Vista 32bit or 64bit

I am about to purchase a new laptop (not sure what yet though), but I am currently using xp. A coworker of mine told me that if I want to transfer my files and programs to my new laptop I have to use Vista 32bit. He also told me that my printer and other hardware wont work with 64bit. Is this true? And 64bit is the only way to use 4g of ram or more right? Thanks.

 

Basically you'll need to do a bit of research for 64-bit compatibility for hardware. Check with the manufacturer's for 64-bit specific drivers and software and download/save them to a thumb drive or CD. It will save you some headache later on. Most 32-bit software will work in a 64-bit environment. Older 16-bit and perhaps some legacy apps will not.

As for RAM, you will get full use of 4GB memory with 64-bit. If you use the 32-bit the o/s will only see and utilize perhaps 3.2~3.6GB of that memory. Other benefits of 64-bit include full performance potential of the core2 processors as well as certain security features.

 

Your files will be totally compatible. Your programs/drivers/software/hardware may not.

 

Your coworker would have been right more than a year ago, but since then there has been a strong increase in support for 64-bit operating systems; every laptop sold in stores today is 64-bit capable, and most manufacturers do provide the necessary 64-bit drivers. In short, switching to 64-bit is very much seamless.

The key thing to do when switching to 64-bit is to search for any compatibility issues with your essential programs; although such issues are rare, given that 64-bit Vista uses a Windows On Windows 64 (WOW64) emulation layer to run 32-bit applications.

 

64-bit man....you aint cool unless you have 64 bit! haha In all seriousness, x64 is where the future in computers is heading. However the only problem with the 64 bit is software/hardware compatibility. However I have Vista Ultimate x64 on my vostro 1500 (after coming off of xp) and i love it, I dont think ill ever go back to XP. I didn't have any issues with driver/software/hardware compatibility.

 

So would a program like Autocad LT 2008 run on 64bit vista?

 

Can I go with 32bit and upgrade to 64bit at a later time if I choose to?

 

AutoCAD is... special. The installer package will refuse to install on a 64-bit system, even though it would work. Forum-goers on AutoDesk's website have figured out a way to modify the installer package to accept installing 32-bit CAD on 64-bit Vista, but unfortunately it is complicated; the reason of why is that AutoDesk probably wants 64-bit OS users to use the 64-bit version of AutoCAD.

 

Ahh. Thats kind of a problem for me as I need AutoCAD for work. I really dont want to get into stuff like messing with the installer package. So would it be possible to upgrade 32bit to 64bit at a later time? Maybe after there is even more 64bit support

 

It isn't a matter of 64-bit support, its a matter of how AutoDesk forces 64-bit OS users to buy 64-bit versions of AutoCAD. In all fairness, it isn't a shortcoming on Microsoft's part.

 

Hmm. I dont know which route I should go. Is it possible to upgrade from 32 to 64 later?

 

Only if you do a reformat of the HDD and install the 64-bit o/s from scratch. It is not a simple case of updating the o/s.

 

Thats what I figured, thanks. I dont know which route I should go.

 

My understanding is that it would not be a clean upgrade. I am at Vista Business 32 bit right now and it is much much better than XP since SP1 came out. I downgraded back to XP for a year, then moved back with a clean install. I have looked into 64 Bit and it sounds great and will be greater in the future, but I have some programs that will not work with it. If I were to go to a 64 bit environment, I would do a clean install just as I did when I moved from XP back to Vista. I never upgrade over a pre-existing OS as I am always afraid that there would be ghosts lurking in the registry that would cause problems.

 

Find out what hardware you need it to be compatible with, and whether there are 64-bit drivers available. Google may be able to help here. Look at the programs you want to run and see if they work on 64-bit. Or, if you can't be bothered to research that stuff, go with 32-bit.

 

Well part of my dilemma is that the laptop I am probably going to purchase (Sony VGN-AR870) comes with 32-bit vista on it. So I would have to buy Vista seperately and install it if I wan 64 bit. Does the vista ultimate that you buy at retail stores include a 32bit and 64bit version or are they seperate?

 

You can ''find'' autocad x64 version on the web...
as for installing a 32bit version on 64, it worked for me, i mean the install. But once you try to start it... something pop to told you it can't run on x64 processors... anyway ACad 09 x64 works fine for me (you can save in autocad 2004 format if you desire to be compatible with ex: ACad 06)

Yes vista ultimate come in 32/64 bit package for the ones they sell in stores but im not sure if OEM version do(because there nothing about 32bit on my vista ultima 64-bit package

 

If you can find a 64bit Vista Anytime Upgrade disc (holographic, has all versions of Vista on it, it is the DVD that Microsoft includes in the retail version) I'm 99% sure that you can use your current product key from the bottom of the notebook to install it. So you shouldn't need to buy anything, just borrow/find a 64bit disc.

Greg

 

But will that work? I thought you couldnt upgrade from 32 to 64

 

Well sony also has a new computer out that I am considering, the AW series. It comes only with 64bit. Is there any downsides to 64bit that I should know about?

 

And you're right; upgrading from 32-bit to 64-bit is not possible. You would need either a 64-bit disc provided by your OEM or a retail DVD.

 

Ahh, so If I could find someone who has a retail dvd I could install it and use the key on the bottom of my computer?

 

yep. dell sent me a cd for free when i asked for it, some people are saying microsoft will do the same, or for a minimal charge

 

But is there a problem with not having the right drivers on a computer if it came with 32 and you switch to 64? I think I remember reading that somewhere

 

Yes, you will still need to obtain the necessary 64-bit drivers required for your particular system. There are threads here that will help you do that.

 

Thanks. It doesnt sound like I will have any problems going with 64bit. The computer I am using now isnt completely shot, its just getting old and outdated. So I can use that for anything that doesnt work on the 64bit (like autocad LT 2008.)

 

If you don't know what to do, just go 32bit. Then you will have nothing to worry about and you know for a fact that everything will work. Don't make this "problem" more trouble than it really is.

And before you make threads like this, try using the search feature. I bet you 1,000,000 cookies you could find 100 threads on this same exact topic.

EDIT: I thought you needed to use programs like AutoCAD. That's why I said go 32bit. If you are not forced to use these types of engineering applications, go 64bit.

 

I do need autocad, but like I said I can use my current computer for that. I dont use it every day, but I do use it quite a few times a week.

 

Why not dual boot? Spend the majority of your time on 64bit vista, and when you need to use programs like autocad, just reboot???

 

Because I am not that good with computers lol. How complicated is that?

 

lol i just assumed you were cos you were using autocad neways its easy just install one vista after the other. Then on bootup a screen should appear asking you to choose which version of vista you want to boot. Bear in mind you'll need to create 2 partitions - one for each OS. Since you'll be using the 32bit Vista partition less, i suggest you partition only about 10% of your hd for it, and 90% for the 64bit os

 

Lol. I am pretty computer savvy but I've never done anything like that. So if I started with a 64bit system I would have to get a disk to install 32bit and install all the necessary drivers on the 32bit partition or visa versa right?

 

yup exactly. Most drivers should install automatically via the driver repository/ windows update, you only really need to bother installing the latest drivers for you gpu.

 

Thank again.

 

Not necessary "get a disk" to install 32-bit, just install the 32-bit OS on a different partition on the same disk as your 64-bit OS.

 

I thought computers usually just come loaded with the OS. My current laptop never came with a disk, it just came with xp already on it.