What problems will I run into with 64 bit Vista?

I know drivers may be tough, but enough people are x64 that it makes me think it has to be doable. What about programs? Are most programs 64 bit compatible?

 

Mostly it;s programs and drivers.i am sure you can live with it though.

 

Is there like a 64 bit list of programs?

 

Take a quick read through the thread in my Signature, you can ask questions there.

 

It's more than doable. The programs and hardware that still have issues are few and far between on desktop PC's and much improved on notebooks. That said, check your notebook manufacturer's website to confirm Vista 64-bit support for your specific hardware.

 

FYI, 64-bit stuff below links.

http://www.start64.com/

http://www.64bitdrivers.com/

http://www.planetamd64.com/index.php?autocom=portal

try google "64-bit forum" or anything come up.

Hope it help

Dg

 

32-bit applications should generally work since x64 has a 32-bit emulation layer.

 

Hi.

It seems to BSOD a lot more than vista32, when running multiple programs.

Maybe having to emulation all those 32bit programs is a problem!

Regards

John.

 

Dude, honestly if your hardware is 64 bit compatible then you will have no problems. I thought I would have a buncha problems but as soon as the install was done everything worked on my laptop. Just had to install graphics card drivers.

 

I think claiming that every computer running Vista x64 BSOD's more than Vista 32 is a little strong. Don't you?

----

My experience with Vista x64 has been very positive. I run Vista x64 on my laptop, and it is solid and very slick. I recently got a Vista x64 box at work as a loaner workstation and it has been a total dream to use. The only lost productivity was the time I spent looking for a decent (work-safe) background to go with Aero.

I had been running XP64 for a long time before switching my laptop over to Vista x64, and the experience there was similarly awesome from a stability and performance standpoint. My gaming desktop is still on XP64 and I have no complaints at all. I did my research on the 32-bit translation layer which some people (like Tinderbox) mistakenly think of as "emulation" which it's NOT.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOW64

Since the Intel64 and AMD64 implementations are both "32-bit extended to 64-bit" and have a fully functional 32-bit hardware layer, there is no emulation involved. Windows 64-bit can simply tell the processor "run this as 32-bit" and it does. Windows has a minimal amount of extra code simply to accommodate this function. This also gives it very high compatibility, as the application is otherwise unaware of what is happening.

The only compatibility problems arise when a few key things happen:

1- Interaction with the kernel. The 64-bit kernel doesn't take nicely to 32-bit stuff, and therefore 32-bit drivers are a no-no, and 32-bit apps that want to work directly with the kernel (ie. antivirus software) don't work either.

2- Interaction with DLLs. 64-bit DLLs are different, and Windows 64-bit expects them. While 32-bit apps can have 32-bit DLLs just fine, an app can't try to tack on a 32-bit DLL to Windows 64-bit. One big place this is a problem is shell extensions, like things that add on to the right-click menus in Windows. These need to be 64-bit (such as 7zip, which has a 64-bit native version).

3- Badly written code. One of the most frequent issues is when apps are written stupid, and "assume" the OS they are running on will always be 32-bit XP. Luckily the apps that fall into this category are few.

4- 16-bit code. Windows 64-bit has finally dropped all 16-bit app code. So that DOS game you love so much won't run. However, it's fairly painless to set up a virtual machine (with something like VirtualPC or Virtualbox) and throw Win98 or DOS in it and just use that.

People try to overblow the 64-bit thing into something it's not. It's still Windows. It still runs the vast majority of Windows stuff. Games that aren't written stupid (or super-ancient DOS/Win3.1) will work. If there's things you absolutely need that can't run on Windows 64-bit, don't upgrade at all. Stick with your old PC and your old OS until you can lose those legacy apps.

 

I'm running x64 and have not experienced any BSOD's. I didn't even experience them on x86. I really don't think it's as rampant as your statement implies.

I agree with just about everything you state.

 

Hi.

Every time i run the Crucial memory scanner, download the app from the link, Everytime i run it gives me a BSOD, mabe it`s my system!

http://www.crucial.com/uk/vista/index.aspx

Can sombody with Vista64 try this for me!

Thanks

John.

EDIT : I am using firefox so i have to use the run the application, I contacted crucial a few weeks ago, and they said they had not had any reports of problems.

 

WTF, that crashed my system too. I think that is the only BSOD I've had on Vista x64, good job Crucial, idiots.

 

It's definitely screwed up. It BSOD'd me too. I bet it's calling a 32-bit dll or something and trying to touch the kernel.

Are you basing your claim of "Vista x64 crashes more" based on this one single application?

 

You do NOT need 64-bit programs to run on 64-bit Vista. Most 32-bit apps will run just fine. If there are 64-bit ones, that's great, but it's not necessary.

Yeah, way overblown statement there. If you run 1 program 10 times and it crashes, that does not qualify for "a lot". If it were 10 different programs, then yes.

I bet this program tries to directly access some hardware with the assumption it's running in 32-bit mode. They probably haven't had any reports because 64-bit Vista is not that widespread, relatively speaking.

 

Clearly the crucial mem scanner isnt designed for 64bit and it is quite system invasive.

 

I cannot contemplate too many issues but the lack of applications written for 64 bits architecture mobos.

 

Hi.

I have had BSOD on Vista64 a dozen or more times.

I was playing BF2142 and i got a BSOD,

I was creating my Vista64 disk with vlite and my system BSOD quite a few times, even after a full format and system re-install i still got random BSOD with vlite.

I have had BSOD with various P2P programs while they were running in the background with nothing else running.

Thats all i can remember, but a sudden BSOD and re-boot, makes you question your machine or your operating system.

Regards

John.

 

I have been running Vista Ultimate 64 for about 4 months now. The only problems I have experienced have been driver related while trying to find the best one (a never ending process).

Currently playing Age of Connan with zero problems. At least no Vista related problems. The game itself now, that's a different story. LOTRO, Assassin's Creed and Crysis have had zero problems as well.

If you want to run a Teamspeak or Ventrilo server, better have a 32bit system. They don't offer 64bit versions of the server software. At least not yet. (thankfully they do have client software in a 64bit flavor)

Forgot, I have been running BOINC pretty much 24/7 with Vista 64 when not gaming with no problems either.

 

Are you sure it's not some hardware issue other than the Crucial issues you mentioned?

 

Have you modified the installation DVD before installing? Maybe by using vLite? Add ore remove components? How about "slipstream" SP1?

 

That motherboard he's using doesn't have the most stellar reviews on newegg.com either.