CJM

"GTS" <x@y.net> wrote in message
news:%23ywfH3pXHHA.1240@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>A simple recompile like you describe would be applicable a lot of
>application programs, which are written in high level languages. Device
>drivers are usually written in assembly language and there are significant
>differences in CPU registers and operations in the 32 and 64 bit OS.
>

Device drivers are usually written in a high level language like C++, and
it's the compiler that usually has to worry about the differences in
architecture. So often, it *is* simply a case of recompiling. [AFAIK, there
are exceptions where performance is of paramount importance].

Why then is it such a problem getting hold of software that works for x64?

a) Because it's not (yet) a priority for many manufacturers.
b) Because Vista x64 needs it's drivers signing, which involves certificates
etc.