64-bit a PITA?

1- I am offered a very good deal on a computer but it comes with the following OS...

Genuine Windows Vista® Home Premium Edition SP1, 64-Bit

2- From what I have read here & elsewhere, lots of software doesn't work with 64Bit.

3- If software is Vista32Bit-ready, will it run FOR SURE on Vista64Bit?

 

Lots of programs are still 32-bit. Hence such programs can only make use of max 2 GByte RAM per process even on a x64 OS. But my own observation is that most 32-bit applications run smoothly on Vista x64 due to WoW64.

Something to peruse:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/WOW64

 

One thing I forgot to say. Kernel patching in not allowed on Vista x64 thus most 32-bit anti-malware programs that are kernel-based will not run there.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patchguard

 

And THAT's the deal-killer for me. From the article that you linked to...

Is there a Vista 32bit OS available?

 

Sure, multiple editions.

 

Hello,
ive been running windows vista 64bit for roughly 6months and havent had an issue.
for one program i had to wait a few weeks for a 64bit version but i did get it.

why dont you type a list of the programs you use and i can help you find out if they work on 64bit vista or not?

 

I agree that you should go for 64-bit. If only my laptop will take more than 2GB of RAM, I would definitely switch to Vista 64-bit.

 

Everything and anything that I have used works on my XPx64, Vistax64 and of course Ubuntu x64 where everything is x64. Windows with WoW is quite friendly to old x32 programs as well. Patchguard is also the one responsible for negating the need of any anti malware HIPS etc, WinDefender x64 works well as a HIPS. Also turn on full DEP, LUA and SuRun with a good AV and defender and you are all way more safer in x64 Windows than x32 Windows.

 

It runs office 2007.

 

I appreciate your comments, & those made by other posters as well.

My HIPS & my AV have been tested on 64bit by others, & they do not function properly. Also I still run a few 16bit apps (believe it or not), & the Compatibility mode won't handle those at all.

My present computer (almost 5 years old) still runs great. Ergo, my best option might be to defer purchase of a new computer until Win7 becomes available and -- at that time -- lay to rest those apps that won't run. (Sigh)

 

to be honest soon enough you will need to use a 64bit operating system anyway. 32bit operating systems only support 4gb of ram.
what av and hips do you use?

 

Hi all,

Here is somewhere to go for 64Bit Programs: http://www.start64.com/index.php

Webby

 

well you are using microsoft office 2007 and that next office will definatly be more bloated.
plus i dont get the big deal with sandboxie.
i havent ever been infected on xp using an administrator account.
on vista i just use a security suite and standard limited user account in vista 64bit.

 

I have been using Vista x64 for over half a year now with no problems or issues, everything I have tried works fine, including Office 2007, most AVs and so on. I don't feel any need for HIPS. Nor any sandboxing apps. I'd say x64 is the future, so sooner or later we'll all have to embrace it.

 

If Microsoft office was to consume more than 2 GB RAM I would switch to Linux altogether.

64-bit and thus the possibility to allocate more than 2 GB/process makes only sense for heavy CGI renderings or digital video and image processing.

 

LOL i didnt mean one program consuming more than 2gb.
I am already dual booting Linux (fedora) atm
Since ram is so cheap soon enough most computers will come with 4gb as standard.
Windows 7 really should of been 64bit only. The only reason windows 7 comes in 32bit and 64bit is because of the complaints about vista,microsoft cant break compatibility again. Windows 8 or whatever its called will be 64bit only. The problem is that as long as 32bit windows is used more than 64bit,companies will generally make their programs compatible with 32bit windows.

I don't know why companies use kernal patching anyway. As pointed out it is likely to unstabilize the system. if sandboxie wants to stay in business they will need to somehow support 64bit windows. Other applications have worked around the problem

 

The APIs that Microsoft introduced for 64-bit versions of Windows are not enough to cover everything that kernel patching can provide. Also, while some security applications are compatible with 64-bit Windows, their functionality is reduced (particularly with rootkit detection). I am not sure about the technical underpinnings of Sandboxie, but I am fairly sure that an API is not yet available for what Sandboxie needs to do. Hence, the incompatibility with 64-bit Windows.