64-bit

[Gray]

I do support in a smallish/mid-sized business, and for the first time
ever we are considering trying out a 64-bit windows client for our 3d
cad operator. I've never had any experience with a 64 bit OS before,
but I need to try to test it out and make sure it is compatible with our
software and systems here. We have a 2000/2003 mixed-mode AD domain
with exchange 2007 and terminal servers. A couple of our 2003 servers
are already 64-bit.

- What if anything should I be concerned about? Any gotchas?
- Would it be wise to test this in a virtual machine before spending
money on the hardware and then finding out it may not be feasible?
- Is there any other specific advice I should follow?

Thanks!

 

[Kerry Brown]

I do support in a smallish/mid-sized business, and for the first time ever
we are considering trying out a 64-bit windows client for our 3d cad
operator. I've never had any experience with a 64 bit OS before, but I
need to try to test it out and make sure it is compatible with our
software and systems here. We have a 2000/2003 mixed-mode AD domain with
exchange 2007 and terminal servers. A couple of our 2003 servers are
already 64-bit.

- What if anything should I be concerned about? Any gotchas?
- Would it be wise to test this in a virtual machine before spending money
on the hardware and then finding out it may not be feasible?
- Is there any other specific advice I should follow?

There is nothing special about 64 bit hardware. You'd be hard pressed to
find current hardware that wasn't 64 bit. The gotchas are some older
hardware may not have 64 bit drivers. Scanners are bad for this. 16 bit
programs will not run. I've been running 64 bit exclusively for almost a
year now with no problems other than no drivers for an old Treo phone.

 

[Gray]

Hello Gray,

The information in the articles in this post may be helpful for you to
help identify anything you might need to be concerned about. The main
thing is to make sure that you have 64-bit drivers available for all of
you devices.

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-news/99613-64-bit-more-than-just-ram.html

and

'Windows Vista Compatibility Center'
(http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/)

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Thanks kindly to Kerry and Brink for your replies. Is there a
compatibility utility from MS to check for application compatibility? I
thought I read that someone else here posted about something like that.
Thanks.

 

[bandit]

Thanks kindly to Kerry and Brink for your replies. Is there a
compatibility utility from MS to check for application compatibility? I
thought I read that someone else here posted about something like that.
Thanks.

Try this it installs and looks at you set up to tell you if there is
anythng that wont work with vista
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...83-c24f-4863-a389-3ffc194924f8&DisplayLang=en