The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Vista 32 on M17x?

    Discussion in 'Alienware' started by Neoclasiccl, Jul 22, 2009.

  1. Neoclasiccl

    Neoclasiccl Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I have several programs that will only run in Vista 32 are there drivers out for 32 bit. I looked on Dell.com and it seems a few of them are missing.
     
    Neoclasiccl, Jul 22, 2009
    #1
  2. Kcissem

    Kcissem Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    92
    Messages:
    683
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    unless you really have to use the 32 bit for whatever reason it is a waste to put a 32bit os on a 64bit machine. Almost everything nowadays should have a 64bit vista driver if not than most likely it is a legacy device and needs to be upgraded to something newer.

    also all software should run in a 64bit enviroment, i've never had anything not work software wise yet in 64bit, only when it came to having a 64bit driver for said software is when i had issues in the past.
     
    Kcissem, Jul 22, 2009
    #2
  3. Mandrake

    Mandrake Notebook Nobel Laureate NBR Reviewer

    Reputations:
    4,976
    Messages:
    12,675
    Likes Received:
    65
    Trophy Points:
    466
    There are programs that just won't work. I know the checkpoint client for vpn to my work requires a 32 bit OS. I could not manipulate it to make it work. It's just how it is. I keep my Thinkpad w/ a 32bit OS for that reason.
     
    Mandrake, Jul 22, 2009
    #3
  4. Marvie100

    Marvie100 On a Mission

    Reputations:
    394
    Messages:
    1,221
    Likes Received:
    1
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Have you tried to run the program in XP Compatibility mode?
     
    Marvie100, Jul 22, 2009
    #4
  5. augur_

    augur_ Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I've run into the same issue myself. My recommendation is to make a virtual machine with a 32-bit Windows. These machines have plenty of RAM to run a virtual machine and the CPU's support virtualization, so it'd run at native speed.

    I recommend VirtualBox, since it's free and supports pretty much any OS you throw at it.

    Also, if your computer is yours and not a "work machine", it makes sense from a security standpoint to keep work stuff isolated from your personal environment.
     
    augur_, Jul 22, 2009
    #5
  6. The_Moo™

    The_Moo™ Here we go again.....

    Reputations:
    3,973
    Messages:
    13,930
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    455
    i second the virtual machine .... couple programs i wish i could get to work....

    Or get win 7 32 bit
     
    The_Moo™, Jul 22, 2009
    #6
  7. Axman

    Axman Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    128
    Messages:
    510
    Likes Received:
    3
    Trophy Points:
    31
    Doom 3 wont run in 64bit!!!
     
    Axman, Jul 22, 2009
    #7
  8. Neoclasiccl

    Neoclasiccl Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I will have to try the virtual machine then thanks.
     
    Neoclasiccl, Jul 22, 2009
    #8
  9. Glzmo

    Glzmo Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    476
    Messages:
    822
    Likes Received:
    86
    Trophy Points:
    41
    Weird, I am sure I ran it on 64 bit Windows before (I haven't run a 32 bit OS in years). Might have required some kind of patch/workaround, though.
     
    Glzmo, Jul 22, 2009
    #9
  10. Neoclasiccl

    Neoclasiccl Notebook Geek

    Reputations:
    16
    Messages:
    90
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    well I installed vista 32 and am on it right now. :)
     
    Neoclasiccl, Jul 22, 2009
    #10
  11. augur_

    augur_ Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    39
    Messages:
    60
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    You installed it in a virtual machine or on your base machine?
     
    augur_, Jul 23, 2009
    #11