Vista 64bit

[Stockholm1984]

I've noticed some pretty similar posts to this but nothing quite answers the main questions I have. Am currently running XP 32bit quite happily but would like to increase memory and also upgrade to some of the new generations of ATI or Nvidia GPUs (which depends on money!) at some point in the future. Running XP or Vista 32bit is obviously then a no go as they won't recognise most of the memory so 64bit will be the only option. Have heard comments in the past that 64bit OS's have more software compatibility issues so was really wondering what peoples experiences have been with 64bit and what programs people are talking about when they've said this. Am totally ignorant on this topic I'm afraid!

[nevermind1534]

Do you have any older hardware, and what software do you use?

[Luke122]

It's true that most hardware will require special drivers to work on X64, including printers, but most are available if you look hard enough.

I've found that to be the biggest pain of running x64, but other than that it's not too bad.

[crenn]

It is rare to find programs that refuse to run on a 64-bit system (I've found some... but solved it with a virtual machine) but the most common issue with a 64-bit OS is drivers.

[.Maleficus.]

With 64-bit becoming much more mainstream, drivers aren't too bad of a problem anymore. Software has a lot more compatibility than when Vista first released and you get a speed boost to boot. Definitely go for it.

[nevermind1534]

xp 64 was fine for me, and it's even worse about compatibility than vista. What definitely won't run would be 16-bit apps. If they're for dos, you could use dosbox, or for anything, windows, or dos, you could do a virtual machine.

[crenn]

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...displaylang=en

For all your windows based Virtual PC needs (If you install it on Home Premium, it tells you can't get support for it).

[J-Roc]

PhotoShop refuses to run in 64bit. Adobe's website states that they would have to remake the entire program and are thus, taking there SWEET A** TIME!! not to mention that it'll cost about twice as much.


im going to check out that virtual thing...

*walks off mumbling threats towards adobe*

[BerticusPryme]

I run vista ultimate x64 and have not had any issues thus far. The only thing I have found is some compatabilty to old hardware and some printers. For instance I have an old ATI ve video capture card that vista will not use but I believe that problem is with vista itself and not with the x64.

[crenn]

There are incompatibilities with Vista, I've had my most frustrating one today. the device installs... but doesn't work. Why is it frustrating? It's a programmer for a microcontroller....