Which version of Windows Defender should I download?

[Guest]

How do I determine which version of Windows Defender to download? What does
X64 mean?
For additional information, my system is a Window XP Media Center SP2 with
Intel Core 2 Duo processorT5500, internet explorer 6.
Can anyone tell me, do I download the x64 WD or the original WD?

 

[Anonymous Bob]

How do I determine which version of Windows Defender to download? What does
X64 mean?
For additional information, my system is a Window XP Media Center SP2 with
Intel Core 2 Duo processorT5500, internet explorer 6.
Can anyone tell me, do I download the x64 WD or the original WD?

The x64 is for 64 bit processors so you would want what you're calling the
original version.

Bob Vanderveen

 

[Guest]

Just how do people know if they got 64 bit processor and 64 bit OS? Please
enlighten me.

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

The 64 bit OS version describes itself as such, I believe--but I'm not
sure--I've only run it for a few weeks, and that was a year or more ago.

This is not simple--there are many folks with 64 bit processors out
there--they are most of what is being sold in quantity now. However, these
processors run the 32-bit versions of Windows just fine, and that is what
the vast majority of them do.

The simple rule of thumb is that if you do not know what you have, choose
the 32-bit version.

--

 

[Anonymous Bob]

Just how do people know if they got 64 bit processor and 64 bit OS? Please
enlighten me.

Start | Run | msinfo32

If that doesn't work try...

Start | Run | msinfo64

Bob Vanderveen

 

[Guest]

Thanks. One of those two works, so now I know which OS I have.
Is it correct to say that Intel Core 2 Duo processor is 64 bit?

 

[Anonymous Bob]

Thanks. One of those two works, so now I know which OS I have.
Is it correct to say that Intel Core 2 Duo processor is 64 bit?

I'm no expert on the subject and as Bill noted it isn't always obvious. I
did a Google search for your processor. It seems that "Intel EM64T" might be
the key term to look for.

http://www.pcconnection.com/ProductDetail?sku=7305667&oext=1038A

Bob Vanderveen

 

[Anonymous Bob]

Thanks. One of those two works, so now I know which OS I have.
Is it correct to say that Intel Core 2 Duo processor is 64 bit?

I guess I could provide a more complete answer and then hope someone more
knowledgeable will come along and correct me.<g>

I think your processor is a 32 bit processor with 64 bit extensions. The
true 64 bit processor is the Itanium processor family.

Am I correct in assuming msinfo64 runs on your system?

http://www.intel.com/cd/ids/developer/asmo-na/eng/dc/64bit/290450.htm
Will applications written for the Intel Itanium processor family run on
Intel's IA-32 processors with Intel®64 without being re-compiled?

No. The instruction sets for Intel's Itanium processor family are different
than the IA-32 processor family. Applications need to be compiled separately
for each processor family.

Bob Vanderveen

 

[Tom Emmelot]

Hi Isabelle,

Your Intel Core 2 Duo is 64 bit, but your OS is not, so you need the 32
bit version (x86) from WD or like you said the original WD.

Regards >*< TOM >*<

isabelle schreef:

 

[Bill Sanderson MVP]

I'm out of my depth here, as well, but the Itanium is not the only Intel 64
bit processor--
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Core

The Core 2 processors are also 64 bit--and quite different from the
Itaniums.

As I understand it, the same 64 bit versions of Windows run on both the
Intel Core 2 processors, and the Athlons from AMD. The Itaniums and the
Alpha's were specialized--primarily used in servers and perhaps
high-performance workstations. The newer AMD and Intel Core 2 processors
will be on everyone's desktops in a few years---they are what is available
in quantity these days for OEM use.

The issue with 64 bit versions of the OS is still drivers. The hardware
drivers need to be written for the 64-bit processors, as do some system
software--antivirus, for example. And there are just not enough such
drivers out there. At this stage, you really need to buy a machine with a
64-bit OS on it ready made from the OEM--who will make sure that drivers are
available for what they put in the box.

This will change, but it hasn't yet. For example, very few new pieces of
Microsoft hardware come with 64 bit drivers at release time. And if
Microsoft can't manage this, the rest of the pack is still further behind.

There has been talk that future server versions of Windows will be available
only in 64-bit versions. This makes lots of sense--servers have a
relatively limited and carefully chosen hardware set, and don't run much of
the software that a home user might. I'm not clear when that will be--looks
like not Server 2008.



--

 

[Guest]

No, can't find msinfo64 in the system, although my processor did have 64 bit
extension as stated in the catalog description. (wonder why?)
Anyway, my question is solved so a big Thank You to you guys who took the
trouble in helping me.

 

[Guest]

Yes, I believe so, after going through all these post.

 

[Tala]

This is exactly what I was afraid of when downloading the new program.
I don't know enough about computers to say what I mean and was going to
download I.E. 8 this evening but still have I.E.7 in my add/remove.
Yet I can't figure out why my IE 7 went from color to white back ground with
only black boxes containing the content of information in each one and I
couldn't change a thing.
Tala

 

[Bill Sanderson]

This is a confusing question--even for fairly knowledgable folks. The
simplistic answer is that you don't need the 64 bit versions of software
unless you know that you do--in the XP, and even Vista world, running the 64
bit version of Windows is comparatively unusual, and most users of that
unusual version know that they are running it and therefore need 64 bit
versions of some programs.

Note that it doesn't matter (except in some unusual cases) what hardware you
are running Windows on--it is the version of Windows that determines whether
you need 64 bit programs if available.

If you download the wrong one and try to install it, you'll get an error
message--no harm done.

On the IE question, have you tried going to Tools, Internet Options, then
the Advanced Settings tab, and using the button at the bottom titled "RESET"
to reset IE settings to their defaults?
This is in IE8, but I believe there is an equivalent in IE 7 as well.