• Windows 7 on a 32-bit system. Bit sizes of processors and operating systems

    Office 2019 Office 2016 Office for business Office 365 Admin Office 365 for Home Office 365 Small Business Office 365 Small Business - Admin Office 365 operated by 21Vianet Office 365 Small Business Office 365 operated by 21Vianet - Admin Office 2010 Office 2013 Office 365 Germany Enterprise Office 365 Germany Enterprise Admin Office.com Less

    If you don't know which Office product use, see article. Otherwise, select your version of Office below.

    The 64-bit version of Office installs automatically unless you explicitly select 32-bit at the beginning of installation.

    on PC.

    Important: If you install the 64-bit version but want to use the 32-bit version instead, you must first uninstall the 64-bit version before installing the 32-bit version. This is also true if you installed the 32-bit version but want to install the 64-bit version. Cm. .

    Note:

      AND .

      Edit in data table

    To install the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Office 365 or 2019, follow the steps in this article.

    I know which version I need. How to install it?

    The 32-bit version of Office installs automatically unless you explicitly select 64-bit at the beginning of installation.

    Download, install, and reinstall Office.

    Important: If you have already installed the 32-bit version and want to install the 64-bit version instead (or vice versa), you should uninstall the unnecessary version before installing the one you need. See "Unable to install Office (32-bit or 64-bit)" error.

    If you haven't yet decided between 32-bit and 64-bit, check out the sections below.

    Reasons to choose 64-bit

    Computers with 64-bit Windows versions, typically have more resources, such as processing power and memory, than their 32-bit predecessors. Additionally, 64-bit applications can more memory than 32-bit (up to 18.4 million petabytes). So if you are working with large files or data sets and you have a 64-bit version of Windows installed on your computer, it is better to choose the 64-bit version of Office. Below are some of these scenarios.

    Reasons to choose the 32-bit version

    Note: If you have a 32-bit version of Windows, you can only install the 32-bit version of Office. If you're using a 64-bit version of Windows, you can choose between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Office.

    IT professionals, especially developers, should be aware of the following situations in which it is preferable to use the 32-bit version of Office.

      You have 32-bit COM add-ins with no 64-bit counterparts. You can continue to use 32-bit COM add-ins in 32-bit Office versions on computers running 64-bit Windows OS. You can also try contacting the COM add-in vendor and requesting a 64-bit version.

      You are using 32-bit controls that have no 64-bit counterparts. You can continue to use 32-bit controls, such as generic controls Microsoft Windows(Mscomctl.ocx, comctl.ocx) or third-party controls, in the 32-bit version of Office.

      VBA code uses Declare statements In general, VBA code does not need to be adapted for use in 64-bit or 32-bit. The exception is when Declare statements are used to API call Windows using pointers and handles that have 32-bit data types such as long. In most cases, adding PtrSafe to Declare and replacing the long data type with LongPtr makes the Declare operator compatible with 32- and 64-bit versions. However, this may not be possible in rare cases where there is no 64-bit API to declare. More information To learn what changes you need to make to your VBA code to make it work in the 64-bit version of Office, see Visual Basic for Applications 64-bit Overview.

      You have 32-bit MAPI applications for Outlook. As the number of 64-bit Outlook users grows, we recommend that you rebuild 32-bit applications, add-ins, and MAPI macros to suit the 64-bit version of Outlook. But you can continue to use them with the 32-bit version of Outlook if necessary. For information about how to prepare Outlook applications for use on both 32-bit and 64-bit platforms, see Create MAPI applications on 32-bit and 64-bit platforms and MAPI for Outlook reference.

      You enable a 32-bit OLE server or object. You can continue to use the 32-bit OLE server application with the 32-bit version of Office installed.

      You are using SharePoint Server 2010 and need the Edit in Datasheet view. You can continue to use the Edit view on a data table in SharePoint Server 2010 with the 32-bit version of Office.

      You need 32-bit database files Microsoft data Access: MDE, ADE and ACCDE. You can recompile the 32-bit MDE, ADE, and ACCDE files to make them compatible with the 64-bit version of Access, or continue to use them in the 32-bit version.

      Do you need a formula editor? previous version or WLL files (add-on library files Microsoft Word) V Word application. You can continue to use the editor Word formulas legacy version and run WLL files in the 32-bit version of Word.

      The PowerPoint presentation has an old embedded media file that does not have a 64-bit codec.

    Ready to start installation?

    To install the 32-bit or 64-bit version of Office 2016, follow the steps in Download, install, or reinstall Office.

    At installing Office 2013 you can choose a 32-bit or 64-bit version. In general, we recommend installing the 32-bit version of Office because it has better compatibility with most other applications, especially third-party add-ins. But if you work with large blocks of information or graphics, it makes sense to choose the 64-bit version.

    For instructions on installing Office 2013, see this article.

    Reasons to choose 64-bit

    The 64-bit version of Office has some limitations, but should still be selected in the following situations:

      You work with very large data sets, e.g. Excel workbooks enterprise level, which use complex calculations, large number pivot tables, connections to external bases data, PowerPivot, PowerMap or PowerView. In this case, it is better to take advantage of the faster performance of the 64-bit version of Office.

      You work in PowerPoint with very large images, videos, and animations. The 64-bit version is better suited for handling such complex slide sets.

      You are working with very large Word documents. The 64-bit version is better suited for processing large tables, pictures, and other objects in Word documents.

      You work in Project 2013 with files larger than 2 GB, especially if the project contains multiple subprojects.

      You develop your own solutions, such as add-ins or document-level customizations.

      Your organization requires Data Execution Prevention (DEP) enforcement to Office applications at the hardware level. DEP is a set of hardware and software technologies, which are used by some organizations to improve security.

    If none of the above scenarios apply to you, you're probably better off installing the 32-bit version.

    Note: The 32-bit version of Office works well on both 32-bit and 64-bit Windows. The 64-bit version of Office can only be installed on a 64-bit version of Windows. If you're installing Office on something other than Windows, you won't have to choose between the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of the product. Information on how to determine installed version Office, see article

    If you want to upgrade from the 32-bit version of Office to the 64-bit version, you will need to uninstall the 32-bit version first and then install the 64-bit version.

    Reasons to choose the 32-bit version

    The 64-bit version of Office may, in some cases, experience more high performance, but you need to be aware of its inherent limitations. IT professionals, especially developers, should be aware of the situations described below and review the articles in the links below. If these limitations may affect your work, it is better to choose the 32-bit version.

      Solutions that use the ActiveX control library. Comctrl items will not work. There are many ways that developers can work around this issue and provide you with a 64-bit solution.

      32-bit will not work ActiveX controls and third-party add-ons. The vendor will need to create 64-bit versions of these items.

      Code Visual Basic for applications (VBA) with the Declare statement works in 64-bit Office only if you manually upgrade it. For more information about what changes you need to make to your VBA code to make it work in the 64-bit version of Office, see Overview of the 64-bit version of Visual Basic for Applications.

      Compiled databases Access data, such as MDE, ADE, and ACCDE files, do not work in the 64-bit version of Office unless they are designed specifically for it.

      You have 32-bit MAPI applications for Outlook. As the number of users of 64-bit Outlook grows, it is recommended that you remake 32-bit applications, add-ins, and MAPI macros to support 64-bit Outlook. To learn how to prepare Outlook applications for use on both 64-bit and 32-bit platforms, see Building MAPI Applications on 32-bit and 64-bit Platforms and MAPI Reference for Outlook.

      In SharePoint 2010 and later earlier versions Table view is not available because it uses an ActiveX control.

      Viewer Microsoft tables Office Excel, the Access Database Engine for Access 2013, and the Compatibility Pack for the 2007 Office system block the installation of the 64-bit version of Office 2013.

      The legacy Equation Editor in Word is not supported in the 64-bit version of Office 2016, but the Equation Builder in Word 2013 works on all platforms. Additionally, Word add-in libraries (WLLs) are not supported in the 64-bit version of Office 2013.

    Some add-ins you use in the 32-bit version of Office may not work in the 64-bit version, and vice versa. If you are concerned about this issue, before installing new version check current version Office. Test the add-in on a 64-bit version of Office, or contact the add-in developer to find out if a 64-bit version of the add-in is available.

    Important: If you are an administrator responsible for deploying Office, view additional technical information about 64-bit editions of Office 2013 on TechNet.

    Ready to start installation?

    See this article for instructions:

    Office 2010 is the first edition of Office available in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. By default, the 32-bit version of Office is automatically installed. But you can choose suitable version depending on how you plan to use Office. Some add-ins you use in the 32-bit version of Office may not work in the 64-bit version, and vice versa. If you are concerned about this issue, check your current version of Office before installing a new version. Test the add-in on a 64-bit version of Office, or contact the add-in developer to find out if a 64-bit version of the add-in is available.

    I know I need the 64-bit version. How to install it?

    For instructions on installing Office 2010, see this article.

    If you haven't made your selection yet, please review the sections below.

    Reasons to choose 64-bit

    Below are the benefits of the 64-bit version of Office 2010. You should also be aware of its limitations, such as possible incompatibility with older versions of some add-ins. It is because of these limitations that the 32-bit version is installed by default (even on a 64-bit Windows operating system).

    If you work with very large files or data sets and you have a 64-bit version of Windows installed on your computer, it's best to choose the 64-bit version of Office. Below are some of these scenarios.

      You work with very large data sets, such as enterprise-grade Excel workbooks that use complex calculations, large numbers of pivot tables, connections to external databases, PowerPivot, 3D Maps, PowerView, or Download and Transform queries. The 64-bit version of Office is better suited for working with large data sets because it has no file size limits, unlike the 32-bit version where file sizes cannot exceed 2 GB.

      You work in PowerPoint with very large images, videos, or animations. The 64-bit version of Office is better suited to handle these complex slide decks.

      You work in Office Project with files that take up more than 2 GB of disk space, especially if the project contains many subprojects.

      You develop custom solutions for Office, such as add-ins or document-level customizations.

      Your organization requires data execution prevention (DEP) for Office applications at the hardware level. DEP is a set of hardware and software technologies that are used by some organizations to improve security. The 64-bit version applies DEP automatically, while the 32-bit version will need to be configured through Group Policy settings.

      As the number of 64-bit Outlook users grows, it is recommended that you remake 32-bit applications, add-ins, and MAPI macros to support 64-bit Outlook. But you can continue to use them with the 32-bit version of Outlook if necessary.

    Reasons to choose the 32-bit version

    If your computer is running 32-bit Windows, you'll need to install the 32-bit version of Office 2010 (the default option). You won't be able to install the 64-bit version of Office.

    Tip: However, the 32-bit version of Office can run on computers running both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. In Office 2010, you can continue to use existing Microsoft ActiveX controls, COM add-ins, and Visual Basic for Applications (VBA). This applies primarily to the 32-bit version, since many add-ins do not have 64-bit versions.

      If your organization needs to continue to use extensions for Office, such as ActiveX controls, third-party add-ins, native solutions based on previous versions Office or 32-bit versions software that interfaces directly with Office, we recommend that you install the 32-bit (x86) version of Office 2010 automatically on computers running both 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows.

      You are using 32-bit controls that have no 64-bit counterparts. You can continue to use 32-bit controls, such as the generic Microsoft Windows controls (Mscomctl.ocx, comctl.ocx) or third-party controls, in the 32-bit version of Office.

      VBA code uses Declare statements. Visual Basic for Applications (VBA) code with the Declare statement works in the 64-bit version of Office only if you manually update it.

      In SharePoint Server 2010 and earlier versions, the Data Table view will not be available. However, you can continue to use the Edit view in a data table in SharePoint Server 2010 with the 32-bit Office client.

      Compiled Access databases, such as MDE and ACCDE files, do not work in the 64-bit version of Office unless they are designed specifically for it.

      You need a legacy Equation Editor or a WLL (Word Add-in Library File) file in Word. You can continue to use the legacy editor Microsoft formulas Word (WLL files are not recommended for use in 32-bit and are not supported in Office 2010).

      The 64-bit version lacks the codec (software for compressing and decompressing audio and video files) for the three QuickTime media file formats. Therefore, if in your PowerPoint presentations If you have embedded media files in older formats, you must use the 32-bit version of Office.

    In most cases, users think about the bitness of the operating system and processor only when they start to.

    Then two questions arise. Firstly, what operating system is installed, 32 or 64 bit. And secondly, is it possible to set 64 bit system whether the processor supports it.

    We will try to answer these questions in this material. Here we will talk about how to find out which system is installed on at the moment and whether the processor supports installing a 64-bit system.

    System and processor capacity in Windows 8 or Windows 10

    If you are using Windows 8 or, then in order to find out whether the processor supports a 64-bit system, as well as what system is currently installed on your computer, you do not need any additional software. All necessary information can be accessed through tools built into Windows.

    To do this, simply open the “View information about your computer” window. There are different ways to open this window. For example, if there is a computer icon on your desktop, then you can simply right-click on it and select “Properties” from the menu that opens. Or you can open the “Control Panel” and go to the “System and Security - System” section. Well, the easiest way to open the “View information about your computer” window is the Windows-Pause/Break key combination.

    After you open the “View information about your computer” window, you need to pay attention to the “System type” line; it will indicate the bitness of the operating system and the bitness of the processor.

    For example, if you have a 64-bit system and 64 bit processor, then it will look like the screenshot below.

    If you have a 32-bit system installed, but a 64-bit processor, then it will look like this.

    If the processor is listed as 64-bit, it means that it supports 64-bit systems and you can install it if necessary.

    System and processor capacity in Windows 7 and XP

    If you are using Windows 7 or Windows XP, then the method described above will not give you all the information. For example, Windows 7 also has a “View information about your computer” window and it opens just like in Windows 8 or Windows 10 (through Computer Properties, through Control Panel, or through the Windows-Pause/Break key combination). But in Windows 7, this window only contains information about the system bit depth; there is no information about the processor bit depth.

    In Windows XP, you can also open a window with information about your computer, where it is called “System Properties”. To open it, you need to right-click on the “My Computer” icon and select “Properties” or press the Windows-Pause/Break key combination. In Windows XP, in the System Properties window, the system bit depth will be indicated only if 64 is used bit Windows XP.

    If Windows XP is 32-bit, then there will be no mention of bit depth.

    Therefore, if you have Windows 7 or Windows XP, then in order to find out whether the 64-row system supports you, you need to use. Run this program on your computer and see what instructions are supported by your processor (in the screenshot below).

    If the list of supported instructions includes “x86-64” or “EM64T”, then this means that you have a 64-bit processor and it supports a 64-bit system.

    Article comments:

    Very useful article

    This article is very outdated and, let's be honest, full of flaws. She will soon turn 6 years old)) Soon I will rewrite it and update it. Have patience. In the meantime, you can read the description of the technology on Wikipedia.

    Very good! I liked it.

    Thank you! Everything is simple and clear)

    What kind of lamer wrote this article? He picked up the top tips and imagined himself to be a guru!!! "Why is it called x86 and not x32? Almost no one knows this" Initially processors Intel had 86 teams. Therefore, x86 only applies to Intel processors and their clones based on 86 teams. This number has nothing to do with the bit depth since x64 processors also contain these commands. Everything else is also gag and lies. Windows x32 works great with RAM greater than 4G and even greater than 8G, and with 16G too. Take for example windows server x32. The restriction was placed on small soft ones to expand the market.

    The article is very informative, thank you.

    Thanks for the work!!! Very informative and useful article!!!+++

    Thank you very much, everything became clear! Very useful article!

    It is clear that everything is not clear!

    But if I download a program, but they write to me that it is only for 64-bit systems. What does this mean and what should I do?

    which Windows x86 or x64 to install, you need to look at the hardware, processor and motherboard and accordingly the operating system. Everything must support only one architecture. Either x86 or x64 because they are NOT COMPATIBLE with each other...

    I used to have Windows7 32bit, I installed another win8 when I installed it, and of course I chose 64bit and it works fine)

    X86 as such does not exist, there is x32, there is x64, there is i860 - the number of the first compatible processor. In general, the nominal value (X) in electronics designates contacts on connectors, respectively x32 - 32 input contacts, 64 - 64 contacts. But we live in Russia, be curious about what concept the famous IMHO has turned into. Get used to it!

    clarification to the text line "And vice versa, if you set x64 to 32- bit computer, then everything will also work fine." - or the computer will refuse to start during the first reboot when installing Windows

    Artem, thank you, everything is specifically stated and clear

    Thanks for the article.

    Not a bad review. In general, there are a number of specifics with support for 32-bit applications on 64-bit ones. For example, wow64, although it allows you to run 32-bit, does not allow code injection. It is for this reason that most programs modifying Windows Explorer, do not start.

    There is currently a massive shift to 64-bit operational applications and processors. As equipment is updated, the ability to use modern software, both system and application, increases. Many users ask questions about the difference between program versions, operating systems, and the very equipment they use.

    Let us try to bring order and clarity to these issues. First, a few definitions:

    • bit depth - the number of digits in a number positional systems Reckoning. Treated like normal decimal numbers, and used in computer science binary, hexadecimal and octal systems. One digit in binary system called a bit and can have only one of the values: 0 or 1;
    • processor bit capacity – the number of binary bits on the processor data bus. Defines largest size a number processed in one machine operation or stored in processor registers. The higher this indicator, the more productive the processor is and the larger the amount of memory it can address;
    • bitness of the operating system - the ability of compiled machine code from executable files system programs and libraries to execute n-bit processor instructions: arithmetic and address commands, where n is the bit capacity of the processor installed on the hardware platform used to operate this system.

    The table below shows several examples for machines from the category personal computers, following in chronological order.

    For example, we took the most widespread Intel platform(other manufacturers may be indicated in brackets) and the most common Microsoft Windows OS.

    Years Processor(s) Processor size Operating system Is there a 64-bit version of the OS?
    1978-1982 8086, 80186 16 CP/M, MS DOS
    1982 80286 16 MS-DOS, Windows 3.1
    1985 80386 32 MS DOS, Windows 3.1/NT/95
    1989 80486 32 MS DOS, Windows 3.1/NT/95/98
    1993-2000 Pentium32 MS DOS, Windows 3.1/NT/95/98/ME/2000/Vista/XPWindows Vista/XP*
    2003 Athlon 64 (AMD)64 Windows 2000/Vista/XP/7Windows 2000/Vista/XP/7*
    2004 Pentium D, Xeon64 Windows 2000/Vista/XP/7Windows 2000/Vista/XP/7*
    2008 Intel Core64 Windows 2000/Vista/XP/7/10Windows 2000/Vista/XP/7/10*

    Important! * 64-bit OS versions, not compatible with 32-bit processors

    The internal structure of the 8086 processor (architecture) turned out to be successful enough to give rise to a whole family of processors that have been consistently improved over time. The next model received the designation 80186, and subsequently, right up to the Pentium, the third digit in the designation of microcircuits consistently increased.

    It is precisely because of the way chips are designated, in general, internal problem manufacturer, a “mysterious” designation x86 appeared. The consumer is usually not at all interested in such things. x86 is just a collective name for 186, 286, 386, etc. It should not be confused with x64. It's very simple: the architecture of 32-bit computers is called x86, and 64-bit computers are called x86-64.

    Before the 80386, the processor bus was 16-bit, and this had to be taken into account when writing code. Since programs very often use 32-bit numbers, and sometimes 64-bit ones, the 16-bit processor had to process them “in several steps” (machine instructions), which slows down the programs.

    With the advent of the 80386 processor, computer performance began to increase sharply, for the reasons noted in the previous paragraph. Now big numbers began to be processed in one machine command. But it's not just performance. The opportunity to increase addressable memory turned out to be very valuable - up to 4 gigabytes (although slightly less is available for applications, about 3). In addition to the expansion of registers and buses, the clock frequency processors, a pipeline, superscalar architecture, etc. appeared. The era of 32-bit machines saw revolutionary changes in technology.

    In the early 2000s, 64-bit processors appeared. Not all of them were successful. For example, Intel Itanium (IA-64 architecture), for all its advantages, turned out to be poorly compatible with many 32-bit programs, which worked even worse on it than on other machines. For which it received the nickname “Itanic” (from the word Titanic) and was soon discontinued.

    64-bit AMD processors(Advanced Micro Devices) turned out to be much more practical, since it was another extension of x86, and a very high degree of backward compatibility was achieved. This means that 32-bit programs run on such processors without loss of speed and with support for any machine code.

    The instruction architecture created by AMD for new processors received several names that mean the same thing:

    • x86-64;
    • Amd64;
    • Intel64.

    Oracle and Microsoft use the term x64 for this architecture, so it can be added to this list as well.

    Operating systems

    Since operating systems, from the point of view of the processor, are no different from all other programs, all software must be compatible with this processor. To do this, compilers and assemblers must generate a suitable set of instructions so that it is executable on the selected processor.

    When a new, more advanced processor appears, not just improved, but with such an important property as another doubling of the bit capacity, five situations are possible for the software:

    • running old programs on a new processor;
    • emulation, running in a virtual machine environment;
    • recompiling executable files for a new processor;
    • change program code and recompilation;
    • writing program code from scratch.

    The first case requires full backward compatibility for the new processor. The second one requires increased productivity and memory from a new machine, since virtual machine itself consumes enough resources. Other cases require the release of new software versions.

    In reality, all of these situations can occur in various combinations, and therefore, when using versions of programs that are already familiar and loved by users, everything is possible: from the fact that the program works much better than before, to the complete impossibility of launching it. Programs rarely consist of only one executable file, often accompanied by many dynamic libraries (dll files) and additional utilities. All of them may have features that will interfere with the program's operation or limit its functionality.

    The table below lists some of the differences between the common operating systems used on PCs.

    Operating system Bit capacity, bit Kernel Minimum memory for operation Minimum on hard disk Processor frequency, minimum Number of tasks Number of users Status for 2018
    CP/M8 Monolithic16 KB 1-5 MHz1 1 Historical
    86-DOS16 Monolithic32 KB 4-16 MHz1 1 Historical
    MS DOS16 Monolithic64 KB 4 MHz1 1 Historical
    Windows 3.116 MS-DOS 3.1 and higher640 KB6.5 Mb4 MHz1 1 Historical
    Windows 9516 Monolithic4 MB50 Mb16 MHzMultitasking1 Historical
    Windows 9832 Monolithic16 MB195 Mb66 MHzMultitasking1 Historical
    Windows ME32 Monolithic32 Mb200 Mb155 MHzMultitasking1 Historical
    Windows 200032 Hybrid32 Mb2 Gb133 MHzMultitasking1 Historical
    Windows XP32, 64 Hybrid64 Mb1.5 Gb233 MHzMultitasking1
    Windows Vista32, 64 Hybrid384 Mb20 Gb800 MHzMultitasking1 Historical
    Windows 732, 64 Hybrid1 Gb/2 Gb*16 Gb/20 Gb*1 GHzMultitasking1 Main support stopped
    Windows 832, 64 Hybrid1 Gb/2 Gb*16 Gb/20 Gb*1 GHzMultitasking1 Not supported
    Windows 1032, 64 Hybrid1 Gb/2 Gb*16 Gb/20 Gb*1 GHzMultitasking1 Supported

    Note! * – slash (/) separates x86 (32 bit) and x86-64 (64 bit) platforms.

    How to determine the bitness of a computer

    Find out the features and disadvantages of the systems in the article -

    First way

    One way is to go to the menu Computer BIOS. On different cars For this purpose there may be different keys used at the beginning of loading. Usually the prompt to go to BIOS menu is located at the bottom of the screen and the user has some time to enter there, i.e. have time to press the required key. If the user does nothing, the download continues as normal.


    This way you can definitely find out the brand of the processor. True, its bit capacity is not indicated here, but since the processor is clearly identified, it is very easy to find its bit capacity in search engines Internet.

    Second way

    When the system is loaded, you need to access its properties. To do this you need to do the following:


    Third way

    You can use the command line to determine the installed processor.


    How to determine the bitness of the operating system

    One of the methods is already shown above, this is the third method with the “systeminfo” command. For those who don't like to deal with " Command line", there is another way:


    Answers to frequently asked questions

    Users are often interested in questions to which they want to have very clear answers, without having to delve deeply into the topic. Here are some of them along with the answers.

    Question Answer
    What x86 processor?Any 32-bit PC compatible
    Do I need 64-bit device drivers when running 64-bit Windows?Necessarily. Drivers are installed according to the selected operating system
    How to change the bitness of the operating system?No way. Only by reinstallation. You must first save all important data
    32 or 64 bit: which system to install and how to determine?If the processor is 32-bit, then you can only install the 32-bit version of the OS. If the processor is 64-bit, then you should be guided by all other system requirements
    Why should you install a 64-bit version of the operating system?If your computer is quite modern (no older than 7-8 years), then it definitely supports 64-bit systems, and this option reveals all the possibilities of this computer fully
    Which "seven" is better - 32 or 64 bitHere we rather need to talk about hardware; if the computer is quite new, then it’s better, of course, 64-bit
    Can I run 32-bit programs and drivers on a 64-bit computer?In the vast majority of cases, it is possible if the amd64 architecture (aka x86-64) is used. In addition, Windows 7, for example, has a Windows XP emulation mode that gives additional features for this. However, there are cases of incompatibility and you will have to use 64-bit versions of such applications
    What are the disadvantages of 64 bit Windows?Increased memory requirements, and more space on disk. But this is only a problem for older computers
    Video - Choosing between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows

    Most likely, you have noticed more than once from posts on forums, names of distributions, or from the text of topical publications that there are 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows 7. Often you can also see the spelling Windows view 7 x86 - this means that the specified version is also 32-bit. The definition of x86 came from Intel: the processor it produced in 1985 was 32-bit and had the ability to address up to 4GB RAM.


    For simple user Understanding the differences between 32-bit and 64-bit OS architectures is as follows:

    • A 32-bit operating system cannot address (i.e. support) more than 4GB of RAM. In fact, the operating system will not give you exactly 4GB, because... some memory will be needed for operation peripheral devices installed on your PC. By installing 4GB of memory in your computer, you will actually have slightly less memory for applications.
    • A 64-bit operating system can support more than 4GB of RAM. Technically, 64-bit Windows 7 can support significantly more than 4GB of RAM, but Microsoft has actually introduced limits on some of the cheaper licenses: Windows 7 (Home Edition) at 16GB and 192GB for Windows licenses 7 Professional or . In fact, a 64-bit OS paired with a 64-bit processor allows you to address 2 64 bytes of memory (16 Exabytes of memory, which is millions of times more than the limitations in Windows 7 Home Edition).
    • To run a 64-bit version of the OS, you will need a processor that allows you to run programs in 64-bit mode. Almost everything modern processors support this technology (although different manufacturers it can be called differently: x86-64, x64, Intel 64, IA-32e and others).
    • Working with a 64-bit version of the OS will allow you to allocate more memory for resource-intensive applications, as well as use device drivers or video codecs, which in certain tasks provide a 10-40% performance increase relative to 32-bit systems.
    Despite the 16 GB limitation for lower licenses of Windows 7, this is quite enough to work with new programs that require large amounts of RAM: PhotoShop, various 3D and video editors. At the same time regular user will not feel any increase in performance. To work on the Internet or in MS Word, 32-bit is quite enough. How to find out how many bits your operating system is. All that remains is to figure out how and where to find out the bitness of your computer or laptop running Windows 7. There is nothing complicated about it . For this purpose you need to do very simple steps.

    In Windows 7, first click on the “Computer” icon from the “Start” menu, and right-click on the context menu"Properties". These actions will help the user get to the system properties menu (Fig. 1). It is here, in the system properties, that you can find out what OS bit you have - 32 or 64 bit (Fig. 2). Everything is very easy and simple. To do this you don't need to go through any computer courses.
    Figure 1. System properties menu.

    Figure 2. System properties window.

    Perhaps someone will have a question. If everything is so wonderful with the 64-bit register, then why did it take so long to reach the average user? Everything is explained simply. The 64-bit register was not in demand for the simple reason that this register had poor driver support.

    This was the main reason that did not allow 64-bit registers to take over the leading position from 32-bit operating systems, which are still widespread today. Almost half of users worldwide still use Windows XP with a 32-bit register.

    Almost all 32-bit applications and programs run on 64-bit operating systems. Some require an upgrade. If this does not help, then it is better to install a new application or device. For example, replacing an old printer with a new one.

    Back in 2001, Microsoft released an edition of Windows XP with a 64-bit register. But driver support was so poor that this edition was not widely used. Although the first 64-bit computer appeared back in 1985. It was a CrayUNICOS computer or a Playstation 2 console. True, in those days it was believed that 64-bit computing was primarily needed for supercomputers and large servers.

    If you use Windows 7 x64 with new applications and drivers, then no problems will arise in your work.