New tower wit vista 64 bit

[bhk]

My old desktop is dying so I ordered this new HP tower to replace it. It
seems it has a Phenom x4 processor, 4GB RAM and 640GB disk. Delivery is
expected in a day or so. Re-reading the spec just now I am horrified to
discover it will be pre-loaded with a 64bit OS.
But I don't have any 64 bit applications. Use mainly MS Office, WMC,
photoshop elements, CorelDraw and a finance package. Although I have a
newish LCD monitor my printers and router predate VISTA.

Reading the various problems with 64 bit on these forums I am frankly
scared. I can't afford a learning curve and non-functionality. What do you
advise that I do? Can I down-grade to 32 bit before I start to load
applications? Or are the problems with 64 bit over-stated?

I know the box is over-spec for what I do but I bought what was in-stock and
at a reasonable price.


bhk

 

[Mike Hall - MVP]

My old desktop is dying so I ordered this new HP tower to replace it. It
seems it has a Phenom x4 processor, 4GB RAM and 640GB disk. Delivery is
expected in a day or so. Re-reading the spec just now I am horrified to
discover it will be pre-loaded with a 64bit OS.
But I don't have any 64 bit applications. Use mainly MS Office, WMC,
photoshop elements, CorelDraw and a finance package. Although I have a
newish LCD monitor my printers and router predate VISTA.

Reading the various problems with 64 bit on these forums I am frankly
scared. I can't afford a learning curve and non-functionality. What do you
advise that I do? Can I down-grade to 32 bit before I start to load
applications? Or are the problems with 64 bit over-stated?

I know the box is over-spec for what I do but I bought what was in-stock
and at a reasonable price.


bhk

Re hardware. all devices within the tower will be fine. Your monitor and
router will be fine. Check on manufacture websites for 64bit drivers for any
external devices in your possession. This is the area where there can be
problems.

You should also check out software websites. For the most part, your
software will either be Vista compatible or it won't work with 32bit or
64bit Vista. Some software does not like 64bit, but most 32bit software runs
in 64bit without problems..

 

[Dave]

If you have some old 16 bit software, it won't run.
Other than that you'll be fine.

 

[Charlie Tame]

My old desktop is dying so I ordered this new HP tower to replace it. It
seems it has a Phenom x4 processor, 4GB RAM and 640GB disk. Delivery is
expected in a day or so. Re-reading the spec just now I am horrified to
discover it will be pre-loaded with a 64bit OS.
But I don't have any 64 bit applications. Use mainly MS Office, WMC,
photoshop elements, CorelDraw and a finance package. Although I have a
newish LCD monitor my printers and router predate VISTA.

Reading the various problems with 64 bit on these forums I am frankly
scared. I can't afford a learning curve and non-functionality. What do
you advise that I do? Can I down-grade to 32 bit before I start to load
applications? Or are the problems with 64 bit over-stated?

I know the box is over-spec for what I do but I bought what was in-stock
and at a reasonable price.


bhk

Can't see any reason for the router to be affected at all, the only
difficulty you might have is finding a printer driver. Some printers
have XP drivers but no Vista drivers at all, some may have only a 32 bit
driver and Vista 64 wants "Signed" drivers as a security measure.

What operating system does your old desktop have and what problems are
you having with it? If it's XP and just starting to go slow maybe you
could keep it around for a while and if you have trouble finding a
driver for the printer you have the option of sending files to it for
printing. My room mate's printer has no Vista driver so that's what I do

Couple of things... you can try opening up My Computer and right click
on the disk drive Icon. Go properties > tools and select scan disk for
errors, check both boxes. Apply. Next reboot a disk check will take
place and this can fix slowness. When the system comes back up do the
same but this time defragment the drive. This also may improve things.

I also find that on both XP and Vista the AVG anti virus program has
caused real slow behavior. The brand new AVG (Free version) seems to be
a little better but to be honest I have given up recommending it. If te
old machine has that on it try something else.

 

[bhk]

Re hardware. all devices within the tower will be fine. Your monitor and
router will be fine. Check on manufacture websites for 64bit drivers for
any external devices in your possession. This is the area where there can
be problems.

You should also check out software websites. For the most part, your
software will either be Vista compatible or it won't work with 32bit or
64bit Vista. Some software does not like 64bit, but most 32bit software
runs in 64bit without problems..

I very much obliged to you, Mike. As far as I can see I will need a new
printer. The Epson is 5 years old and they appear not to be developing new
drivers for it. Everything else looks to be Vista compatible. Most of the
software is newish and Vista compatible but I have a doubt about the finance
package. Thanks for your encouragement.

bhk

 

[bhk]

If you have some old 16 bit software, it won't run.
Other than that you'll be fine.

Thank you for your response. I recognise the warning. Most that I use is
32bit but, I suppose, some may still have chunks of 16bit code in
supplementary apps.

regards

bhk

 

[bhk]

Can't see any reason for the router to be affected at all, the only
difficulty you might have is finding a printer driver. Some printers have
XP drivers but no Vista drivers at all, some may have only a 32 bit driver
and Vista 64 wants "Signed" drivers as a security measure.

What operating system does your old desktop have and what problems are you
having with it? If it's XP and just starting to go slow maybe you could
keep it around for a while and if you have trouble finding a driver for
the printer you have the option of sending files to it for printing. My
room mate's printer has no Vista driver so that's what I do

Couple of things... you can try opening up My Computer and right click on
the disk drive Icon. Go properties > tools and select scan disk for
errors, check both boxes. Apply. Next reboot a disk check will take place
and this can fix slowness. When the system comes back up do the same but
this time defragment the drive. This also may improve things.

I also find that on both XP and Vista the AVG anti virus program has
caused real slow behavior. The brand new AVG (Free version) seems to be a
little better but to be honest I have given up recommending it. If te old
machine has that on it try something else.

Thank you for taking the trouble to respond. The truth is that the old
desktop has developed a hardware fault which allegedly needs a new
motherboard - which are no longer available. It is 7 years old and I really
think it time it went for re-cycling. I have had to fall back to my Vista
laptop (32bit) for work until the new unit is up and running.

Much obliged to you

bhk

 

[Richard Urban]

There are no current drivers on the H.P. web site for my HP 970 cxi either.
But, the Vista O/S and the new Windows 7 O/S have built in drivers for the
printer. Your printer may also be supported out of the box.

--

Richard Urban
Microsoft MVP
Windows Desktop Experience