In the new October 2009 issue of PC Authority (on sale now), we've a full guide to everything you've ever wanted to know about 64-bit computing. What is the point? What issues are there regarding application and hardware compatiblity? What about using Vista drivers in Windows 7? And most importantly, why now is the time to make the leap.
We've covered 64-bit issues before, but here's an update:
The advantages of a 64-bit CPU are available only if your OS knows how to take advantage of them. Thankfully, Microsoft has been producing 64-bit editions of Windows for almost as long as the chips have been available. Windows XP Professional x64 Edition was released in early 2005, and 64-bit variants of Vista have been available since the operating system's launch.
But upgrading from 32-bit Windows to a 64-bit installation can involve jumping through a few hoops. For starters, you need to make sure your PC and peripherals will work with a 64-bit OS (we'll be covering compatibility issues in an upcoming post).
Then you'll need the appropriate installation media. If you don't already have a copy of Windows, you can buy a 64-bit edition of Vista, or Windows 7 when available (PC Authority regular readers can use the Windows 7 Release Candidate supplied on our September cover disc). In theory, you can also still buy the 64-bit edition of Windows XP, but we'd discourage this: it isn't well supported, and certainly isn't a wise investment for the future.
If you're running a retail edition of 32-bit Vista then you're entitled to move to a 64-bit edition for free: fill in a form on the Microsoft website, and you'll be sent a 64-bit disc for a nominal postage fee.
If your 32-bit OS came preinstalled on a PC you can try requesting 64-bit media from the manufacturer, but check the licensing terms - your product key will let you install either a 32-bit or 64-bit edition of Windows, but that doesn't necessarily mean you have a legal right to switch from one to the other.
And as a final hurdle, once you have the disc and are ready to make the leap, you'll find you can't simply upgrade an existing 32-bit system to a 64-bit edition. To move between processor architectures you must perform a clean installation, and then reinstall all apps and drivers.
For all these reasons, the easiest way to move to 64-bit Windows is simply to buy a new PC with a 64-bit version of the OS preinstalled. Here at PC Authority we're seeing an increasing proportion of systems arriving with 64-bit editions of Vista, and we expect the launch of Windows 7 will accelerate that trend.
So that's the basics out of the way. Now what about all those 32-bit device drivers, and application compatibility? We'll be posting more soon.