Going from Windows 7 64-bit to 32-bit

[Quattro Pete]

Say you get a new PC that comes with W7 Home Premium 64-bit. Supposedly, with the OEM version of it you have the rights to reinstall it as 32-bit (that's what Dell told me).

So, how difficult would this be to do? Am I risking the fact that some of the devices won't function properly because there are no 32-bit drivers for it? Or is this pretty much a given that a 32-bit driver exists? I see some 32-bit drivers on Dell's support website, but probably not all.

Or should I not even bother with 32-bit and just stay with 64-bit? This PC will be mainly used as a media server (XBMC, Squeezebox Server) and P2P. Some of those P2P apps don't officially support 64-bit I'm afraid.

 

[Volvohead]

If the system is OEM configured for 64-bit computing, I'd stick with that. If Dell loaded x64 on it, it probably has at least 4gb ram.

x64 is the future. There's no need to go backwards if the hardware is willing. If you roll back to x86, you'll be locked in at 3.25gb - all the rest of the ram that might be installed (and that you paid for) will be sitting around doing nothing.

When the demands start calling for it (sooner than we think), you'll appreciate the benefit of x64. The drivers and apps will be there soon enough.

 

[Familyguy]

The 64-bit version *should* be able to run 32-bit applications without incident. I don't think I'd "downgrade" if it was me. Also, I think the odds that you'll find a device that has 64-bit drivers but no 32-bit drivers pretty remote.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Volvohead
If Dell loaded x64 on it, it probably has at least 4gb ram.

You would think, but actually it comes with only 2 GB RAM, which is a bare minimum to run W7 x64.

And on that note, considering what it'll be used for, will this be enough or should I get more RAM? I know RAM is relatively cheap, but again, I don't want to buy more than what's needed.

 

[millerbl00]

Buy as much ram as it can hold. It is cheap and can never have enough.
It is also easy to max it out now while it is new than try to find memory down the road when it is no longer in style.

 

[saberz]

I have two machines running 64bit with 2GB of ram and they run fine, if not faster than the 32 bit counterpart. I have 4 machines total running 64bit Windows 7 since RC1 and have never had issues with software compatibility. I would highly recommend you stick with the 64-bit variant due to it's memory management and speed over 32-bit.


Secondly, you would want to also remain using whatever the machine came loaded with if you are still within Dell's or whomever's warranty period. They could pull all sorts of moves to not support your issues if you report them with a different OS being loaded on the machine.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: Anies
I have two machines running 64bit with 2GB of ram and they run fine, if not faster than the 32 bit counterpart.

Thanks. What CPUs are in those 2 machines?

 

[Familyguy]

I'll second the recommendation to bump it up to 4GB. W7 does seem to be happier with more memory, but it can comfortably run in 2GB if you've got reasonably lightweight (in terms of memory gobbling) applications to run.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

Stick with the 64bit version. There's no reason to use a 32bit OS anymore unless it's on a very limited platform, such as a Netbook.

I have yet to find a single program that now doesn't work in 64 bit Windows save for Cisco VPN clients. Any audio, office, utility, etc. that we have tried works A-OK in 64 bit Windows.

 

[Quattro Pete]

Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
I have yet to find a single program that now doesn't work in 64 bit Windows save for Cisco VPN clients. Any audio, office, utility, etc. that we have tried works A-OK in 64 bit Windows.

Can someone help me decipher this:
http://faq.vuze.com/?View=entry&EntryID=277

Mainly this:
Quote:
should be run under a 32bit Java Runtime

If I'm running this under W7 64-bit, do I have the option to tell Java to run as 32-bit?

 

[Familyguy]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: ToyotaNSaturn
I have yet to find a single program that now doesn't work in 64 bit Windows save for Cisco VPN clients. Any audio, office, utility, etc. that we have tried works A-OK in 64 bit Windows.

Can someone help me decipher this:
http://faq.vuze.com/?View=entry&EntryID=277

Mainly this:
Quote:
should be run under a 32bit Java Runtime

If I'm running this under W7 64-bit, do I have the option to tell Java to run as 32-bit?



It doesn't say it won't work. It just recommends the 32-bit JRE. If it was me, I'd follow the instructions on that page to install the "experimental" drivers with the 64-bit JRE

or...

Just use one of the other bazillion bittorrent clients available.

 

[Volvohead]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete

You would think, but actually it comes with only 2 GB RAM, which is a bare minimum to run W7 x64.

And on that note, considering what it'll be used for, will this be enough or should I get more RAM? I know RAM is relatively cheap, but again, I don't want to buy more than what's needed.


Well that's lame. But nothing surprises me with a Dell. As others have said, x64 runs fine on 2gb, but it really takes advantage of 4gb or more, especially once you start churning 64 bit apps. I've had no problems with a variety of 32 bit apps, including some over a decade old, on W7x64. If your system allows XP virtualization, then you have added options.

Whether to bump up to 4GB depends on what and how much you'll be running on it. If you're setting this up as a full multimedia server with several "server" apps, such as Squeezeserver and others, on top of hoggish security and security suites, then the extra memory may come in handy. If it's any guide, our new media server has 12gb, and rarely reaches over 30% utilization.

Memory is not cheap, if you are buying bigger modules. But it is definitely expensive if you configure the factory build with insufficient empty slots, or have to pull OEM memory to make room for bigger modules. Build the box with the minimum number of modules, and then visit Crucial to fill it out.

 

[Quattro Pete]

The machine has 4 memory slots (so the max it can handle is 8GB). It comes with two 1GB sticks. I'll probably just get two more 1GB sticks from Crucial/Newegg and call it a day.

Thanks all.

 

[ToyotaNSaturn]

For Java 32 bit under XP/Vista/Win7 64 bit, just install the standard 32bit runtime. When you run IE, Firefox, etc, it will run Java in the background as expected. If you're running the 64 bit version of IE, it won't work. Just run the 32 bit version and you're all set.

Firefox is a 32bit app so there's no choosing between 32 bit & 64 bit versions, it just runs with Java A-OK.

 

[saberz]

Originally Posted By: Quattro Pete
Originally Posted By: Anies
I have two machines running 64bit with 2GB of ram and they run fine, if not faster than the 32 bit counterpart.

Thanks. What CPUs are in those 2 machines?


One is a Core 2 Duo 1.66 Ghz, the other a 1.2ghz Core Duo. I have a single core Socket 754 AMD running 7 and my laptop which is a 2.4ghz C2D with 4GB of memory. Windows 7 runs fantastic on all of them, I am really impressed.


And 2GB is actually the minimum for 64-bit. 4GB will give you an improvement, not as drastic as many make it out to be unless you run some really intensive applications. Windows 7 is not like Vista where you will "feel" 2Gb and 4Gb variants in usage. Windows 7 will be quite seemless in terms of response until you load that very memory instensive application.