64 bit newbie

It was not my plan to buy 64 bit Vista Home Premium but I did. I keep reading scary stuff. Presumably the hardware drivers that come with the machine work but are there things to look for? Will my software work? 64 bit is a new world for me. I need some directions please. My plan was to use it as a server but a working server in that if I were in the same room I could use it as a computer. Thanks.

AMG Phenom 9100e quad core processor
4 GB DDR2 dual channel memory
640 GB hard drive

Hi, acheryl, and welcome to the forums.

The biggest thing to worry about is drivers for hardware in a 64bit OS- in terms of software, the 64bit OS will allow the use of 32bit and 64bit software to run.

Now, that doesn't mean all 32 bit software will automatically run. Some older software, especially those written before Vista was a gleam in Bill Gates' eyes, were written to use full access to manipulate resources on the system - IOW, they gained access to devices that Vista now restricts access to - this is not a problem of 32bit versus 64bit - it is a problem of older, poorly written code and Vista in general.

There may be a few software that will run in XP that simply will not in Vista 64, but those are few and far between, Also, another major issue is that in Vista you need to have signed device drivers, so most likely 3rd party drivers will not work.

That is also something to keep in mind whenever you buy a new device - research it first on the Internet - will it work with Vista 64bit?

You've got yourself a very nice mach there, Acheryl. I myself am using the Phenom 9600 Quad.

But to answer your question, there's all that much visual/operational difference between x86 and x64 versions of Vista, except perhaps that Vista x64 can use more memory, and performs alot better because of better memory management and the enforcement of signed drivers.

The one issue you'll likely encounter is with the installation of some older software. If a program is 32-Bit, but uses a 16-Bit installer program, then you will not be able to use that program. 16-Bit programs are not supported by Windows Vista x64.

Other than that, most 32-bit software written for XP will work without problems on Vista x64. Some of them may require the use of compatibility mode, or the installation of an update, but you shouldn't have any problems.

I bought the machine -- memory, hard drive, wireless -- and failed to notice the OS although I did specifically say, "this machine has Vista Home Premium, right." I didn't mention 32 bit.

I'm ready to give it a go. Thanks for the information. I'm definitely the first on the block or even among my computer friends. I'll keep the third party drivers thing in mind. If I recall from times past that means certain functions on, say, MFC, are not available.

They may have assumed that because you were buying a 64-bit cpu, you wanted the matching OS.

Or the 4 GB of RAM.....

The pros of vista 64bit outway the cons of vista 64bit.

Couldn't put it better my self.....

Really, you guys think the stock clerk at Circuit City seriously considered what I was buying when I picked up my online order?

It was my fault entirely but I it might be a happy error. I think with a little help from the folks here it will be fine. Worst thing so far is that the printer drivers for the network MFC only are printer drivers, won't run the scanner part. Since I have a laptop which can run the scanner wirelessly it isn't a major issue. It won't run the color network MFC at all but I rarely use that and, again, the laptop will.

Interestingly, when I actually looked at the paperwork, they gave me a disk for the 32 bit if I can't live with 64 bit and chose to go to 32 bit. It discourages you from doing it by reminding you what you are giving up.

Which printer/scanner are you talking about?