Comments on: Windows 7 x64 or Windows 7 x86? My experiences with Vista 64-bit

By: costelodc

costelodc — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 20:24:04 +0000

I am using Vista x64 and win 7 x64 RTM and I can say that right now are available almost all the software that I use. Certainly for whom using a laptop only for internet there is no question of the software or drivers that can be found easily on the web. old software may be used in compatibility mode. Vista is a bit slow compared to win 7.

By: Paul

Paul — Fri, 14 Aug 2009 12:57:47 +0000

Re: Bluetooth. Yup, I dont think the drivers are the prob.

Its an ASUS adapter, the ASUS site says theyre for Vista 64 bit (the drivers probably wouldnt install, if the drivers werent 64 bit anyway, but they do). The program that came with it (CA Magic Mobile), I would say is the prob (it wont detect the adapter). I could probably use Bluesoleil (which would probably detect the adapter). BUT, since I dont use credit cards etc, there’s no way to buy it..To see if it would work

By: Michael Pietroforte

Michael Pietroforte — Tue, 11 Aug 2009 21:15:44 +0000

Paul, interesting that you also had Bluetooth issues. I am beginning to wonder whether my problems were also related to 64-bit.

Farren, it seems to me that your compatibility problems are about consumer products. Since this is a blog for admins, I didn’t really cover games etc. but I guess I should have mentioned that 64-bit can still cause problems for consumer software and hardware.

By: Farren

Farren — Sun, 09 Aug 2009 01:04:41 +0000

I have had alot of compatibility problems with x64 in general. Alot of old apps, especially games, will not run or install, despite continuing updates. E.g. Starcraft – installer will not run, yet copy-pasted version of the game runs fine. Alot of old apps would run if in Compatibility Mode there were an option to run with only x86 instructions.

As for hardware I have had troubles with this as well. Purchasing a new USB wireless LAN adapter, D-Link, a company with good reputation, did not provide any x64 drivers at all, and forcing the x86 drivers would not coax the device to run. This was purchased in late 2007, several months after Vista x64 was released. (Not to mention the fact that it also didn’t support x64 XP, which had been around for much longer.) To this date they still have not updated the part to support ANY x64 system. I had to re-work my network just to get the one x64 computer on the network, switching 2 systems which had previously been plugged in over to wireless at additional expense (compared to the one x64 system).

By: Paul

Paul — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 02:24:13 +0000

Havent really used 32 bit Vista. Using 64 bit atm, and its great, with 8 GB DDR 2 ram. Only had probs with trojan remover which doesnt work with 64 bit. A bluetooth adapter, which loaded the drivers OK, but the program that came with it doesnt detect the adapter. Thats cool, I’ve still got XP 32 bit on the other 2 PC’s here.

By: Michael Pietroforte

Michael Pietroforte — Thu, 06 Aug 2009 19:20:24 +0000

Lukas, I think those who prefer 32-bit just fear compatibility issues or simply have no 64-bit CPU.

Claus, I am curious if OEMs will share your view. I somehow think that most of them will still sell 32-bit.

Paul, I absolutely agree. Vista “was” a fantastic OS.

By: Paul Morris

Paul Morris — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 13:01:27 +0000

I thought I would let you know and brag that I am using Vista x64 on my new laptop I purchased from the US has there was not what I wanted in the UK. Vista x64 runs perfectly on my new Sager i7 975 with 1.5Tb hard drive and I am not joking. Fantastic quality and speed!

By: Claus Valca

Claus Valca — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 02:16:52 +0000

As our corporate enviroment doesn’t support x64 bit hardware or OS (yet) there still isn’t any strong incentive to even bother.

Yet at home all three of our laptops have had tantalizing x64 bit stickers (AMD) on them for years. Yet the OEM Vista and/or XP OS loaded on them were x32 bit versions. Couple that with the Vista x64 word-of-mouth horror stories about lack of x64 bit drivers, it was enough to sour this Windows geek on the prospect of even bothering.

Yet when Win 7 beta/RC versions were released and I had the change to (VHD) dual boot our Vista systems with a x64 bit flavor of Win 7 I jumped at the chance.

Amazingly all the laptops I installed Win 7 x64 bit on accepted it with grace. I didn’t have to hunt up any third-party drivers to support the laptop’s hardware. All was well. No post config software/application issues.

Amazing. So when Win 7 “Family Pack” hits the shelves you better believe I will be loading it up on all out laptopns, at the x64 strength.

Not only does it seem ready-for-primetime, x64 Win 7 seems ready for home consumers as well.

Sweet!

By: Lukas Beeler

Lukas Beeler — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:03:08 +0000

I can tell you that in our Windows 7 RC deployment (13 Lenovo laptops, two Lenovo desktops), we’ve only used the x64 version. All of our business software works on x64.

Driver’s weren’t a big issue – Lenovo ships x64 drivers for everything, except BIOS updates. You’ll have to do them by CD again

Printers and MFP devices weren’t a problem – our printer servers have been x64 since quite some time, and the MFPs scan to SMB shares or use digital sending.

In a year or two, when larger companies might start thinking about maybe using Windows 7, they should really go with x64. Our internal laptops have 4GB of RAM (8GB isn’t economical), office desktops have 4GB (don’t need more), developer workstations have 8GB or 16GB.

One big question: All those other people reading this – when you tested Windows 7 x86, why did you choose to go with it? Why not test x64 directly? What were your reasons?