Summary: With Windows 7 imminent and 64 bit capable hardware more common, many people are wondering if it's time to make the switch to 64 bits with Windows 7.
My computer has the 32 bit version of Vista Home Premium on it. I've ordered Windows 7 Professional. My computer is actually capable of handling 64 bits. Should I install Windows 7's 64 bit version, or stick with 32 bits when the new software arrives?
•
This is actually a fine question, and one that I've been struggling with myself. My primary desktop machine is currently running 32 bit Windows XP, my laptop is running 32 bit Windows Vista, but both are quite capable of running 64bit operating systems, and in doing so perhaps using up to 8 gigabytes of RAM.
It's lucrative, at least for me.
I'll walk through my thinking, the steps I plan to take, and the one major roadblock that was removed for me just this week.
•
My concern, as usual, is all about compatibility - more specifically device compatibility, along with some software.
Until recently I'd planned on sticking with the 32 bit version because I knew that one of the tools that I rely on - Parallels for Windows - explicitly did not support 64 bit platforms. Parallels is the virtual machine technology I rely on to run other operating systems - including Windows 7, Vista and Ubuntu - within Windows XP.
This week Parallels announced Parallel's Desktop 4 for Windows (at this writing it's not yet on their web site). Not only does it support 64 bit platforms, but it does so in both directions: for example I'm running 64 bit Windows Vista in a virtual machine on my 32 bit Windows XP machine, and I'll similarly be able to run both 32 and 64 bit virtual machines after I upgrade to 64 bit Windows.
For me, using virtual machines is an important way to be able to run, test and play with different operating systems without having to dedicate a machine to each, or perform some time consuming backup and restore each time I want to switch. Now that I know it's available, I'm more likely to make the 64 bit switch when I install Windows 7.
I use that scenario as an example for two reasons:
-
You may have software that you rely on that will not work in 64 bit Windows. To be clear, most applications will work just fine - Windows 64 includes 32 bit backward compatibility for programs, just as 32 bit Windows contained 16 bit backwards compatibility until recent years. However, some applications - typically special purpose applications like Parallels - may not work, or may not work as expected in a 64 bit environment. You'll need to do a little research.
-
Virtual machines might actually be an answer! Windows 7 is already coming with a "Windows XP mode", which as I understand it is nothing more than Microsoft's own virtual machine technology running Windows XP within Windows 7. If you do have an application that is for whatever reason problematic in 64 bits, running it in a 32 bit virtual machine might (I do have to stress might) be a viable solution.
The other area of concern is hardware compatibility. Hardware vendors need to update their drivers for 64 bits, and some have not. Hopefully, more and more will over time, but it's the most likely area of concern, particularly for older machines. Hardware vendors will of course focus their efforts on newer hardware and are less likely to provide updated drivers for their older equipment.
Personally, I'm hoping that my printers and other devices will work. But since it's only a hope, I'll be making that leap to 64 bits very carefully. In short that means:
|
The good news is that I hear regularly from many people who are running 64 bit Vista with few problems. Since that's been out for a while I think it bodes well for the possibilities of Windows 7 64 bit also working well.
But clearly the compatibility issues you may or may not run into will vary on a case by case basis.
Related:
How do I upgrade from XP or Vista to Windows 7? The upgrade path from XP to Windows 7 is clear, albeit some work. The path from Vista can be simpler, but I recommend a clean install anyway.
Does a sandbox or virtual machine help protect your privacy? Sandboxes and Virtual Machines can help isolate you from certain types of threats. We'll look at what they are and how they might, or might not, help.
Should I switch to Windows 7? Windows 7 is coming soon, and all reports are that it's a better, more reasonable Windows than Vista. Should you switch?
Article C3855 - August 28, 2009
One other thing to consider is that this is the Last Windows Version in 32-bit. From Windows 8, which is just beginning development, there will only be a 64-bit version of Windows, except for Windows 8 Starter which will still be 32-bit. As Microsoft Plans to Release Windows 8 roughly three years after Windows 7, 64-bit should be considered the ONLY Windows version unless you have a specific reason not to use it. i.e. If your printer doesn't work with 64-bit now it is possible it will never work and you will simply have to purchase a new printer.
03-Sep-2009
Posted by: Pookey at September 3, 2009 12:51 AM
I have been using 64 bit XP PRO for years with very minor problems. So, I would guess that Windows 7 64 bit is a safe bet. The 64 bit XP PRO works so well for me that I have no need to go to Windows 7 64 bit. I run the 64 bit XP PRO on a custom made desktop computer with a mirror raid disk array and a lot of high end stuff, but the main point is that my experience with a 64 bit system has been very satisfactory with no complaints.
Posted by: George Butler at September 3, 2009 6:07 AMI meant to say, my computer with vista home premimum. when installing SP1, on boot up it hangs up, with this showing on a black screen.
Posted by: Bob at September 3, 2009 10:31 AM!!oxco1aoo1d!! 37/10/90266c\registry\machine\components\derived data.
Upgrading to a 64bit platform if your computer can do it is a great way to go. I did fear that some of my software apps and peripherals would not work but everything I use in the past still installed just fine.
I would say a year ago that would not of been the case. For instance I use Spyware Doctor with Antivirus and only 8 months ago they came out with a 64 bit version.
Going forward 64 bit will be the standard and with so many new computers being 64 bit and having 64 bit Operating systems it's a good way to go.
One big benefit of 64 bit technology besides the processing power is the ability to go over 4 Gigs. As of now I have 12 Gig's in my system and with all the high end applications I'm using I could never imagine going only having 4 gig's any more. Going forward 64 bit is the way to go.
Posted by: Jacob at September 4, 2009 11:33 AMHow can i install windows xp mode in my windows 7 32-bit version(although my board supports 64-bit version)without virtualization support from the process? i mean to say that is there any other way to install windows xp mode in my windows 7?
Posted by: Prince M.Kashif Khan at October 12, 2009 9:43 AMI decided to try the 64 bit windows before deciding to dump the 32 bit version. I have a huge list of installed 32 bit software and some 64 bit software. I didn't have any problems with the hardware and the software. In fact my printer and scanner had the 64 bit drivers anyway. I had some trouble with the windows installer when setting up 32 bit and64 bit applications as the installer had to be configured two times. Another problem was I had to get 64 bit version of a plug-in. My main problem was the highly increased hard disk activity when running 32 & 64 bit software, although I had 16GB memory. I was worried when a couple of 64 bit software requested to replace some 32 bit system files with 64 bit versions, which fortunately did not cause problems with older 32 bit software, but I suspect this might not be the case with some third party applications. I observed brief slowdowns in some software, especially during multimedia format conversions. I would say it is still better to switch to the 64 bit windows, but only after waiting for a few months more when some possible updates and fixes are available. I am only sorry to see my 16 bit data acquisition and analysis software is not compatible with 64 bit windows and has to be replaced.
Posted by: A. Orcan at October 20, 2009 7:17 AMWhy would you waste your hard earned money on old technology? 64 bit is here to stay it's twice as fast and soon all the software vendors are either going to conform or get out of the business. My experience is most programs run on a 64 bit system
Posted by: Pasquanel at October 20, 2009 3:18 PMwith no problems. I'm running Vista Home Premium 64 bit and have pre-bought Windows 7 64 bit.
I have had very little difficulty with drivers or for that matter anything else. Good luck ;)
I have been trying to move from XP 32 bit to Window 7 64 bit. My Win7 upgrade can with both 32 and 64 disks.
I did a clean install. When I use the Win7 64 bit disk, it will accept it on a 32 bit system. It would be handy if you could take me through the steps to move from 32 to 64.
Thanks for any help you can give.
~Jack
31-Oct-2009
Posted by: Jack Webster at October 30, 2009 12:16 PM
Leo, I made the Win 7 64 bit work. But I had to use only 4 GB of Ram. When I install another 4 GB it runs "Starting Windows" for ever. Am I doing something wrong?
Thank for the help.
~Jack
03-Nov-2009
Posted by: Jack Webster at November 2, 2009 11:44 AM
Converting my environment to 64-bit Windows 7 went very well, with only a few of out of dozens of programs required special attention or did not work at all. I am not as happy with new 64-bit applications. For example, Windows 7 comes with a 64-bit version of Internet Explorer (IE), but there’s no 64-bit version of Adobe Flash. No Flash, no YouTube. Fortunately Windows 7 ships with a 32-bit version of IE. Another example: 64-bit Photoshop does not support 32-bit plug-ins, and very few plug-ins are available in 64-bit versions. So I’m back to the 32-bit version of Photoshop. Windows 7 is great, but 64-bit applications just don’t have the support yet.
Posted by: Robert Bunney at November 14, 2009 11:02 PM