WTB: Windows 7 32bit

[ictponder]

Does anyone have an extra copy laying around, a student version or corporate license copy? I'd be willing to pay something for it cause I'm ready to move out of XP.

[onyxice]

I wish I had an extra copy lol Guessing even though you don't want to buy it you don't want to use cracked/pirated copies?
Which version do you prefer? Ultimate, Professional? Those are the only two I am 100% sure I have, cracked and untouched OEM/Retail copies.

[blindmist]

You could just torrent the activated ones, and refrain from installing update KB971033

This will keep it all nice and unnoticed.

[IPD]

99% certain you can't upgrade from xp without a memory wipe/fresh install.

that being the case, wtf would you want 32 bit?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

[onyxice]

Compatibility with various programs. We've had multiple clients require 32bit Windows 7 to work with whatever programs they might use for their work. Or lack of a need for 64bit OS (less than 4Gb of ram)
And I wouldn't recommend doing an "Upgrade" of that nature with any OS, just leaves a dirty hard drive, why not do a clean install.
I was wondering the same but assumed he had reasons. lol

[MADMarc]

http://www.microsoft.com/student/en/us/windows/buynow/default.aspx

Bummer that they're not doing it for 29.99 or 49.99 anymore but this is still a solid deal. All you need is an .edu email account. I pounced on the student deal as soon as I heard about it and love Windows 7.

[IPD]

Compatibility with various programs. We've had multiple clients require 32bit Windows 7 to work with whatever programs they might use for their work. Or lack of a need for 64bit OS (less than 4Gb of ram)
And I wouldn't recommend doing an "Upgrade" of that nature with any OS, just leaves a dirty hard drive, why not do a clean install.
I was wondering the same but assumed he had reasons. lol

some people refuse to get with the 21st century....

never mind that 7 can do an "xp mode".

[ictponder]

I can do a clean install (wipe the HDD) with an upgrade copy, it's easy enough. I want 32bit because my hardware won't run 64bit or else I would. No, I do not want a pirated copy, just an anytime upgrade disc will work.

I mainly want it for the better graphics capability and the windows 7 Media Center for my xbox so whichever version has media center.

[IPD]

since WHEN can a system that handles 32 bit win 7 not handle 64 bit win 7?

put down the crack pipe.

[Polygon]

99% certain you can't upgrade from xp without a memory wipe/fresh install.

that being the case, wtf would you want 32 bit?

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/help/upgrading-from-windows-xp-to-windows-7

Especially when 64bit is the same price.

[onyxice]

some people refuse to get with the 21st century....

never mind that 7 can do an "xp mode".
The one instance where the other tech thought it would be okay to use "XP mode" the PC was used ONLY for driver/apps for a CNC laser, they're shop was down for a week when it errored rather than just having an XP installation and knowing the fixes he had to diagnose it. I don't know the details, other than he can be pretty dumb sometimes. I've never used the XP compatibility stuff myself.
Although why use an OS that is so much larger, for single task systems such as that? Waste of resources.


since WHEN can a system that handles 32 bit win 7 not handle 64 bit win 7?

put down the crack pipe.
Not all processors support x64. A processor that won't handle Windows 7 in your eyes might be "fast" enough for someone who cares or knows less about performance and requirements. If you argument there is if it's that old don't install Windows 7 on it I'd have to agree though don't get me wrong.

[onyxice]

Also, I gave a coworker a copy of x64 Ultimate, and I think he actually has a 32bit anytime upgrade so I might be able to get that... I'll let ya' know Monday (thats the next day the shops open)

[IPD]

if it's a single-purpose, closed-system pc doing limited amounts of tasks--then don't upgrade it. 20 year old x86 programming isn't happy to move into the 21st century.

if the owner wants to put it online---even for a minute--it should have the latest, greatest of everything (software wise). and that includes 64 bit win 7 (which has IDENTICAL resource requirements to 32 bit). 64 bit doesn't demand any additional resources, it simply recognizes more of them. not upgrading to 64 bit when you have the chance is an open invitation to a lack of forward compatibility.

it's about as stupid as as not buying a ps2 because you're "afraid" it won't work with your ps1 games.

[Zaroth]

if the owner wants to put it online---even for a minute--it should have the latest, greatest of everything (software wise). and that includes 64 bit win 7 (which has IDENTICAL resource requirements to 32 bit). 64 bit doesn't demand any additional resources, it simply recognizes more of them.

No. They don't. Microsoft pretty clearly gives them different requirements. http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows7/products/system-requirements

64 bit windows also requires a 64 bit processor. The majority of people have Intel machines and I think they have only been making 64bit processors for the past 5 or 6 years or so. Not really sure where your idea of 20 year old code comes from lol.

[Jeremy C]

Just for clarification, Intel chips have been 64 bit since the Prescott P4's. AMD had it a little earlier (since they came up with it first and Intel took their cue) but I don't know their processor line up (admitted Intel fanboi :D ). So anything made in the last 6 years should handle 64-bit.


-Running win 7 x64 Ultimate, current install is exactly 1 year old. Hurray early release party! :)

[IPD]

Just for clarification, Intel chips have been 64 bit since the Prescott P4's. AMD had it a little earlier (since they came up with it first and Intel took their cue) but I don't know their processor line up (admitted Intel fanboi :D ). So anything made in the last 6 years should handle 64-bit.


-Running win 7 x64 Ultimate, current install is exactly 1 year old. Hurray early release party! :)

i would have waited for win 7 x64 instead of vista x64; but if i'd done that, i wouldn't have been able to get the wuxga screen. did i ever mention how much i despise the name "1080p"?

[Zaroth]

Just for clarification, Intel chips have been 64 bit since the Prescott P4's. AMD had it a little earlier (since they came up with it first and Intel took their cue) but I don't know their processor line up (admitted Intel fanboi :D ). So anything made in the last 6 years should handle 64-bit.


-Running win 7 x64 Ultimate, current install is exactly 1 year old. Hurray early release party! :)

<-- AMD fanboi :P I think they came out with their first 64 bit processors back in like 2002-2003 or so with the Opteron.

[ictponder]

I have an older Prescott P4 with the EM64T instruction (before they started calling it Intel 64) it's really old. However, my motherboard (Dell 0YC523) will only support 4gb of ddr2 ram, which to me isn't worth running 64 bit OS on.

[blindmist]

since WHEN can a system that handles 32 bit win 7 not handle 64 bit win 7?

put down the crack pipe.

Have you tried running e-manage ultimate on a 64-bit?

Just saying, there are reasons as to why you would still need 32-bit.

[onyxice]

My statement before concerning resources was for 7 vs XP, which 7 requires more, x86 vs x64 isn't a question of resources for me if anything it's performance vs compatibility. Hardly a question at all, x64>x86. lol
Also my PC at work, I just upgraded from a Celeron D to a Pentium 4 with H/T, the P4 supports EM64T.

ictponder: Maybe use a 64bit OS to use the 64bit processing power of your CPU? lol It's not just about the RAM.

Oh, and AMD released the Athlon64 in '03, not sure about the Opteron though.

[IPD]

Have you tried running e-manage ultimate on a 64-bit?

Just saying, there are reasons as to why you would still need 32-bit.

if i was going to upgrade from the piggyback i have, it wouldn't be to another piggyback.

[ictponder]

I managed to install Ultimate 64 with no problems. My mobo is still limited to 4gb ram but whatever, I love this OS already. The torrent I downloaded came with all updates up to September of this year with an activator, making it a genuine version. I'm going to keep the system on my 80gb SATA, which should be enough room for awhile and install all program & games on my 760gb SATA.

Thanks for the suggestions! Having a 2nd HDD made it a little easier to pay around with what would or wouldn't work.

[ictponder]

And after the excitement has wore off I have decided to go to 32 bit. My processor only ranks a 3.2 causing the system to have EXTREMELY annoying hickups. Both IE8 and Firefox will start "Not Responding" for about 30 seconds every other time I click a link to anywhere. It takes about 3 minutes to open "My Computer" and I can't do more than a couple things at a time before it bogs down so slow I want to rip my hair out.

My processor was the very first 64 capable chip that intel offered so it doesn't surprise me that I having issues. To make matters worse, I plug in my new 760gb SATA drive only to find that it's not being recognized by the BIOS.