Compatibility in Windows Vista 64-bit

Hi all, I'm about to order a new laptop for my college life, but I'm confusing about the OS choice.
I really want to have 64-bit in order to take full advantage of 4 GB ram, but I'm doubtful about software compatibility in 64-bit.
Softwares that I normally use:

• MS Office 2007
• WinRAR
• Winamp
• Nero
• K-Lite Codec Pack
• Some games like counter-strike...

I have never tried Vista 64-bit so far, would anyone has experience about this issue share your view?
I do appreciate any help!!!

 

u wont have any probs with vista x64. i myself am using x64 and have had no compatibility issues with any of the x32 software so far

 

All will work.
Only 16-bit apps choke.

 

I've used all on 64 bit apart from counterstrike and they all work flawlessly.

 

Thanks all of your helps!!!
I'm much more confident to choose Vista 64-bit now

 

if you want full 64-bit, a couple of free suggestions (that i'm going to use myself): substitute 7-Zip for winRAR (although it's only unRARs), and IMGBurn for Nero (super small program. great if you only want to burn discs or isos and don't need all the other Nero bloat.)

also: Media Player Classic Home Theatre edition is 64-bit too. and there's a Vista 64-bit codec pack out there ...

 

7-Zip only unRARs? I thought you can make archives like RARs, or is that 7z and self-extracting archives only? I've also used K-Lite Codec Pack, WinRAR, and MS Office 2007 (why wouldn't it work?) in Vista x64. It works fine.

 

7zip will create archives on x86 bit installs, but in my experience the current x64 releases suffer from broken context menus in explorer that prevent you from being able to right click files/folders to create/extract archives.

Here's hoping that gets fixed soon. :|

 

Yes they all work.

Again, a few changes I would make

Nero needs to be v7 or higher to work.
I would not use that codec pack, get hold of ffdshow 32bit and 64bit packs and install both. So far I have yet to find a file these will not decode plus they support multi core CPU's so enhance decode and encode speeds (if needed)

 

I use this exact list except its MS office 03 and 7Zip instead of WinRAR. WinRAR works anyway.

It should be all good.

 

wow, I did not expect this much feedback, thanks all!!!
now I just can't wait till new 64-bit lappy is shipped

 

Scratch that, reinstalled yesterday and tossed on the newest beta and 7zip is working perfectly!

 

IMO:

Unzip - built into Explorer (right-click > Extract All...), no need for third-party program
Create ZIP - built into Explorer (right-click > Send To > Compressed (zipped) folder), no need for third-party program
UnRAR - use 7-Zip
Create RAR - Why? Just create a ZIP instead.

 

Or Try IZarc , AFAIK it can open and create Rar files

here are is the official list of supported formats

more info : http://www.izarc.org/index.html

Note : Shell Extensions for x64 is on its way