I’m writing this article because, over the last few days, I’ve been watching people searching Google and the other search engines with questions like: -

• Can I run Windows 7 64-bit on a 32-bit computer’?
• How do I know if my hardware can run 64-bit?
• What is the meaning of life in 64-bit?

OK I made that last one up. – But there seems to be quite a bit of confusion regarding 32-bit and 64-bit since Windows 7 was launched. Hopefully this post will clear up some of the confusion.

Firstly, to run a 64-bit operating system you need 2 main things: -

• A 64-bit-capable processor.
• A 64-bit-capable motherboard.

Just because your computer has always run a 32-bit operating system doesn’t necessarily make it a “32-bit computer”. – It is highly possible that you’ve been running a 32-bit operating system on 64-bit-capable hardware for a number of years, and then maybe not.

The computer that I’m  writing and editing this post on is (almost) fully 64-bit capable – I should know; I designed and built it myself. – Yet by choice I’m running 32-bit XP Professional on it. Why?

• Because I have a fairly old Hauppauge TV-card that I bought in 2002, and that will only work in a 32-bit environment for a start: It’s the only bit of the computer that isn’t 64-bit-capable. – I like to take a break occasionally, grab a coffee and a snack, and switch over to the TV for a half-hour while I remain in the office. I have a working TV-card, and for the comparatively little amount that I use it I see no reason to upgrade it, neither can I justify the cost and time involved in doing so, just so that I can run a 64-bit operating system on this computer. I have another box with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit installed on it, but for the main part of my office work I’ll stick with XP 32-bit for now.
• I prefer XP for office work, and I don’t need a 64-bit operating system to do it on: It’s totally unnecessary. I have a dual-core AMD processor and 2 gigabytes of RAM installed, and that is plenty enough for the use I put this particular machine to. – If I need something with more RAM to run something non-office-y on then I can always use the other box with a triple-cored processor and 64-bit 7 installed + 8GB RAM fitted.

- But I get it though: Most people have probably just 1 computer to themselves, and they want it to be as good as it can be. I myself am a prominent online advocate of 64-bit hardware and software. – Except for office computers: I see absolutely no reason whatsoever for anyone to upgrade their office computer from XP 32-bit to Windows 7 64-bit until at least 2013; when staff-retraining on a new operating system will be necessary in preparation for Windows XP to become obsolete in 2014, as well as to be ready for Windows 7’s successor; which I expect to hit the shelves in 2014/2015.

I’m going off the point a bit here; so I’ll return to the main topic of this post.

If you don’t have a 64-bit-capable processor and motherboard then your computer can’t run Windows 7 64-bit. If, on the other hand you do have a 64-bit capable processor and motherboard, then although you can run a 64-bit operating system, there is a possibility that some of your other hardware won’t work with a 64-bit operating-system; such as my old TV-card, for example.

You may be able to get 64-bit drivers that will allow certain hardware components to run in a 64-bit environment; but some hardware may be so old that it was built for 32-bit only; once again, my old TV-card, for example.

That, in itself, shouldn’t be a major problem if you do have a 64-bit-capable motherboard and processor, however: New minor hardware components are fairly inexpensive: -

• A PCI or PCIe USB-port-card with 8 USB-ports should only cost around £15UKP.
• An internal RAID-controller add-on card should cost about the same.
• - As will a PCI or PCIe FireWire-8-port-card, eSATA card, whatever.
• A decent 64-bit-capable TV-card should cost from around £35UKP upwards, possibly up to £300UKP for one with all the bells and whistles. (- And if I get another one it will have most of the bells and whistles; which is why I won’t upgrade yet.)

- So upgrading minor hardware can be a fairly-inexpensive task.

What about major hardware; such as motherboard, processor, etc?

If you’re going to the lengths of replacing the motherboard and the processor, just for the sake of running 64-bit software, then in my opinion you may as well start from scratch and build yourself a completely new computer. If you replace the old, non-64-bit-capable, motherboard with a new 64-bit-capable motherboard, then you’re definitely going to have to get a new processor. You’ll also find that you’ll need new RAM, as your old RAM – probably DDR or PC133 or something similar, won’t fit and also won’t work with your new motherboard. – Also you’ll quite probably find that your existing power-supply unit (PSU) either doesn’t have the right connectors to connect to your new motherboard, or that it’s mechanically incompatible with your new motherboard because it gives power-emphasis to the 5-volt-rails rather than the 12-volt-rails as required by modern componentry, or all of the above combined. – In fact you could end up with a situation where the only thing you don’t end up changing is the case. – And even then the case might not be perfectly compatible with your new motherboard with regard to connectors, mountings, whatever.

Here is a general rule that I stick to: -

If it’s more than 5 years old and it needs upgrade/repair: Bin it and build or buy new.

On the theme of this post, you should also read: -

Free Windows 7 Product Guide & Help Program

Microsoft have provided a free downloadable product guide for Windows 7. Also this article has a link from which you can download the Windows Help program for 7

Can I Install Windows 7 64-bit on a System With Only a Single-Core Processor?

Is it possible to do it? Is it worth doing it? – Find out in this article.

Can I Run Windows 7 64-bit on the XP Machine I Ran 32-bit on?

If your hardware is 64-bit compatible then yes…

Windows 7 is Out There: Should You Upgrade?

Is Windows 7 a turbocharger for your PC as Microsoft would have you believe, or is it simply a great functional OS?

64-Bit Windows 7 and Device Compatibility

Upgrading to a 64-bit OS makes sense; and it’s easy to do if you have the right hardware. – But the compatibility issue could be the only problem in some cases.

How to Install Windows 7

In this article we’ll take a look at installing Windows 7: This article deals mainly with moving from XP straight to 7; although upgrading from Vista is mentioned too.

- It’s all a bit here and there at the moment: There’s old hardware still around that won’t run 64-bit, there are people who stick to 32-bit because they’re afraid of change, and of course there are people who don’t understand the difference between 32 and 64-bit, neither do a lot of them care: It’s easier to remain ignorant but it’ll never make you wise by doing so.

A Quick word on upgrading your 32-bit Windows software OS installation to a 64-bit Windows software OS installation: -

- There is no “in-place” upgrade available; whether you’re going from XP 32-bit to 7 64-bit, Vista 32-bit to 7 64-bit, or even 7 32-bit to 7 64-bit, for that matter.

You will have to back-up everything you want to save, reformat your hard-drive, (Only the C: drive.) and install Windows 7 64-bit as if it were a new installation; which is, in essence, what it is. You cannot ‘upgrade’ from 32 to 64-bit: You have to wipe the drive and start again.

No doubt that’s pissed a few people off: –

Believe me; the extra hassle IS worth it. – But you’ll need to fit more RAM too: I recommend an absolute minimum of 4 gigabytes of RAM with a 64-bit operating system. – You’ll find out why when you start using it… Well if I tell you everything it’ll take all the fun out of it, won’t it? – Besides; if I tell you all I know then you’ll be as wise as I am, and we can’t have that.

Conclusion.

As always; a’la box pour les comments is somewhere below; and it’s time that someone used it, so I’d be grateful if you’d set the trend.

‘Many thanks, and happy 64-bit computing.

(You may notice that I’m using Trebuchet MS font in this article. – That is, in fact, my default font, and things appear to work better when I use it; therefore I’ll be doing so from now onwards. – If you experience problems due to this; use the magnifier feature in Windows 7. )

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