Quick windows 7 question

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I currently have microsoft vista home premium 64-bit,If I were to buy windows 7 would it be a problem if I chose 32 bit because I can not stand 64-bit and it incompatibilities or would it be detrimential in anyway.

Well, Win7 comes in a 32-bit platform as well.

THE PRIMARY LOSS of going with the 32-bit platform is that your system can not utilize more than 4 GB of system memory (video card RAM included).

For most purposes, that isn't a crisis. However, as programs evolve, you're going to have to go 64-bit sooner or later, and I'm sure when that time comes, the OS will either have a 32-bit emulator or there will be "DOSBox-type" programs that let you run 32-bit applications in a shell program.

In my case, I'm building a new rig, and I'm going 64-bit on Win7. However, there are programs that let you run a "virtual machine" on the computer, and in that VM, you can have ANY OS and ANY PROGRAM running in its own little world. So, I'm planning to have Win7 64-bit as the native OS and via a VM program, have WinXP Pro (32-bit) available for programs that prove touchy with a 64-bit OS.

OH, FYI....if you have 64-bit Vista, I don't know if it is possible to UPGRADE to a 32-bit Win7. You might be forced to get Win7 as a full install (not a problem...Newegg.com sells the OEM copy of Win7 Home Premium 32-bit for $109.99.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... -_-Product

I only have 3gb of ram I am wondering because I use lots of 16-bit apps and 64-bit doesnt currently will time move fast enough that the tech will be their to need 64-bit or will that be take long enough that I will probly have new pc by then.

You have Vista 64 and want WinSeven32?

You'll have to do a fresh install and UPGRADES are OUT OF THE QUESTION!!

There are ways to get access to more than 4GB RAM in 32bit environment

Here are some other options....

1. If your CPU make and model has either AMD-V or Intel VT features, then Windows7 Professional or Ultimate has access to download Windows Virtual PC for FREE. Through this program, you get a copy of Windows XP Professional SP3 (32-bit) that operates under Windows7. This was done so businesses (who tend to have older software they can't upgrade from easily) can upgrade to a 64-bit OS without worrying about losing the functionality of programs that won't operate outside of a 32-bit environment.

Learn more at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtua ... t/faq.aspx

2. Other companies sell "virtual machine" programs. VMware is one option. Or you can have a large HDD partitioned into more than one drive or an extra HDD and use a program like BootIt Next Generation so that you can have more than one OS on your computer.

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/bootit ... ration.htm

The Windows XP in Seven is just another user interface. Everything you do in that virtual interface is translated into the Windows Seven environment

True, but according to MS it is a 32-bit environment for use in situations where you can't operate a program in a 64-bit environment.

Just an option so you get the best of both worlds...64-bit is going to be the new standard just as 16-bit and 8-bit are history; often requiring emulators to get them to work properly in 32-bit environments.

Otherwise, get a product like BootIt Next Generation and dual install Window7 64-bit and a version of XP 32-bit on a dual-boot system.

To be honest, with all the new hardware available, all computers should be 64bit capable, so why make WinSeven a 32bit version as well...? It will reach its limits quicker than a 64bit set up. This would then require the user to buy effectively a new computer and the cheaper 32bit version will cost them MORE than the 64bit instead.

There are ways to run 16bit on 64bit architecture.

To the op, like Keith said you've to clean install. You can still buy the upgrade version to save $ but your old setup won't be carried over.

But not as seamless as built in support. I also haven't seen anything that can run mixed 16/32-bit Win32 programs. Ironically, Wine is the closest thing but their Windows build is hardly usable.

I guess that the op's concern is old games. XP mode doesn't support 3D acceleration, so unless the game can run in software rendering mode it's not going to help. If the op has any spare XP license, then XP under VirtualBox may be able to run his old games. (at least if it's based on OpenGL, the Direct3D ones will have to wait a bit longer for VirtualBox to improve)

Ah, but I'm making a dual-boot system because the video production software I plan to use won't operate properly in a 64-bit environment and the changes needed to fix that are too many to come anytime soon (even though Vista should have been encouraging a 64-bit OS market more than it has).

I already have a sealed copy of XP Pro 32-bit, so a dual-boot will let me have incompatible software on it's own partition so it runs at maximum efficiency (as the VM environment forces me to split resources).

If you can run 64bit new operating systems and XP SP3, then do it. I'd only use Virtual Machine software if I had to. It wouldn't be as fast as the actual software talking to the hardware..

The only disadvantage I see is the having to re-boot to switch

16-bit apps would hardly be 3D accelerated, in this case a VM system would probably run them just fine.

I find the mandatory driver signing requirement in 64-bit to be a pain. I have a couple of apps with unsigned 64-bit drivers. They work fine in XP x64 but not in Vista or 7. That alone would almost make me stick with 32-bit if I were to upgrade from XP.

Actually, programs of that era quite often use 16-bit installers, 3D programs/games included. Also unlike the strict 32/64-bit separation, 16/32-bit separation is much more lax. That's why some mostly 32-bit programs reuse code from previous 16-bit projects.

btw you can bypass driver signing with DSEO.

I've had no issues with drivers in Vista and 64bit mode. It's the same with Seven. But these days I use hardware with a name - nVidia and nForce.

Thats a beautiful sales pitch. You should do infomercials.

If an OS doesn't even have stable driver for nVidia (GPU) and nForce (chipset?), then I will categorize it as unusable!

I think it's something more in the sideline, like printers, phones, and expansion cards other than display cards (TV, sound, raid, etc) that's causing people headache. Another thing is a lot of functions of the newer hardwares is actually provided by software in the driver. If you have to use generic drivers, or if the manufacturer slacks on the 64-bit drivers, you will loose some functionalities.