Office 2010 x64 with Excel 2003 x86

PMKeates · 3 Jun 2010 at 15:23

I want to be able to install Excel 2003 x86 and Office 2010 x64. I installed Excel 2003 x86 and then proceeded to install Office 2010 x64, and was told I can't do it.

Does anybody know a way around this? I have read online that I may be able to uninstall x86 versions, install x64, then just install x86 again after. Has anyone tried this, and if so, had any issues with that arrangement?

The machine is running Windows 7 Ultimate x64.

Thanks in advance!

PMKeates · 3 Jun 2010 at 17:53

Uninstalling previous versions of Office, installing Office 2010 x64, and then simply reinstalling the older versions appears to have worked fine.

Moredhel · 3 Jun 2010 at 21:30

It's totally unsupported though, and may break things.

Microsoft's own list of reasons why you shouldn't use Office 2010 x64 essentially boils down to "Just don't, it does more harm than good".

SiriusB · 3 Jun 2010 at 21:37

Wait, what? MS are saying you shouldn't use the x64 version of Office.. or am I misreading what you said?

theheyes · 3 Jun 2010 at 21:42

SiriusB said:
Wait, what? MS are saying you shouldn't use the x64 version of Office.. or am I misreading what you said?

Yeah, they do pretty much say go with x86 unless you have massive spreadsheets to work with.

In reality though I think the only problems centre around 32-bit add-ons.

SiriusB · 3 Jun 2010 at 21:46

Fair enough. I don't use any add-ons for Office as it is, so no worries there!

Seems odd they would go to the effort if the "standard" advice is to avoid x64.

this_is_gav · 3 Jun 2010 at 22:09

It'll be like 32-bit Windows. They'll introduce a 64-bit option so the add-on makers will develop 64-bit versions, just like driver developers programmed 64-bit drivers for XP 64 and Vista... along comes the next version or the version after that, and all of a sudden 64-bit is a viable proposition, even for those who use a multitude of add-ons.

In the grand scheme of things all Office users will be using the 64-bit version. It's just a question of when.

I think the only plug-in I actively use I use is the VLC ActiveX control in PowerPoint for playing .flv and .mp4 files in presentations.

stoofa · 4 Jun 2010 at 11:24

It has already been shown that the 64bit version is actually slower than the 32bit version.

I run 64bit Windows 7 at home, however I've stuck to the 32bit version of Office 2010.

SiriusB · 4 Jun 2010 at 11:35

My 64-bit Office runs like greased poo off a shovel :/

You make it sound like a universal fact - where does it say that, because I've never had an issue. The 64-bit BETA ran brilliantly on my 2 year old laptop too.

Django x2 · 4 Jun 2010 at 12:41

Its not 'fact' at all, it's hearsay from users you can't adapt.

My x64 Office 2010 is actually noticeably quicker than the x86 version, even just in the loading of the app.

PMKeates · 4 Jun 2010 at 12:50

I find that if I am developing an Excel sheet in a pre-2007 environment, Excel 2003 is by far the fastest and best, which is why I always have that to hand. I use Excel 2007 for most things as multi threaded calculation can result in certain calculations that I would have previously made in VBA run very quickly indeed as sheet formulae, and I have a particular application that I need to continue to support that I wrote in Excel 2007. I had to program in workarounds to deal with 2007's memory limitations that resulted in it taking nearly an hour to run. I think with Excel 2010 I could have cut that significantly, which is why I am interested in the 64-bit version.

I installed Windows 7 x64 and Office 2010 x64 on my Intel T7100/2GB RAM laptop yesterday, and it really does fly. Very impressed. No conflicts thus far.

More and more I find myself utilising sheet formulae to make certain complex calculations.

stoofa · 4 Jun 2010 at 20:47

Lucero said:
Its not 'fact' at all, it's hearsay from users you can't adapt.

My x64 Office 2010 is actually noticeably quicker than the x86 version, even just in the loading of the app.

No, not at all.
I've read two independant reviews that show the 32bit version running quicker than 64bit.
"Got a link to that"
At the moment no - I would probably get in trouble if I scanned in from the two magazines in question.
However 64bit Office renders graphic elements slower than 32bit because oft he lack of MMX support on 64bit CPU's.

There are also a whole host of other reasons not to use 64bit - ActiveX Controls Add-in's and COM DLL's written for 32bit Office will not work with 64bit Office.
Access databases stripped of code cannot be shared between 32bit & 64bit versions.
Then the general lack of plug-in's for other applications....

What did you mean by "hearsay from users you can't adapt".
Did you mean from users WHO can't adapt?
If so - no, this is not the case at all.
I think I've been working in the computer industry and with Microsoft products for quite long enough to be able to "adapt".

Or did you mean users you can't ??????
In which case, once again I think I've been working with these products long enough to have some knowledge in what I'm talking about.