Is it too soon for a 64-bit clean Windows - no 32 bit code?
- Thread starter Quartz
- Start date
I suspect Windows 11 could be 64-bit only, but don't hold me to that.
Associate
As long as the 64-bit OS can still run 32-bit programs for now that's fine as there is still a stupid amount of modern 32-bit programs out there, which is insane considering the Athlon 64 came out 18yrs ago. 32-bit programs should be dead by now.
As for the 32-bit version of Windows, that should have been scrapped many years ago, even as far back as Windows 7. The only reason to run a 32-bit OS is to run 16-bit programs and if you need to run programs as old as that you have no reason to run a modern OS.
As for the 32-bit version of Windows, that should have been scrapped many years ago, even as far back as Windows 7. The only reason to run a 32-bit OS is to run 16-bit programs and if you need to run programs as old as that you have no reason to run a modern OS.
Soldato
- Joined
- 16 Aug 2009
- Posts
- 8,044
Wintel platform has always been about backwards compatibility its its raison d'etre and always has been, at least until software is so old theres no reason to carry on using it anymore there is still plenty of 32bit software thats still being released.
Backwards software compatiblity is also the reason the the behemoth x86/x64 cpu chips exist at all, by rights we all ought to be on sleek ARM architecture by now.
Backwards software compatiblity is also the reason the the behemoth x86/x64 cpu chips exist at all, by rights we all ought to be on sleek ARM architecture by now.
As much as anything can be convenience - I do some game modding where the overall pipeline really requires a newer OS for the optimal experience but some of the compile tools, etc. are older 16 or 32bit code. Some people use older peripheral hardware for hobbies, etc. where the developers have long ago disappeared and there is no modern equivalent where you just want to hook it up to your main desktop rather than mess about and so on.
In this day and age though no reason why the main OS can't be pure 64bit and have a fully integrated Windows 7 32bit virtual machine - and not some awkward half-arsed job but a fully integrated solution.
Associate
I think its time to cut a line between the 64 and 32 bit. The OS should be 64bit throughout, and only allow 64bit programs to run natively.
If its 32bit, it should be sandboxed in a VM to keep the main OS.
If its 32bit, it should be sandboxed in a VM to keep the main OS.
Permabanned
- Joined
- 9 Aug 2008
- Posts
- 35,711
In Theory they could move it over to 64 bit only meaning the devs will just have to catch up weather or not they like it.
But they won't put it to only 64 bit just yet.
But they won't put it to only 64 bit just yet.
Don
Windows 10 from build 2004 was 64 bit only for OEM's. In theory there should no longer need to be a 32 Bit edition of Windows - with a few exceptions (mainly old intel atoms and similar "netbook" processors) almost every CPU from 2004 onwards (Original athlon 64, and Intel Prescott P4's) supports 64 bit.
Even if not, then simply raising the minimum RAM requirement to 4GB would rule out most 32 bit CPUs (as they don't have a full 4GB accessible once addon cards etc are taken into account)
Dropping support for 32 bit windows, means that 16 bit backwards compatibility would be lost, but by now, you would hope that people have a solution (either via updated software, virtual machines, or dedicated old hardware) -- enterprises and the like would still be able to get older 32 bit versions of Windows via downgrade rights.
Dropping support for 32 bit software however is a much bigger issue, and arguably I'm not even sure what the advantage would be (unless there is a need to move to "128 bit" hardware or the like in the future..