Running 32 bit Programs In Vista 64 bit?

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MichaelR

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Questions About Vista 64 Bit

Hello,

I am considering a purchase of a new PC running Windows Vista 64 bit. I have some questions.

Will some of my 32 bit programs run on Vista 64 bit? I am thinking about Firefox 3 and Thunderbird 2 especially. Does Vista 64 have a compatibility mode where I can run 32 bit applications? If yes, does the compatibility mode actually work?

I am planning on some multimedia work recording music and video. I know that I need a second hard drive. One for the OS and one to record to. The model of PC that I am considering has a RAID configuration using two hard drives. How would these drives appear to me in Vista 64 bit? As one drive? As two? If it is one drive, can I set a partition to have the two drives I need? If so, are partitions difficult to setup?

What are your opinions on the 64 bit system? Is this the future and eventually everything will be going 64 bit, or will it fade out as a good idea that never happened? The PC I am looking at is expensive and I wish to know if it will be useful for a long time.

Is Vista 64 going to be the current OS and more and more companies will be supporting it? Is Vista going to be around for a long time? I am seeing buzz about Windows 7. When would Windows 7 be out and would it require 64 bit?

I think that's it for now. Any advice appreciated!

- Michael R
 
Last edited:

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Re: Questions About Vista 64 Bit

Hello Michael and welcome to Vista Forums.

Answers inline:

Will some of my 32 bit programs run on Vista 64 bit? I am thinking about Firefox 3 and Thunderbird 2 especially. Does Vista 64 have a compatibility mode where I can run 32 bit applications? If yes, does the compatibility mode actually work?
Click to expand...

Yes 32-bit programs will run just fine normally in Vista 64-bit. You should double check though to make sure that the program supports 64-bit though. You can check an the program publisher's website, and at http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/.


I am planning on some multimedia work recording music and video. I know that I need a second hard drive. One for the OS and one to record to. The model of PC that I am considering has a RAID configuration using two hard drives. How would these drives appear to me in Vista 64 bit? As one drive? As two? If it is one drive, can I set a partition to have the two drives I need? If so, are partitions difficult to setup?
Click to expand...

A RAID 0 configuration will show as one drive. If you want them as two separate drives, then you will need to enter your RAID controller settings and separate the drives that way. You will need to consult your Raid controller's (maybe onboard with motherboard) manual for exact details on how though. Another option is to connect the drives only one at a time and format them separately.

This tutorial will help show you how to create partitions once you have the drives off RAID.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/95398-disk-management-shrink-partition.html


What are your opinions on the 64 bit system? Is this the future and eventually everything will be going 64 bit, or will it fade out as a good idea that never happened? The PC I am looking at is expensive and I wish to know if it will be useful for a long time.
Click to expand...

I think 64-bit is much better. You can read more about in the articles at this link below to help you decide how you may like it.

http://www.vistax64.com/vista-news/99613-64-bit-more-than-just-ram.html


Is Vista 64 going to be the current OS and more and more companies will be supporting it? Is Vista going to be around for a long time? I am seeing buzz about Windows 7. When would Windows 7 be out and would it require 64 bit?
Click to expand...

Like XP, Vista will eventually be replaced by Windows 7 or some other future version of Windows. The Windows 7 RC is available to download for the public to try out if you like though.


Hope this helps,
Shawn
 

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Hi Michael,

In addition to what Shawn has said, certain programs, although they will run in a 64-bit version of Windows, cannot be installed because the installer is a 16-bit application. Such installers will not work on a 64-bit system.
 

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Hi,

Is there a way to tell if a program has a 32 bit or 16 bit installer?

Does Windows Vista 64 have a compatibility mode? Can I set a program to run in a 32 bit mode or does this happen automatically? Does Vista 64 have a "Windows XP" mode? How does that work?

Can installing 32 bit programs that do not fully work in Vista 64 cause the OS to become unstable?

- MichaelR.
 

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32 bit programs work in 64 bit Windows because of a subsystem that handles the differences between 32 and 64 bit programs.

Typically the programs that don't work in Vista are either not compliant with the programming standards (and may/may not cause any trouble) - or they're working at too low of a level (which will cause problems). An example of the latter is a 32 bit antivirus program.

To be absolutely sure you'll need to let us know the programs that you're referring to.
 

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Hi

Most 32bit apps will work on vista 64bit.. But there are some that don't for some reason.
 

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Each app is different, so it really does depend on the app. On the day that Vista was released I managed to make a WFW 3.1 game work (Omar Sharif's Bridge). I was also able to get AVG antivirus to work before it was made compatible - but there were other apps that refused to work no matter how hard I tried to massage them.
 

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Hi,

Thanks everyone for your input. The programs I am especially concerned about are Mozilla Firefox 3.XX and Thunderbird 2.XX. I have been browsing the web and I am getting mixed opinions on if they work or not with Vista 64 bit. I use both of these programs quite a lot and would like to continue to use them.

Question: If a 32 bit program isn't running very well in Vista 64, can I put the program in Windows XP compatibility mode?

Thanks,

Michael R
 

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MichaelR said:
Hi,

Thanks everyone for your input. The programs I am especially concerned about are Mozilla Firefox 3.XX and Thunderbird 2.XX. I have been browsing the web and I am getting mixed opinions on if they work or not with Vista 64 bit. I use both of these programs quite a lot and would like to continue to use them.

Question: If a 32 bit program isn't running very well in Vista 64, can I put the program in Windows XP compatibility mode?

Thanks,

Michael R
Click to expand...

Firefox and thunderbird work fine in 64 bit i have them both , you can even install a 64 bit version of firefox Firefox:Download - Mozilla x86-64 flash videos wont work in 64 bit browser yet though , you'll need the 32 bit version for that

a 32 bit program will run fine on x64 if its not running well its nothing to do with the fact its on a 64 bit install , but sometimes some programs do need to be run in XP compatibility mode or they wont run at all.

Make older programs run in this version of Windows - Windows Vista Help
 

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I have been using both 32 bit programs with Vista x64 since it was in Beta and they work just fine.

Because Flash isn't working with 64 bit browsers yet, I've opted not to use them. I will switch to a 64 bit browser once it's able.
 

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Hi,

Thanks to everyone for their input.

I hear a 64 bit OS that handles high amounts of RAM is ideal for video and music creation.

Another question:

Do programs such as Norton Utilities and Norton Internet Security slow down an OS performance when say doing video editing or audio recording?

If they do slow down an OS, is there a way to temporarily disable them?

Any artists out there?

Thanks,

Michael R
 

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