions regarding my computer.
I bought a Dell Dimension E521 computer that says the processor is AMD
Athlon 64x2 Dual-Core 3800+.
I'm running windows vista Home Premium.
When I saw that "64" in my processor description, I thought it meant my
computer was a 64 bit computer but I was looking at the description of my
computer under the system information tab on my computer and it says for
system type : 32 bit operating system.
Does this mean I'm running a 32 bit system and when I look for updated
drivers, I need the 32 bit drivers?
I'm really confused since I don't know what the difference is in the first
place.

And this may seem dumb, but in XP, my recently opened documents always
appeared when I would hit start>>documents, using the old Win 98 classic
view.
When I bought this computer, it too showed the documents at first but now it
doesn't. Not that I really like that long list showing up all the time but I
was wondering why they're not showing up.
I did go in and cleared the documents when they had appeared, but I don't
think any new ones came back and I have opened several documents since I
cleared it out.

I am really feeling my way around this new operating system so I may have
more questions that I hope someone can answer for me.
Sheryl

 

[Mark Rae]

I bought a Dell Dimension E521 computer that says the processor is AMD
Athlon 64x2 Dual-Core 3800+.
I'm running windows vista Home Premium.
When I saw that "64" in my processor description, I thought it meant my
computer was a 64 bit computer

That is precisely what it means:
http://www.amd.com/us-en/Processors/ProductInformation/0,,30_118_9485_13041^13076,00.html

but I was looking at the description of my computer under the system
information tab on my computer and it says for system type : 32 bit
operating system.
Does this mean I'm running a 32 bit system and when I look for updated
drivers, I need the 32 bit drivers?

Yes. You have a 32-bit operating system installed on a machine with a 64-bit
processor.

 

[Sheryl]

Thank you. I think I'm understanding this a little better.
Sheryl

 

[Sigmundur Jonsson]

Thank you. I think I'm understanding this a little better.
Sheryl

and I totally recommend you to install the 64 bit version! 32 bit
version on a 64 bit cpu is a nightmare.. by brother's computer keeps
crashing randomly and stuff. I an still wondering HOW CAN 32 bit system
"SURVIVE" the CPU?

 

[Bob]

Sound like you brother needs to fix his computer 32bit runs just fine on a
64bit processor

 

[Mark Rae]

32 bit version on a 64 bit cpu is a nightmare..

32-bit Vista, just like 32-bit XP, runs fine on a 64-bit machine...

 

[Sigmundur Jonsson]

then what's the point of the 64 bit OSes?

32-bit Vista, just like 32-bit XP, runs fine on a 64-bit machine...

 

[Mark Rae]

then what's the point of the 64 bit OSes?

To run 64-bit software...