He is having trouble installing software because it is not compatible with the 64bit Windows XP and he does not know what to do.
2006-06-30 15:03:47 · 6 answers · asked by sarverian777 1 in Computers & Internet ➔ Software
Unfortunately, no. The problem is that 32 bit Windows has a subsystem called WOW (Windows on Windows) which emulates a 16 bit Windows environment. Many installation programs use a 16 bit header file which loads the install. 64 bit Windows has WOW32 which loads Win32 programs, but does not have the original (16 bit) WOW to load programs like that.
I think users need to pressure Micro$oft to include WOW with 64 bit versions of Windows. The few good things about Windows has always been backwards compatibility- with 32 bit XP, you can run DOS programs dating back to the original IBM PC- so long as they behave and do not try to access the hardware directly.
EDIT: A user above mentioned partitioning. That is certainly a possibility. Another is to get a program like VMWare or Virtual PC. With that, you can run a 32 bit version of Windows in a virtual PC window and since you are running a 64 bit version of windows with a cpu which supports 32 bit emulation, the performance hit should be minimal. In other words, you run a copy of Windows XP (or 98 or 2000) inside Windows XP 64 bit.
2006-06-30 15:11:23 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Partition the drive, install Windows XP. The reason he is having trouble is because the program in question likely uses a 16-bit installer. 16-bit programs, installers, et al, are not supported on any 64-bit platform. While the program itself is probably 32-bit the installer is 16-bit and therefore it will not install. The only way around this is to install a 32-bit operating system, in this case, Windows XP. He will not be able to run any 16-bit software under Windows x64. Though, 64-bit platforms are (mostly) compatible with 32-bit programs but strangely most anti-virus applications will not run under a 64-bit environment. That being the only exception I am aware of.
2006-06-30 15:09:23 · answer #2 · answered by conradj213 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, there is a way, providing you have a big hard drive... get virtutal pc for windows, and download a copy of windows xp standard, and you can run windows in a virtual pc way, and you can switch back and forth... but you need at least a gig of ram, and an 80 gb hard drive (40 at the least)
2006-06-30 15:14:34 · answer #3 · answered by warrior_hamster 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try installing it anyway. If this doesn't work, then I think it might be a Bios option. (64-bit is still rather new). If it isn't in bios (set-up when booting), it might be a control panel option. here you would need to play around as I run 32-bit. Best of luck. Also, try pcmag.com. This is a good pc site.
2006-06-30 15:11:08 · answer #4 · answered by wingnut3.1415 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Short answer... NO
he only has 64 bit windows, the 32 bit is another system altogether, available from MS for about 80 bucks. sad but true...
2006-06-30 15:35:17 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't think its possible. you probably have to install 32 bit xp.
2006-06-30 15:06:35 · answer #6 · answered by earlsquareling 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋