Vista - 32 bit operating system w/duo core 64bit processor

I am confused about the new computer I bought. It says that I have a 32 bit
operating system but a duo core 64 bit processor. So which type of computer
do I have, 32bit or 64bit, Help!

64

"pdeajw" <pdeajw@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C1BB8AC5-3E71-4D6B-A4C3-13F7CE0154DF@microsoft.com...
>I am confused about the new computer I bought. It says that I have a 32 bit
> operating system but a duo core 64 bit processor. So which type of
> computer
> do I have, 32bit or 64bit, Help!

You have a 32-bit/64-bit capable computer that is running a 32-bit operating
system.

You can install a 64-bit operating system and then you will have a 32-bit/64-bit
computer running a 64-bit operating system.

--
I Bleed Blue and Gold
GO BEARS!


"pdeajw" <pdeajw@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C1BB8AC5-3E71-4D6B-A4C3-13F7CE0154DF@microsoft.com...
>I am confused about the new computer I bought. It says that I have a 32 bit
> operating system but a duo core 64 bit processor. So which type of computer
> do I have, 32bit or 64bit, Help!

"pdeajw" <pdeajw@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C1BB8AC5-3E71-4D6B-A4C3-13F7CE0154DF@microsoft.com...
>I am confused about the new computer I bought. It says that I have a 32 bit
> operating system but a duo core 64 bit processor. So which type of
> computer
> do I have, 32bit or 64bit, Help!

Cal Bear was pretty darn close to communicating the truth.

For usability purposes, since in layman's terms a computer is the whole user
experience of operating system and hardware combined, your computer is
currently a 32-bit computer. You can upgrade your computer to 64-bit, but
that would be an operating system upgrade (software), not a hardware
upgrade.

Technically, you have a 64-bit processor that supports both 32-bit and
64-bit instruction sets. This is called 64-bit Extended (or x64 / EM64). But
since the operating system is 32-bit, you can only run 32-bit software,
unless the software expressly describes itself as 64-bit software that
supports 32-bit operating systems (such as VMWare Workstation or the 64-bit
flavor of Cakewalk Sonar). If you install a 64-bit Extended operating
system, such as Windows Vista x64, then you will be able to run either
32-bit software or 64-bit software.

Some 64-bit hardware only supports 64-bit software. This isn't the case here
because your operating system is already 32-bit.

Jon

On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:09:52 -0700, pdeajw wrote:

> I am confused about the new computer I bought. It says that I have a 32 bit
> operating system but a duo core 64 bit processor. So which type of computer
> do I have, 32bit or 64bit, Help!

Well, it sounds to me like you have a 64 bit computer running a 32 bit
system.

And if this computer was dual-boot with a 64bit OS, it would be what?

It's a 64bit computer... regardless of any installed OS.

"Jon Davis" <jon@REMOVE.ME.PLEASE.jondavis.net> wrote in message
news:#Uz9dQ6sHHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>
> "pdeajw" <pdeajw@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:C1BB8AC5-3E71-4D6B-A4C3-13F7CE0154DF@microsoft.com...
>>I am confused about the new computer I bought. It says that I have a 32
>>bit
>> operating system but a duo core 64 bit processor. So which type of
>> computer
>> do I have, 32bit or 64bit, Help!
>
> Cal Bear was pretty darn close to communicating the truth.
>
> For usability purposes, since in layman's terms a computer is the whole
> user experience of operating system and hardware combined, your computer
> is currently a 32-bit computer. You can upgrade your computer to 64-bit,
> but that would be an operating system upgrade (software), not a hardware
> upgrade.
>
> Technically, you have a 64-bit processor that supports both 32-bit and
> 64-bit instruction sets. This is called 64-bit Extended (or x64 / EM64).
> But since the operating system is 32-bit, you can only run 32-bit
> software, unless the software expressly describes itself as 64-bit
> software that supports 32-bit operating systems (such as VMWare
> Workstation or the 64-bit flavor of Cakewalk Sonar). If you install a
> 64-bit Extended operating system, such as Windows Vista x64, then you will
> be able to run either 32-bit software or 64-bit software.
>
> Some 64-bit hardware only supports 64-bit software. This isn't the case
> here because your operating system is already 32-bit.
>
> Jon
>

You are running a 64 Bit processor, but using the 32Bit version of Vista. It
is perfectly ok, and if you don't have a need for 64 Bit, I wouldn't worry
about it one bit. They are about equal on speed, for the time being. The
Core 2 Duo is a screamer either way.

A 64 Bit version of Vista is available, but if you have no need to upgrade,
I wouldn't. There are a few driver challenges (getting better everyday,
though), and some applications won't work with 64 Bit.


--
Dustin Harper
dharper@vistarip.com
http://www.vistarip.com

--
"pdeajw" <pdeajw@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:C1BB8AC5-3E71-4D6B-A4C3-13F7CE0154DF@microsoft.com...
>I am confused about the new computer I bought. It says that I have a 32 bit
> operating system but a duo core 64 bit processor. So which type of
> computer
> do I have, 32bit or 64bit, Help!

On Wed, 20 Jun 2007 18:09:52 -0700, pdeajw
<pdeajw@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote:

> I am confused about the new computer I bought. It says that I have a 32 bit
> operating system but a duo core 64 bit processor. So which type of computer
> do I have, 32bit or 64bit, Help!



You have exactly what it says you have. Your processor is 64-bit. That
means it can run either a 32-bit or 64-bit version of Windows. You
are running the 32-bit version.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP Windows - Shell/User
Please Reply to the Newsgroup

A 48 bit computer.

Amir



"Mac" <mac@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:uTJzfV6sHHA.2164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> And if this computer was dual-boot with a 64bit OS, it would be what?
>
> It's a 64bit computer... regardless of any installed OS.
>
> "Jon Davis" <jon@REMOVE.ME.PLEASE.jondavis.net> wrote in message
> news:#Uz9dQ6sHHA.1188@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>
>> "pdeajw" <pdeajw@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:C1BB8AC5-3E71-4D6B-A4C3-13F7CE0154DF@microsoft.com...
>>>I am confused about the new computer I bought. It says that I have a 32
>>>bit
>>> operating system but a duo core 64 bit processor. So which type of
>>> computer
>>> do I have, 32bit or 64bit, Help!
>>
>> Cal Bear was pretty darn close to communicating the truth.
>>
>> For usability purposes, since in layman's terms a computer is the whole
>> user experience of operating system and hardware combined, your computer
>> is currently a 32-bit computer. You can upgrade your computer to 64-bit,
>> but that would be an operating system upgrade (software), not a hardware
>> upgrade.
>>
>> Technically, you have a 64-bit processor that supports both 32-bit and
>> 64-bit instruction sets. This is called 64-bit Extended (or x64 / EM64).
>> But since the operating system is 32-bit, you can only run 32-bit
>> software, unless the software expressly describes itself as 64-bit
>> software that supports 32-bit operating systems (such as VMWare
>> Workstation or the 64-bit flavor of Cakewalk Sonar). If you install a
>> 64-bit Extended operating system, such as Windows Vista x64, then you
>> will be able to run either 32-bit software or 64-bit software.
>>
>> Some 64-bit hardware only supports 64-bit software. This isn't the case
>> here because your operating system is already 32-bit.
>>
>> Jon
>>

"Mac" <mac@nospam.com> wrote in message
news:uTJzfV6sHHA.2164@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> And if this computer was dual-boot with a 64bit OS, it would be what?
>
> It's a 64bit computer... regardless of any installed OS.

I disagree. I qualified myself with "since in layman's terms a computer is
the whole user experience of operating system and hardware combined". Tell
my mother that her 64-bit hardware running a 32-bit operating system is a
64-bit computer, and she will start looking for 64-bit software to buy for
it.

Jon