64-bit versus 32-bit Vista

[MAT]

On Windows Vista Compatibility Center
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/ is a list of
32-bit/64-drivers and compatibility.

Non-compatible drivers to Vista 64-bit is apparently still a problem no
matter what is listed on the Windows Vista compatibility page.

I've just bough a PC with the i7 Intel processor, 6 GB RAM including the
64-bit Vista version.

According to my net-bank using Java from Sun Microsystem I have to use the
32-bit version of Internet Explorer if I wanna use the net-bank since the
drivers are not compatible to the 64-bit version.

3 questions:
How do I force the installation of Internet Explorer to be 32-bit and not
64-bit version?

Is there a trick to have both Internet Explorer 32- bit and 64-bit on the
same PC?

Do I have to have another PC with 32-bit Vista if I wanna use programs with
32-bit drivers not compatible to Vista 64-bit,
or is it possible to configure the PC to have both 32-bit Vista and 64-bit
Vista?

 

[Richard Urban]

The standard browser in 64 bit Vista IS a 32 bit program. You have to
purposefully start the 64 bit version of Internet Explorer, which does not
allow flash player to operate. It will say Internet Explorer (64 bit).

So, if you can not access your banking site with the 32 bit version of I.E.
you do not have Adobe Flash Player installed or the install is corrupted
somehow.

 

[MAT]

Thanks for prompt answer:
I'll continue using the 32-bit version of IE8 using the 64-bit Vista and see
if I have access to my bank account when I receive my new security code (to
the new PC).
I didn't know that IE as standard was 32 bit and that the flash player was
the issue.
Concerning the flash player according to the Windows Vista compatibility
page Adobe Flash Player 9 and 10 are 64-bit compatible
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/co...?type=Software&s=adobe flash player&os=64-bit

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

Thanks for prompt answer:
I'll continue using the 32-bit version of IE8 using the 64-bit Vista and
see if I have access to my bank account when I receive my new security
code (to the new PC).
I didn't know that IE as standard was 32 bit and that the flash player was
the issue.
Concerning the flash player according to the Windows Vista compatibility
page Adobe Flash Player 9 and 10 are 64-bit compatible
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/co...?type=Software&s=adobe flash player&os=64-bit

Not according to Adobe.. just tried it here..

 

[Dominic Payer]

32-bit Flash Player 10 is compatible with 64-bit Windows - it needs no
64-bit components.

Sometime - unspecified - in the future there will be a 64-bit Flash
Player. See http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/000/6b3af6c9.html

 

[Poutnik]

You can install both 32-bit and 64-bit Java, this way javascript should work
regardless of the bit-ness of the browser..

It looks like common confusion.

Javascript as interpreted script language,
hosted either by browsers, either by Windows scripting host,
has nothing in common but name with Java and Java applets.

 

[Richard Urban]

Yes it is. But read the following from the Adobe page you linked to:

Adobe Flash Player is not supported for playback in a 64-bit browser.

 

[MAT]

Hi again:
According to this link to Adobe
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashplayer10/ Adobe Flash Player 10
released 7/30/09 is 64-bit compatible (4 days ago).
Version 10.0.32.18 is downloadable from http://get.adobe.com/flashplayer/

The other link (mentioned earlier in this thread)
http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/000/6b3af6c9.html indicating that Adobe Flash
Player 10 is not supported for playback in a 64-bit browser, was apparently
an old information last updated 2008-10-14.

 

[MAT]

Sorry, I was wrong! The 64-bit Adobe Flash Player 10 is only for Linux, see
http://labs.adobe.com/downloads/flashplayer10.html

Windows and Macintosh-users still needs the 32-bit emulation.

The reason is explained on the FAQ page
http://labs.adobe.com/technologies/flashplayer10/faq.html

The 64-bit Flash Player 10 alpha release has been tested on Ubuntu 8 and
OpenSUSE 11 distributions and against the Firefox 3.0 browser.

 

[Dominic Payer]

Flash Player 10 is a 32-bit program and will work stand-alone in a
64-bit system. This is what compatible with 64-bit means.

It can also work as an add-in for a 32-bit browser.

It can't work with a 64-bit browser because the interface protocols for
32-bit and 64-bit programs are different. Flash Player will only work
with a 64-bit browser when Adobe release a version compiled in 64-bit.

There will need to be two separate programs, but there may be a single
installer which installs the 32-bit version on 32-bit systems and both
32 and 64-bit versions on 64-bit systems. This is what Adobe has done
with Photoshop CS4.

 

[MAT]

Flash Player 10 is a 32-bit program and will work stand-alone in a

64-bit system. This is what compatible with 64-bit means.

It can also work as an add-in for a 32-bit browser.

It can't work with a 64-bit browser because the interface protocols for
32-bit and 64-bit programs are different. Flash Player will only work
with a 64-bit browser when Adobe release a version compiled in 64-bit.

There will need to be two separate programs, but there may be a single
installer which installs the 32-bit version on 32-bit systems and both
32 and 64-bit versions on 64-bit systems. This is what Adobe has done
with Photoshop CS4.

Got it, thanks!

 

[Eric]

How long has there been 64 bit versions of Windows (XP/Vista)?

Still nothing from Adobe regarding 64 bit plugins, hell not so much as an
Alpha or Beta release -- nothing, nada, zilch zip zero!

They better get on the ball soon, if you look at the Bestbuy / Staples /
Office Max and Depot weekly fliers, nearly all their desktops and laptops
are shipping with Vista 64 bit. I bet when Windows 7 starts shipping, the
majority will be 64 bit.

Soon enough i7 desktops and laptops will be available with their 6 to 12
gig of triple-channel memory will be the commonplace standard.

~k

32-bit IE runs fine on a 64-bit Vista. I bought a 64-bit Vista machine from
Best Buy and it came with both 32-bit IE and 64-bit IE installed.
64-bit IE works fine on anything which does not use flash.
Adobe released a 64-bit flash version for Linux. They've projected a 64-bit
Windows version to be available later this year.
I believe Windows 7 official release date is this October.

 

[Dominic Payer]

Adobe have to prioritise their resources. Browsers gain nothing from
becoming 64-bit. Photoshop and other applications can gain considerably:
these are getting priority.

There is no x64 Apple version of Photoshop CS4, because Apple simplified
their development languages by dropping support for the one Apple
Photoshop was written in, so major effort has to be applied to a
Photoshop rewrite for an x64 CS5.


I think only IE8 has a released 64-bit version, though there are beta
x64 versions of some other browsers.

64-bit Flash Player is not likely to be high on Adobe's priority list
because the existing 32-bit version with 32-bit browsers does everything
anyone needs for now.