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.

    Question about 64 bit Vista

    Discussion in 'HP' started by namdo, Mar 9, 2009.

  1. namdo

    namdo Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Hi,
    I have a hp dv5 with 4gb ram and 64 bit vista. I don't like the 64 bit vista. Can i downgrade it to 32 bit vista. I know i would only be able to use 3gb of ram. Is that possible ?
     
    namdo, Mar 9, 2009
    #1
  2. Jonathan360

    Jonathan360 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    17
    Messages:
    335
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    It's possible but may I ask why you want to downgrade to 32 bit? I personally would not do it, but it all depends. If you run a lot of software that isn't compatible, then I guess it would be beneficial.
     
    Jonathan360, Mar 9, 2009
    #2
  3. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

    Reputations:
    444
    Messages:
    2,510
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Have you tried contacting HP? Some brands send the Operating System discs to customers if they ask (some for free, some for a price). Your Windows Key should be valid on a 64-bit and a 32-bit Windows Vista.
     
    HerrKaputt, Mar 9, 2009
    #3
  4. Infamous22

    Infamous22 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    189
    Messages:
    1,093
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    From experience, you cannot downgrade from 64 bit to 32 bit with the OEM OS CD.

    If you purchased Vista 32 Bit, then yes. You would need to download all of your main drivers beforehand.

    I'm currently running 64 bit and I just downloaded VMWARE to run my previous version of Windows XP. I always have it running for devices and programs that are not 64 bit compatible. You can allocate as much ram as you choose for the virtual OS.
     
    Infamous22, Mar 9, 2009
    #4
  5. namdo

    namdo Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    I run some softwares which aren't compatible with 64 bit vista. I have a vista cd which i bought separately. Will i be able to use that ?
     
    namdo, Mar 9, 2009
    #5
  6. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

    Reputations:
    444
    Messages:
    2,510
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    The retail version of Vista comes with two DVDs, one for 32-bit and one for 64-bit.

    If yours only has one DVD that is very strange.
     
    HerrKaputt, Mar 9, 2009
    #6
  7. namdo

    namdo Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Well I bought it off ebay, the 32 bit version.
     
    namdo, Mar 9, 2009
    #7
  8. Infamous22

    Infamous22 Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    189
    Messages:
    1,093
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Then it should work. Just be sure to find the proper drivers and store them on a flash drive, cd or external hard drive.
     
    Infamous22, Mar 9, 2009
    #8
  9. 0.0

    0.0 Notebook Consultant

    Reputations:
    87
    Messages:
    237
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Ultimate might come with 2 but AFAIK the rest come as one 32 bit DVD, if you need the 64 bit version MS will send the 64 bit disk to you for the cost of postage (retail not oem).
     
    0.0, Mar 9, 2009
    #9
  10. namdo

    namdo Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    18
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    Ok thanks then. Peace.
     
    namdo, Mar 9, 2009
    #10
  11. HerrKaputt

    HerrKaputt Elite Notebook User

    Reputations:
    444
    Messages:
    2,510
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Oh, I see. Thanks for the tip, my mistake.
     
    HerrKaputt, Mar 9, 2009
    #11