Windows 7 Pro 32bit vs 64bit

Felix

Felix

Felix

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Joined
25 Jan 2003
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I just got a load of new machines into work, which come downgraded to XP. However I want to move forward and use Windows 7. Using the disks that came with the PC I can upgrade to Windows 7 32 bit or 64 bit.

I can't decide which version to move to, part of me thinks that we should go for 64 bit so that we can utilise the hardware more effectively and also move forward in terms of operating systems. However various PCs will need to have old applications running on them which may or not work properly on a 64 bit system. Also, its not just a handful of applications its dozens.

So should I stick with 32 bit or move to 64 and bite the bullet?
 
Rather than guess, why not find out for yourself if you will have issues with applications?

Generally speaking any 32-bit application should work on 64bit. You are more likely to have issues with the applications not working on Windows 7, regardless of which architecture you choose.
 
Test, test & test again.

Have you got an inventory of all your software? Are all your PCs x64 capable? If they are, I would start with a 64 bit build and if everything works - hey presto. If you run into a snag keep going, look online for updates. If you find an insurmountable problem because of 64-bit then you'll have to go with 32.

edit - don't forget printers, scanners etc.
 
I thought that would be the response and I realise that I should test each one. Like I say its dozens of apps, some of which I can't test immediately. But I will start now going through the ones I do have.

Cheers
 
AFAIK the 64-bit version won't run 16-bit apps. I'd only consider it if the PCs had 3GB or more RAM. I've got admit I installed a laptop with 4GB RAM and stuck 32-bit Win7 on it just to keep the support calls down. Often users prefer less hassle and wouldn't even notice the difference between 3 and 4 GB.
 
Toughnoodle said:
AFAIK the 64-bit version won't run 16-bit apps. I'd only consider it if the PCs had 3GB or more RAM. I've got admit I installed a laptop with 4GB RAM and stuck 32-bit Win7 on it just to keep the support calls down. Often users prefer less hassle and wouldn't even notice the difference between 3 and 4 GB.
Click to expand...

16bit apps are rather rare now. There's not an awful lot of reason to stay 32bit especially on a 4GB machine.
 
When a client bought in several 64-bit Windows 7 Dell laptops, I was worried I was going to get phone calls every other day about stuff not working. So far the only issues I have had are the usual stuff you get when you put life-long XP users in front of a real OS! :p

Fortunately all of those problems have gone away now. Gotta love users who teach other users :D.
 
If a particular application does not work on 64-bit, you could use the built-in XP Mode - assuming it is Windows 7 Pro. That way you have the benefits of 64-bit Windows 7 and the ability for users to still use incompatible applications.

Though this might not help you if you have hardware issues.
 
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SiriusB said:
If a particular application does not work on 64-bit, you could use the built-in XP Mode - assuming it is Windows 7 Pro. That way you have the benefits of 64-bit Windows 7 and the ability for users to still use incompatible applications.
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That's what I did after I realise Canon were being retarded with their scanner drivers.
 
There is more to 64 bit than memory usage. I've installed x64 Windows 7 on machines with 1GB of RAM and they are more than adequate for office tasks.

I'd go as far as to say that if it turns out the only thing holding you back from using x64 Windows was something like a printer, for the sake of £100 or so I'd get rid of the printer.

In my opinion nothing beats actually working on the machine. If you have these new computers on site unbox one and start installing. Doing a few dozen apps sounds like a grind and might take you the best part of a day but at the end of it all if everything works you've just built your reference machine, at which point you can clone it out to the rest of the PCs and sit around drinking tea.

My advice before you do that though is to install one as a pilot and get someone (not you) to use it. You always forget something.
 
Felix said:
Well the printers appear to be covered by a generic HP printer driver, scanners I am checking out.
Click to expand...

Well famous last words, I cannot for the life of me get the 64bit drivers to be added to the print server (W2003 enterprise 32 bit).
 
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