Difference between 32-bit & 64-bit OS. TIA

[sandy58]

(apart from the obvious..32-bit) If I wanted to change from 32-bit to
64-bit is there any changes I need to do to my pc before hand/what
will be the effect (if any) on my hardware/software? What would be the
benefits of such a change?
TIA for all replies.....even the comics.

 

[JS]

(apart from the obvious..32-bit) If I wanted to change from 32-bit to
64-bit is there any changes I need to do to my pc before hand/what
will be the effect (if any) on my hardware/software? What would be the
benefits of such a change?
TIA for all replies.....even the comics.

You can't upgrade from a 32-bit OS to the 64-bit version.
That means you must do a 'Clean Install' of Windows.
So backup all your important files to an external USB drive
or DVD(s).

After you have finished the clean install you then must install
all your applications, assuming they will even run depending
on how old they are.

 

[Richard Urban]

Your motherboard, CPU and the bios must be 64 bit hardware. If they are not
you can't switch to a 64 bit operating system.

Benefits, if any, are on a case by case install. What benefits I may receive
(due to my hardware and the programs I run) may be non existent for you. I
have 8 gig of RAM and plan to upgrade to 16 gig when I can afford to. I run
4-5 simultaneous virtual machines. So for me a big benefit is that I can use
more than 4 gig of RAM.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

(apart from the obvious..32-bit) If I wanted to change from 32-bit
to 64-bit is there any changes I need to do to my pc before
hand/what will be the effect (if any) on my hardware/software? What
would be the benefits of such a change?
TIA for all replies.....even the comics.

What you need to 'change'? Sort of an obscure question. You'll have to
discover that on your own in the end.

You need to ensure your hardware is 64-bit capable.

.. Get this:
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php
[1.52 setup (installation, includes 32 and 64-bit binaries)]
.. Install it (uncheck the "ask.com" stuff during install.)
.. Run it (Should be under "CPUID" in your start menu.)
.. If it says "X86-64" or "EMT64" next to "Instructions" under the CPU tab,
then your processor supports 64-bit.


You need to ensure that every piece of hardware you plan on continuing to
utilize with this system has a 64-bit driver (for the specific 64-bit
operating system you choose) so it can communicate with the system. That
will include (but not be limited to) the motherboard chipset, the video
device(s), the audio device(s), the network device(s), the printer(s), the
scanner(s), the camera(s) and anything else insiode or outside of the
machine that you would like to connect to the machine and access/utilize in
some way from that machine. In order to ensure this is nothing more and
nothing less than verifying (via the manufacturer's web page seems to be the
easiest) there are drivers for the operating system you plan on utilizing
for said pieces of hardware.


You'll need to ensure your software (whatever you are/want to continue to
run) will work when installed on a 64-bit operating system. Most 32-bit
Windows software will work fine on a 64-bit Windows operating system - it
just won't work any better than it did before on a 32-bit operating system.
If you happen to have software that is 64-bit capable (has been coded so it
can take advantage of 64-bit processes) or you can upgrade to versions of
your software that are 64-bit capable - then you might see an advantage.
Otherwise - going from 32-bit to 64-bit (right now, for most) is nothing
more than novelty and gives an ability to use more than 4GB of memory
(again - a novelty for most people.)

The question of whether or not this would be of benefit to you is very
specific to you and what you are expecting/wanting to accomplish. My
questions to you may answer all the questions you have about the change you
are contemplating...

.. Why are you wanting to go to a 64-bit Windows operating system?
.. What are *you* hoping to gain from going to a 64-bit Windows operating
system?

 

[Bob I]

Do you have 64 bit hardware AND also 64 bit drivers for all the
peripherals? Are you ready to re-install from scratch? Benefits? Access
to more than 4 GB address space. On balance, you will likely regret it
unless you value "learning experiences".

 

[DrTeeth]

You'll need to ensure your software (whatever you are/want to continue to
run) will work when installed on a 64-bit operating system.

Don't forget the chipset will have to support more than 4GB too.
--

Cheers,

DrT

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.

 

[nomore]

The real world answer, presuming you have a 64 bit capable machine:
Do not bother installing XP 64 bit as it is unstable and incompatible with
many programs and lacks drivers.
Vista 64 is a different animal, if your peripherals have drivers and you do
not need older programs that contain 16 bit code-a simple example is the old
Windows Card File applet.
A 32 bit OS effectively has under 3gbs of RAM it can access. A 64 bit OS
with 4 gbs of RAM in the machine accesses over 3gbs.
That makes a significant difference in overall speed of the unit and is why
even low end craptops come standard with 64 bit OSes now.
Anyone who can run a 64 bit OS should: the world has moved on.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

(apart from the obvious..32-bit) If I wanted to change from 32-bit
to 64-bit is there any changes I need to do to my pc before
hand/what will be the effect (if any) on my hardware/software? What
would be the benefits of such a change?
TIA for all replies.....even the comics.

What you need to 'change'? Sort of an obscure question. You'll
have to discover that on your own in the end.

You need to ensure your hardware is 64-bit capable.

. Get this:
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php
[1.52 setup (installation, includes 32 and 64-bit binaries)]
. Install it (uncheck the "ask.com" stuff during install.)
. Run it (Should be under "CPUID" in your start menu.)
. If it says "X86-64" or "EMT64" next to "Instructions" under the
CPU tab, then your processor supports 64-bit.


You need to ensure that every piece of hardware you plan on
continuing to utilize with this system has a 64-bit driver (for the
specific 64-bit operating system you choose) so it can communicate
with the system. That will include (but not be limited to) the
motherboard chipset, the video device(s), the audio device(s), the
network device(s), the printer(s), the scanner(s), the camera(s)
and anything else insiode or outside of the machine that you would
like to connect to the machine and access/utilize in some way from
that machine. In order to ensure this is nothing more and nothing
less than verifying (via the manufacturer's web page seems to be
the easiest) there are drivers for the operating system you plan on
utilizing for said pieces of hardware.


You'll need to ensure your software (whatever you are/want to
continue to run) will work when installed on a 64-bit operating
system. Most 32-bit Windows software will work fine on a 64-bit
Windows operating system - it just won't work any better than it
did before on a 32-bit operating system. If you happen to have
software that is 64-bit capable (has been coded so it can take
advantage of 64-bit processes) or you can upgrade to versions of
your software that are 64-bit capable - then you might see an
advantage. Otherwise - going from 32-bit to 64-bit (right now, for
most) is nothing more than novelty and gives an ability to use more
than 4GB of memory (again - a novelty for most people.)


The question of whether or not this would be of benefit to you is
very specific to you and what you are expecting/wanting to
accomplish. My questions to you may answer all the questions you
have about the change you are contemplating...

. Why are you wanting to go to a 64-bit Windows operating system?
. What are *you* hoping to gain from going to a 64-bit Windows
operating system?

Don't forget the chipset will have to support more than 4GB too.

I undid your snipping job - seeing as how this and more was covered.

 

[sandy58]

(apart from the obvious..32-bit) If I wanted to change from 32-bit
to 64-bit is there any changes I need to do to my pc before
hand/what will be the effect (if any) on my hardware/software? What
would be the benefits of such a change?
TIA for all replies.....even the comics.

What you need to 'change'?  Sort of an obscure question.  You'll
have to discover that on your own in the end.

You need to ensure your hardware is 64-bit capable.

. Get this:
 http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php
 [1.52 setup (installation, includes 32 and 64-bit binaries)]
. Install it (uncheck the "ask.com" stuff during install.)
. Run it (Should be under "CPUID" in your start menu.)
. If it says "X86-64" or "EMT64" next to "Instructions" under the
CPU tab, then your processor supports 64-bit.

You need to ensure that every piece of hardware you plan on
continuing to utilize with this system has a 64-bit driver (for the
specific 64-bit operating system you choose) so it can communicate
with the system.  That will include (but not be limited to) the
motherboard chipset, the video device(s), the audio device(s), the
network device(s), the printer(s), the scanner(s), the camera(s)
and anything else insiode or outside of the machine that you would
like to connect to the machine and access/utilize in some way from
that machine.  In order to ensure this is nothing more and nothing
less than verifying (via the manufacturer's web page seems to be
the easiest) there are drivers for the operating system you plan on
utilizing for said pieces of hardware.

You'll need to ensure your software (whatever you are/want to
continue to run) will work when installed on a 64-bit operating
system.  Most 32-bit Windows software will work fine on a 64-bit
Windows operating system - it just won't work any better than it
did before on a 32-bit operating system. If you happen to have
software that is 64-bit capable (has been coded so it can take
advantage of 64-bit processes) or you can upgrade to versions of
your software that are 64-bit capable - then you might see an
advantage. Otherwise - going from 32-bit to 64-bit (right now, for
most) is nothing more than novelty and gives an ability to use more
than 4GB of memory (again - a novelty for most people.)

The question of whether or not this would be of benefit to you is
very specific to you and what you are expecting/wanting to
accomplish.  My questions to you may answer all the questions you
have about the change you are contemplating...

. Why are you wanting to go to a 64-bit Windows operating system?
. What are *you* hoping to gain from going to a 64-bit Windows
operating system?

Don't forget the chipset will have to support more than 4GB too.

I undid your snipping job - seeing as how this and more was covered.

Thank you for all the information, gents. My mind, for the moment, has
been severely changed!! I'll stick to what I have right now.
ATB
sandy58

 

[DrTeeth]

I undid your snipping job - seeing as how this and more was covered.

It was NOT covered with all due respect. I was mentioning a specific
situation which you singularly failed to mention.

My chipset *is* 64-bit capable, but does NOT support more than 4GB of
memory. I cannot see where you addressed this situation...in fact you
did not mention the memory supporting capacity of any chipset (or OS)
*at all*.
--

Cheers,

DrT

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.

 

[DrTeeth]

A 64 bit OS
with 4 gbs of RAM in the machine accesses over 3gbs.

Not always...an nForce4 chipset won't. It only supports 4GB of memory
(even though it is a 64-bit chipset) so ALWAYS has the same amount of
available memory irrespective of the 'bittiness' of the OS.

From MSKB 929605:- "When the physical RAM that is installed on a
computer equals the address space that is supported by the chipset,
the total system memory that is available to the operating system is
always less than the physical RAM that is installed. For example,
consider a computer that has an Intel 975X chipset that supports 8 GB
of address space. If you install 8 GB of RAM, the system memory that
is available to the operating system will be reduced by the PCI
configuration requirements. In this scenario, PCI configuration
requirements reduce the memory that is available to the operating
system by an amount that is between approximately 200 MB and
approximately 1 GB. The reduction depends on the configuration".
--

Cheers,

DrT

** Stress - the condition brought about by having to
** resist the temptation to beat the living daylights
** out of someone who richly deserves it.

 

[Shenan Stanley]

It was NOT covered with all due respect. I was mentioning a specific
situation which you singularly failed to mention.

My chipset *is* 64-bit capable, but does NOT support more than 4GB
of memory. I cannot see where you addressed this situation...in
fact you did not mention the memory supporting capacity of any
chipset (or OS) *at all*.

Okay.

Your snippage was just bizarre to me then. Added information that dealt
more with the area my questions to the OP would have covered once they
answered them than the OPs actual question.