For most would-be Windows 7 users, a 64-bit version of Windows 7 is the right
move. But if you don't have sufficient RAM (at least 4GB), or you rely on
devices that don't have supporting 64-bit drivers, or you need to upgrade an
existing 32-bit installation, 32-bit Windows 7 might be the better choice. A few
editions of 64-bit Windows 7 provide a Windows XP Mode that solves some
backward-compatibility problems, but it isn't a universal panacea. In speedy Q&A
format, here's just what you need to know.
Q. Is my PC supported under 64-bit Windows 7?
A. Most PCs manufactured in the past three years (i.e. after Vista's debut) are
capable of running 64-bit Windows 7. The exceptions are those that ship with
low-end CPUs that don't support the AMD or Intel 64-bit extensions. Examples
include Intel's Atom line of low-powered CPUs and early Intel Core CPUs, like
the Core Duo (not Core 2 Duo). If you're not sure what kind of CPU is in your
system, or whether the CPU supports 64-bit operation, you can use the free Intel
Processor Identification Utility to find out.
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Q. What about all of my peripherals?
A. As with PC support, most peripherals manufactured in the Vista era work with
64-bit Windows 7. However, legacy hardware support is a hit-or-miss proposition.
Some manufacturers -- for example, vendors of network interface cards or disk
storage controllers -- are more up to date than others, thanks in part to the
fact that they've been supporting 64-bit computing under Windows Server since
the 2002-2003 timeframe. Devices that don't have obvious ties to the datacenter
(such as custom input devices, multimedia hardware, and some printers) can be
harder to integrate since they were manufactured at a time when 64-bit desktops
were a rarity. Your best bet is to do a Web search to see if the manufacturer
has published a 64-bit device driver and, barring that, if other users have come
up with a solution.