Java on Win 7 - 32bit or 64bit

Zico · 3 Nov 2009 at 15:19

I'm setting up a new Windows 7 pc as I type and have installed nothing but the OS (64bit) and the dozen updates it listed once I had got into the account.

I've just gone to install Java and I'm being told that the site has detected a 32bit browser (IE 8) and that I should put both 32bit and 64bit on.

I thought IE 8 would have been 64bit under the 64bit install. Also would I need to install both versions of Java for things to work?

Any help is appreciated.

DJDaz · 3 Nov 2009 at 15:21

in windows 7 64bit there are 2 versions of IE, one labeled Internet Explorer and one labeled Internet Explorer (64 bit)

Zico · 3 Nov 2009 at 15:23

DJDaz said:
in windows 7 64bit there are 2 versions of IE, one labeled Internet Explorer and one labeled Internet Explorer (64 bit)

I just loaded IE 8 from the button at the bottom of the screen. I take it that it's defaulted to 32bit then.

DJDaz · 3 Nov 2009 at 15:27

probably, i use firefox so wouldn't know 100% but if you view the start menu and click all programs you should see them both listed there

Zico · 3 Nov 2009 at 15:30

I've just found the link to 64bit IE on the programs bar.

I guess that I should install both versions of Java to be able to use in both versions of IE.

Will get round to installing Firefox but want to make sure that IE 8 is setup for various reasons.

The Mad Rapper · 3 Nov 2009 at 15:58

Why do they give you both versions? That's a bit stoopid! Surely 64 bit IE for a 64 bit O/S makes sense?

Fegruson · 3 Nov 2009 at 16:00

The Mad Rapper said:
Why do they give you both versions? That's a bit stoopid! Surely 64 bit IE for a 64 bit O/S makes sense?

Partly because Adobe hasn't created a 64bit version of their flash player.

Memphis · 3 Nov 2009 at 17:00

The Mad Rapper said:
Why do they give you both versions? That's a bit stoopid! Surely 64 bit IE for a 64 bit O/S makes sense?

It's really not that simple.

BlizzardX · 3 Nov 2009 at 17:07

The Mad Rapper said:
Why do they give you both versions? That's a bit stoopid! Surely 64 bit IE for a 64 bit O/S makes sense?

As mentioned, Adobe and Sun where very slow on the uptake of Windows 64bit software and until recently there was no internet compatible 64bit Java application. Adobe, even with release 10, still haven't got a 64bit version of the player out, meaning you cannot view flash enabled websites with IE8 64bit... Although I believe Silverlight is 64bit...

OrphanBoy · 3 Nov 2009 at 18:44

I installed the 64-bit version of Java to see if it made any difference with Eclipse. However I doubt it works with Opera since that's 32-only. Plus Java apps which directly use DLL files (eg the SWT graphics toolkits) often fail since they're looking for a 32-bit JVM. I guess I should have gone 32-bit Java