Here are answers to some common questions about the 32-bit and
64-bit versions of Windows.
The terms
32-bit and
64-bit refer to the way a computer's
processor
(also called a
CPU), handles information. The 64-bit
version of
Windows handles large amounts of
random
access memory (RAM) more effectively than a 32-bit
system.
To see if your computer is running 32-bit or 64-bit Windows, do the following:
-
-
Under System, you can view the system
type.
To run a 64-bit version of Windows, your computer must have a 64-bit-capable
processor. If you are unsure whether your processor is 64-bit-capable, do the
following:
-
-
Click View and print detailed performance and
system information.
-
In the System section, you can see what type
of operating system you're currently running under System
type, and whether or not you can run a 64-bit version of Windows under 64-bit capable.
(If your computer is already running a 64-bit version of Windows, you won't see the 64-bit
capable listing.)
No. If you are currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can only perform an upgrade to another
32-bit version of Windows. Similarly, if you
are running a 64-bit version of Windows, you
can only perform an upgrade to another 64-bit version of Windows.
If you want to move from a 32-bit version of
Windows to a 64-bit version of
Windows, you'll need to back up your files and then
perform a custom installation of the 64-bit version of
Windows. For more information, see
Installing and
reinstalling Windows.
Most programs designed for a computer running a 32-bit version of
Windows will work on a computer running 64-bit
versions of
Windows. Notable exceptions are
many antivirus programs, and some hardware
drivers.
Drivers designed for 32-bit versions of Windows do not work on computers running a 64-bit
version of Windows. If you're trying to
install a printer or other device that only has 32-bit drivers available, it
won't work correctly on a 64-bit version of Windows. For information about updating drivers and
troubleshooting issues with device drivers for 64-bit versions of Windows, contact the manufacturer of the device or
program.
The benefits are most apparent when you have a large amount of
random
access memory (RAM) installed on your computer, typically 4 GB of RAM or
more. In such cases, because a 64-bit operating system can handle large amounts
of memory more efficiently than a 32-bit operating system can, a 64-bit system
can be more responsive when running several programs at the same time and
switching between them frequently.
No comments:
Post a Comment
suggest me about my post