Is 32Bit software compatible with a 64Bit PC?

Question

I'm looking into getting a mainboard bundle ie:Mainboard,Processor,Gfx Card & Ram. Will the software i already have be compatible with with the 64Bit processor, like my XP disk? Also is there anything i should be aware of when switching to 64Bit?

Thanks in advance

Answer 1

yes its compatible with 64bit pcs ... but not 64bit operating systems ... in other words .. a normal Xp is a 32 bit operating system and u can install it on a 64bit processor machine ... and u can install 32 bit software applications ... this is what 99% of present software is ... if u go to a 64bit windows XP operating system then u need all 64bit applications and drivers ... u dont want to do that at this time because its not widely supported yet ..

Answer 2

All new processors are 64 bit. What matters is what operating system you put on it. A 64 bit computer with a 32 bit operating system will use 32 bit software, and a 64 bit computer iwht 64 bit operating system needs 64 bit software, and may be compatible with some 32 bit software. Most people are still using 32 bit operating systems, and I wouldn't reccomend going to 64 bit until it is much more mainstream, or it will be quite annoying finding compatible software.

So the answer basically is yes, as long as you put a 32 bit operating system on.

Answer 3

I use XP Pro x64 as my primary OS. the biggest issue with this OS, is the lack of webcam and printer drivers. Any 32 bit app. will work as long as the installer part is 32 bit. If it has a 16bit installer, it won't work. I would not get anything less than 2x512mb (1gb) of RAM.

Answer 4

particular, no and probably. the version between a 32 bit and a sixty 4 bit processor is the size of the registry interior the processor that reads instructions. A sixty 4 bit processor can examine instructions as much as sixty 4 bits in length. in spite of the undeniable fact that it may additionally examine instructions that are shorter (32 bits, sixteen bits, 8 bits, 4 bits, 2 bits and a million byte). in fact it does it for all time because of fact sixty 4 and 32 bit classes are made up of instructions of all those distinctive length, So the theory is that a sixty 4 bit processor can run 32 bit classes. Now, the fact is that some 32 bit classes are designed to call a number of their applications from extensive-unfold library data (dll) secure in abode windows. as long as those data return the information in a 32 bit (or much less) format to the 32 bit application, it extremely is going to run. yet whilst between the gadget data returns information in an prolonged format, it ought to reason that particular 32 bit application to crash. probable ninety 9% of 32 bit classes artwork effective on a sixty 4 bit OS. as much as now I even have in basic terms had a million 32 bit application that i take advantage of to apply fail on my sixty 4 bit OS. It grow to be a freeware application that grow to be curiously poorly written. without understanding this technique you plan to run, i can't say with one hundred% actuality that it will artwork, yet Win 7 sixty 4 is think to be designed to run all 32 bit classes.

Answer 5

it will work just fine, i had an athlon 2500+ 32 bit system and went to a sempron 2800+ 64 bit setup and all my software is fine.

it's the other way round you would have problems

Answer 6

yes in most cases although you might run into some software that doesn't work.