Bought a new laptop. it has Vista 64-bit. How compatable are files

[Brian V]

Hi. I was using Windows XP on my desktop before. There was some changes I had
to make with the hardware. I am currently on my laptop with Windows Vista
64-bit.

I plan on installing XP or Windows 7 hopefully this weekend. But since it
may take longer than expected: I do have certain files I transfered from my
old hard-drive in an external hard-drive enclosure through my laptop onto an
external hard-drive.

I was wondering if I edit the files, the rtf files (rich text files) or the
mp3 metadata for instance: Will it be a problem when those files get
re-introduced into a 32-bit environment or another OS? I doubt it since a
file is a file. If I download or view a file from myspace or soundcloud, or
microsofts site I am pretty sure it is irrelevant what operating system was
used to make the program. As long as I have the right player, program,
viewer, application, etc. I know if a file is 64-bit it won't work in 32-bit.

So I can start editing right?

Thank you.

Brian V

 

[Guest]

Yes you can. A data fileis a file.

 

[Natéag]

"I know if a file is 64-bit it won't work in
32-bit."


Is that right ?

 

[LVTravel]

Hi. I was using Windows XP on my desktop before. There was some changes I
had
to make with the hardware. I am currently on my laptop with Windows Vista
64-bit.

I plan on installing XP or Windows 7 hopefully this weekend. But since it
may take longer than expected: I do have certain files I transfered from
my
old hard-drive in an external hard-drive enclosure through my laptop onto
an
external hard-drive.

I was wondering if I edit the files, the rtf files (rich text files) or
the
mp3 metadata for instance: Will it be a problem when those files get
re-introduced into a 32-bit environment or another OS? I doubt it since a
file is a file. If I download or view a file from myspace or soundcloud,
or
microsofts site I am pretty sure it is irrelevant what operating system
was
used to make the program. As long as I have the right player, program,
viewer, application, etc. I know if a file is 64-bit it won't work in
32-bit.

So I can start editing right?

Thank you.

Brian V

Some bad information or knowledge you have there:

The difference you will see between a 64 bit and a 32 bit OPERATING SYSTEM
(OS) is the programs that can be run on them. A 64 bit program can not be
run on a 32 bit OS but most 32 bit programs can be run on a 64 bit OS.

Now as to the data file format created by one of the running programs. It is
neither 32 or 64 bit. Normally there is no issue trying to read a file
created with a 64 bit or 32 bit program if they produce the same output.
For example, the new Office 2010 version will be put out in 64 bit and 32
bit versions. Both will produce the exact same Word .docx files, PowerPoint
will produce the same .pptx files etc. As for your RTF and MP3 files they
are not 64 or 32 bit but they are a specific file type that requires a
program to read them (not an OS). They will be able to be read by a program
that is operating under either "size" OS.

 

[Camper]

"I know if a file is 64-bit it won't work in
32-bit."

So are you trying to say that if a word file was created on a computer with
a 64 bit system you would not be able to use or open it on a 32 bit system?

 

[Natéag]

I doubt that I wrote that.
I do know that it will work in 32 bit OS. I use both.

 

[Natéag]

Actually I was quoting from a message from someone else.
And was asking :

Is that true ?


So your quote of my message was incomplete and
misleading.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

"I know if a file is 64-bit it won't work in
32-bit."


Is that right ?

No. Files aren't 32-bit or 64-bit, *programs* are. A 64-bit program
will not run under a 32-bit version of Windows.

It is also possible (but not necessarily true) that a 64-bit version
of a program may create a data file with a different format than the
32-bit version of the program. But that doesn't make it a 64-bit file.

 

[Camper]

Actually I was quoting from a message from someone else.
And was asking :

Is that true ?


So your quote of my message was incomplete and
misleading.

And you answered your own question in your previous post when you quoted
"I do know that it will work in 32 bit OS. I use both".


Camper

 

[long time windows user]

Hi. I was using Windows XP on my desktop before. There was some changes Ihad
to make with the hardware. I am currently on my laptop with Windows Vista
64-bit.

I plan on installing XP or Windows 7 hopefully this weekend. But since it
may take longer than expected: I do have certain files I transfered from my
old hard-drive in an external hard-drive enclosure through my laptop ontoan
external hard-drive.

I was wondering if I edit the files, the rtf files (rich text files) or the
mp3 metadata for instance: Will it be a problem when those files get
re-introduced into a 32-bit environment or another OS? I doubt it since a
file is a file. If I download or view a file from myspace or soundcloud, or
microsofts site I am pretty sure it is irrelevant what operating system was
used to make the program. As long as I have the right player, program,
viewer, application, etc. I know if a file is 64-bit it won't work in 32-bit.

So I can start editing right?

Thank you.

Brian V

Brian,
I have a 64 bit Vista Gateway laptop, two 32 bit XP laptops and a 32
bit desktop using a quad Intel processor running Vista Ultimate.
I load a lot of expensive software in all machines including video
production software, file conversion software, and open source
software and have had only one old software package written in 1997
that will not install in the 64 bit machine. (unfortunately, that
software is not replaceable and to do the same thing at TopClass or
Blackboard runs about $10K; the software originally cost $550)
Other than that everything works across the board pretty well with
just a few annoyances.
I have tried everything to get that 1997 software to install including
all those compatibility modes and it will not install. I am curious
if it will install in Windows 7 because I understand it only runs in
64 bit mode. But a techie told me Windows 7 will run in XP mode, but
did not know if that was a 64 bit or 32 bit version.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

I have tried everything to get that 1997 software to install including
all those compatibility modes and it will not install. I am curious
if it will install in Windows 7 because I understand it only runs in
64 bit mode. But a techie told me Windows 7 will run in XP mode, but
did not know if that was a 64 bit or 32 bit version.

Did you try running the installer in compatibility mode? I wasn't sure from
the above.

What I have done is to install a virtual machine and the right version of
Windows to run some old software I have.

VMware reader is free and, IMO, effective. There's also a free one from
Sun, but I forgot the name, and dinner is ready

Maybe it's Sun VirtualBox.

 

[long time windows user]

Did you try running the installer in compatibility mode? I wasn't sure from
the above.

What I have done is to install a virtual machine and the right version of
Windows to run some old software I have.

VMware reader is free and, IMO, effective. There's also a free one from
Sun, but I forgot the name, and dinner is ready

Maybe it's Sun VirtualBox.

Yes, I tried installing in the compatibility mode. It runs in all the
32 bit machines so the next machine I buy, I am having it built
special with 32 bit XP unless they can prove it installs in
Win 7.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Do yourself a favor and install Windows XP mode.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx

Which AFAIK is not available in the lower level versions of 7. long time
windows user didn't say what version he has.

 

[Gene E. Bloch]

Yes, I tried installing in the compatibility mode. It runs in all the
32 bit machines so the next machine I buy, I am having it built
special with 32 bit XP unless they can prove it installs in
Win 7.

I don't recommend a virtual machine, I *strongly* recommend a virtual
machine.

 

[long time windows user]

Do yourself a favor and install Windows XP mode.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/download.aspx- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks, I will try that.

 

[Brian V]

Isn't there one version of Windows 7 that is 32-bit?

 

[Tim Slattery]

Isn't there one version of Windows 7 that is 32-bit?

Yes. Like Vista, each edition of Win7 comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit
versions.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

Isn't there one version of Windows 7 that is 32-bit?

All Windows 7 editions come as both 32-bit and 64-bit (except Starter
Edition, which comes only as 32-bit). Which one you use is your choice
(although you can only use the 64-bit edition if you have a 64-bit
processor).