How do I know if Vista is 32-bit or 64-bit ?

Looking for a new laptop and I need 32-bit otherwise software I use won´t run.

Are most Vistas sold 32 or 64 bit ?

What about XP ?

 

It will say it's 64 bit in the description. if it doesn't say anything, it's most likely 32 bit.
As far as XP goes, very hard to find a pc that comes with XP pre-installed.

 

Yes, the only way you are getting XP is if you go with a business notebook which is perfectly fine because current ones are so well built.

 

Open your C: drive.

If you have program files and Program files[x86] you have 64 bit

 

Chances are if you buy a notebook retail and it has 3GB of RAM its 32, 4GB it will have 64 installed, you can always check it on the system info. If you customize one then you can chose whatever OS you like.

 

Right-click on Computer, and select Properties. Should say right there.

Cheers...

 

You may wish to tell Asus this....

Very few use Vista x64 as most software isn't 64bit... For example Asus have no issues with drivers, but Asus SmartLogon and a bunch of utilities aren't 64bit happy. Dell just made all it's helper application 64bit happy, with the XPS.

 

Can you guys read the OP?

 

LOL... yes, but I just read the title.

To address the OP, most if not all computer purchases you make should specify if the OS included is 32 or 64-bit.

 

64-bit XP is the least supported Windows OS that is sold at the moment. Most of the time, Vista will be 64-bit if there's at least 4GB of RAM present. Otherwise it's 32-bit.

As a side note, all 32-bit programs will run flawlessly on 64-bit Windows, without any performance decrease (not anything I've noticed, anyway). That's the beauty of 64-bit right now. Aside from the extra RAM, deciding what drivers to install, and a second Program Files folder, you shouldn't notice a difference from 32-bit.

 

I wasn't talking about apps, but just the fact that most manufacturers install Vista 64 if they put 4gb in a notebook, not all, but most.

 

He had a question in the title too


I answered it.

 

Why then does the software company tells me that it has to be 32 bit ?

 

Not sure offhand. Some 32-bit programs may have problems with a 64-bit OS, but nothing in my experience so far. 64-bit is built to be backwards compatible with 32-bit in terms of programs. Drivers are the only thing that should give you trouble.

As a side note, 16-bit programs are the only things that cannot natively run in a 64-bit environment, and there is software to help enable this for a few of them (such as DOSbox for 16-bit DOS programs).

 

Where can I check if the OS is 32 bit or 64 bit since I have different answers for this question ?

 

Control Panel>System