If you have less than 4GB of memory then you should install the 32 bit version. The only advantage of 64 bit is the ability to address more memory.

Stick with 32 bit, you find enough issues as it is.

This depends on your long-term plans and your present setup, but I am for 64-bit. First, you will find that 64-bit will comfortably perform with 3 GB of memory, unlike the resource-hungry Vista. Second, there is already an increasing number of familiar programs that offer 64-bit versions. Third, Office 10 will be arriving, when it arrives, with both 32 and 64-bit versions, which tells you the direction things are headed. Fourth, Dave is running 64-bit Windows 7, as his signature has told us all from very early in the game and in spite of what he says about 32-bit, and so am I on two computers, so far. In the short run updated drivers may be hard to get, but in the long run it is too important to ignore.

Most of our hardware I have found drivers for, but my older Epson scanner which I can not even find Vista 32 bit drivers let alone Windows 7 64 bit drivers.

One thing to REALLY watch for, is some of the AV and disk programs do not have 64 bit versions, or if they do, the 32 bit will not work. You need to check almost all downloaded programs to see if they will run on 64 bit or not.

The wife’s new laptop is a Sony AVIO 64 bit Windows 7 machine and she has not had any issues with any of her hardware.

I said that I was running 3 GB of RAM. If I need more I can add it at any time, memory is getting cheaper all the time, and I am in no hurry so long as it is running as well as it is.

Something that does worry me, especially with a clean install, is that I am effectively breaking the link with the manufacturer. As nearly as I can tell I am voiding the warranty, which matters a lot to me with one 4GB laptop that I purchased in the late spring as a desktop replacement, and I may be cutting myself off from my most important source of drivers and OEM utility program updates. Intel, for example, has a device detection service on its web site to see if your drivers for their devices are up-to-date, and it took one look at my Intel devices and reported that these were built to spec and the drivers would have to come from the computer manufacturer, which in this case is HP. For thirty bucks per computer I can subscribe to one of the driver supply services, but I don’t know whether they will be able to provide such specialized stuff.

Yesterday I checked again for a 64-bit Win 7 driver for a LaserJet 1020, and HP has said that it will be available in Mid-November. That was their original story; they changed to offering a driver that didn’t ‘take’ so now it’s back to ‘it’s coming’. The reason I report that is that new drivers for old devices are coming from the manufacturers all the time, but there is a delay in their availability. You may have to get by with a generic driver or a dead peripheral in the short run, but eventually you may have the full shot if you keep checking.

One point I failed to make is that 64-bit is inherently safer than 32-bit. As I understand it, anti-malware programs don’t cover the territory because malware itself can’t run there.

I received a key code that was good for both 32 and 64 bit for my RTM copy, I then had the choice to installed one version. But, once I used the key code and activated it, the key code is LOCKED to that version (32 or 64)of the OS. I did download BOTH version, I just need to buy another license for the other (32 bit) version if I wish to install it, or I can use it make a 32 bit DVD to do repairs and other installs using a provided key code.

It is the same with the Vista RETAIL that have BOTH 32 and 64 bit DVDs, and only one key code. I assume that the Windows 7 retail is the same. Once installed the key code can be used as required on the same machine as many things as needed using the same bit type.

At http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal/useterms/default.aspx one can select Windows 7 and down load a pdf file.

I found the following:

1. OVERVIEW.
a. Software. The software includes desktop operating system software. This software does not include Windows Live services. Windows Live is a service available from Microsoft under a separate agreement.
b. License Model. The software is licensed on a per copy per computer basis. A computer is a physical hardware system with an internal storage device capable of running the software. A hardware partition or blade is considered to be a separate computer.
2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS.
a. One Copy per Computer. You may install one copy of the software on one computer. That computer is the “licensed computer.”
b. Licensed Computer. You may use the software on up to two processors on the licensed computer at one time. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, you may not use the software on any other computer.
c. Number of Users. Unless otherwise provided in these license terms, only one user may use the software at a time.
d. Alternative Versions. The software may include more than one version, such as 32-bit and 64-bit. You may install and use only one version at one time.

I tried flipping from 32 to 64 and I noticed there was no advantage in memory use for me since I only have 4GB of RAM and the video card uses 1 leaving 3 behind for the OS. However, when I copied files back to the C: drive from my backup drive it seemed that the large file copies were much faster than with the 32bit version. Anyone who actually has “scientifically” tested I/O performance between the 32 and 64 bit versions willing to chime in?

No issues with drivers and everything works like a champ. Maybe I’ll add some more memory to get the improvements there.

This thread might have died down but I just found it. I’ll offer my 2 bits, 32 bits and 64 bits. I received Windows 7 and upgraded 32 bit Vista to 32 bit Windows 7. The process went smoothly and I used it that way for a couple of weeks. I then decided to go for the 64 bit. I had to do a clean install but the Files and Settings Transfer utility is a fantastic tool and really helps you with the change over. I re-activated the 64 bit version and it went through without a hitch.

Now, a word of advice on deciding whether to go to 64 bit. The best thing to do is ask yourself what you really, really want to use on your computer that requires a driver. What printer, scanner, web cam or device will you not be able to do without? For each one, go to the manufacture’s web site and see if they have 64 bit drivers for Windows 7 or at least for Vista. If you find them you are good to go. If you cannot find them, then you will not be able to run that device under 64 bit Windows 7.

Everything I wanted to use had drivers except one older printer at work. I considered if I wanted to go without printing to that one, said yes and haven’t looked back.

Having both versions in the box is a great opportunity to give 64 bit a try. Just do your homework on the devices you really want to have and make sure the drivers are available.

I know I’m a little off topic at this point, but as far as the 32 vs 64 bit debate is concerned, all you have to do is look at the history of computing…4bit to 8bit to 16bit to 32bit and now 64bit. For me, anyway, 64bit’s a no brainer…on a new machine please, Santa!

I installed W7-64 and it told me to buy new Hauppage TV drivers, It configured Samsung 300 printer and Xerox scanner under the XP mantle. When I ran into HDD problems I removed W7-64 and made a clean install of W7-32 using the same key. No problem. In fact the Hauppage TV drivers now work. I plan to install VirtualBox and put W7-64 into that until I am assured that the bugs have been ironed out. e.g. W7-32 with Virtualbox containing W7-64. As both versions of W7 will be on the same Desktop I expect to use the same key for both.

I got so freaked out in all this that I decided to install the 32-bit first, since I know what to expect there. Then I can image that, and then try the 64-bit to see what happens.

That’s a good compromise, but I hope you’ll try 64-bit.

if you have received the latest edition (Nov 19) you will find an excellent article by Ian ‘Gizmo’ Richards titled Should you move to 64-bit Windows 7?.

I read that article and found it unhelpful because it was inaccurate–at least for me.

I have a homebuilt 64-bit capable machine that was running 32-bit XP. I had tried x64 XP and found no drivers, so gave it up. In spite of that experience and Richards’ misleading article, when I upgraded to Win7 I tried x64. I expected at least some of my peripherals to quit working. After all, they were 3 years old from when I put the machine together, and why would Brother or Canon or Logitech develop x64 Win7 drivers for old hardware??

Turns out they did! And the drivers all installed right from Win7, I didn’t have to go to their website. OK, I did have to download the x64 drivers for my wireless keyboard and mouse…both from Microsoft! Oh, and an old USBSerial Port connector doesn’t have drivers…a $10 replacement.

That was with 2GB of RAM. After a week or two I added another 2GB for 4GB total, but don’t notice a difference. I’m really happy with both Win7 and x64 and won’t go back to 32-bit except when the hardware requires it. At work we’re going to be buying new computers with Win7 x64; we run memory-hungry numerical models which we’ll recompile to be true 64-bit and will start to take advantage of it.

A couple of interesting articles on the subject from PC Pro, probably the only adequate UK PC monthly publication which still remains:

From May 2007 – “Microsoft has announced that Windows Server 2008 will be the last 32-bit system it releases, for servers or clients”

From August 2009 – Why bother with 64-bit Windows?

I’m using Win7 64bit Eval_Enterprise on 2G’s ram with a 1G readyboost and works fine even before adding the 1G drive, with the exception of XP mode had some hickups. Even my Lotus SmartSuite 9.7 works.

I’m running Win 7 64bit and haven’t had any problem with drivers. One problem, the 32 bit version will run 8 bit applications, but there is no provision for this in the 64 bit version. I have the Pro with the XP on the virtual machine so it’s not really a problem for me but a nuisance.

I have noticed though, that almost all computers advertised by Office Max, Best Buy, etc are mostly offered with the 64 bit windows even if they only have 4G. We don’t have many suppliers here (Honolulu) so maybe it’s a local problem, but it look’s like if you want 32 bit Win 7, it may be hard to find on a new machine.

Bud

I’m running with the 64 bit version and have no plans to ever go back to a 32 bit os.
Driver and software support for 64 bit has never been better now and will only improve as time goes on.

Drivers for peripherals like printers and scanners were hard to comebye when I first upgraded
a few months ago, but that could start to change realy fast, if it hasn’t started already.

Any apps that are less than 32 bit should rightfully die off and have no place as 64 bit becomes mainstream.

If you have 4 GBs of ram then you’ll likely be able to run just fine, but 6 to 8 is the sweet spot. Anything less than
4 GB would not be worth installing 64 bit imo. Likewise, anything much over 8 GB, for the average user would probably be a waste of
money as far as purchasing the extra memory goes. Not sure of the benefit just yet for the 12 to 24 GB memory range, other
than the bragging rights of some PC gamers.

If anyone has experience with 12-24 GBs of ram I’d like to hear about it.

If you have the ability, the hardware and the Win 7 s/w, why would you limit yourself to 32 Bit? The wave of the future is 64 Bit. As time goes on 32 Bit will go the way of 16 Bit. Lets say you do install 32 Bit, then in 6 months want to switch to 64 Bit. You now have to clean install to 64 Bit and redo 6 months worth of customizing. What a drag. I have clean installed 5 different PC with Win 7. 2 were 32 Bit since the CPU did not support 64 Bit. The other 3 are 64 Bit. All 5 are working very well. The 64 Bit machines are churning along, running both 32 Bit and 64 Bit apps very well. Check ahead of time to ensure, and perhaps download all the drivers you will need for Win 7 onto a flash drive, then just go for it. Once you have loaded 64 Bit Win 7 check How to Geekto customize to your heart’s conrent.

Wanna know whats funny about all this. Buy an OEM, same key activates 32 or 64. In fact there are not but 5 keys say like for a dell. Activation comes from a slic 2.1 bios, oem certificate and the product key. If you have an OEM you’ll find that certificate in System32OEM named similar to this OEM.xrm-ms

Paying for driver updates why? Thats what Google and lately I been using that Bing which may give Google a run for the money, seems fast here. Set Windows update to check for optional updates also and sometimes it will say it has some driver updates. Oem you can always download drivers and bios updates regardless

I’m running 64 with 6gb ram and won’t go back, every program I have runs on it. I’d expect if you using something that isn’t that popular then no there may not be updates.

BTW: remember that if you are switching from 32 to 64, or viceversa, a clean install needs to be done. Can’t upgrade/downgrade from one to the other.