Downloading Win8 for correct bit-set

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FYI:

IF, you are putting Win8 Upgrade on a 32-bit machine, download the Upgrade w/ that machine or another x86 machine.

IF, you are putting it on a 64-bit machine use that machine or another x64 machine to DL.

I’m sure you see the point/message here. IF, you DL it on a 64-bit machine & then, go to install on a x86 machine you will receive a compatibility error.

And, certainly, you are not going, even consider bothering to put a 32-bit OS on a 64-bit machine.

Cheers,
Drew

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MS again thinks everyone needs help deciding what version we need based on what’s already on our PC, i.e. if we have a 32 Bit OS already installs, the tool chooses a 32 Bit download. For most people this is most likely a good thing. For those more experienced users that wish to change their bitness of the installed OS, this is not what they wish.

From the Upgrade Assistant Tool page:

Can you Upgrade from 32 Bit OS to 64 Bit Win 8:
Yes, but you can’t do this using Upgrade Assistant. If your PC has a 64-bit capable processor (CPU) but is currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can install a 64-bit version of Windows 8, but you’ll need to buy Windows 8 as a DVD.

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Ted,

Let’s qualify things just a tad… One, of course, can only change an OS on a machine from x86 to x64, via clean install (even w/ a 64-bit Win8 Upgrade), only IF the machine itself is 64-bit hardware, x64 compatible. Usually the OS is x86 because that’s what the machine supports. Can’t imagine why anyone would put a 32-bit OS in a 64-bit capable box, being that x64 is the preferred. I know in all this I’m stating the obvious but, I’m often told or reminded, the same things are not obvious to all people.

Cheers,
Drew

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Can’t imagine why anyone would put a 32-bit OS in a 64-bit capable box, being that x64 is the preferred. I know in all this I’m stating the obvious but, I’m often told or reminded, the same things are not obvious to all people.

You should not presume anything about the way people choose to handle their computers. I wouldn’t use x64 if a computer had less than 4 GB memory, regardless of its capability to run x64. What would be the point?
Also, 7 was really the only x64 version that had “universal” hardware support. Things were much worse even in Vista, hardware support wise. This considered, there could be plenty of reasons for people to run x86 on x64 capable hardware. People run their computers according to their perception of what’s best for them and you should realize that without making such a blanket statement.

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Well, yes, of course, you’d run a 64 w/ @ least 4Gs RAM. I wasn’t, really, presuming anything about people. Just about Operating Systems & that, @ least, recently 64 is preferred & so would go w/ that when possible. I was more talking about H/W & S/W, than people.

But, thanks for putting me in my place. How terribly thoughtless I was. Been @ this all night. 6 AM now so I’ll bid you good night.

Cheers,
Drew

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There are also some that wish to switch to 32 Bit for legacy app support that will not work on Win 8 64 Bit, but may on 32 Bit.

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There are also some that wish to switch to 32 Bit for legacy app support that will not work on Win 8 64 Bit, but may on 32 Bit.

Of course, Ted. Reality is much more complex than we could be led to believe, as life really teaches all of us that are willing to learn from it..

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I also had a scanner without any 64 bit drivers in Windows 7 so I installed the 32 bit version on my desktop. It runs fast and I don’t miss the extra 32 bits.

I could always install the 32 bit version again if I want 64 bits :rolleyes:

Jerry

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Ya, I prefer 32 bit if I can get away with it for compatibility reasons and I’ve found over time (three years) that the 64-bit systems of mine don’t quite hold up as well. The difference is miniscule, just a few nigglers but one or two I just can’t figure out, like loss of access to shares by an XP client after a while and the only recourse seems to be a reboot of the 64bit system. Also programs that interact more deeply with the OS are problematic, like Returnil; same thing, system takes longer and longer to respond when in virtual mode and only comes back after a restart. I know that’s because of the hardened kernel, which is good but, doesn’t make it easier to use.

The best way I can say it is that 64-bit takes a bit more care and management to keep it in tip top shape, if for no other reason that it won’t let you do some things for security’s sake, which as I said is good and bad. Impossible to beat it for VM performance though, so I put up with it.

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Most x86 things will run on 64, as opposed to the other way around. The rational behind my recommending x64 to clients for a long time is let’s call it ‘forward thinking’. x64 is arguably superior technology to x86 and ‘the future’; it won’t be long before 32-bit is nothing more than taillights & dust. And going forward most H/W is x64 capable ergo, it seems wise & fitting to let it use (modern) x64 S/W. If, anyone thinks they should stay w/ x86, of course they are free to do so. There is XP Mode for those having to, still, run old S/W but, that’s another story, all together. I have run x64 for a long time & given it to clients in new machines for a long time, throughout w/ no regrets, extra struggles or concerns, snags or issues. Maybe none of that means anything nor am I telling anyone what they must do, only advocating what is, possibly, wise & timely.

Example… I have a mate in Edmonton who had x86 Vista on a 64-bit machine. He is, now, excited that he will be putting x64 Windows 8 on it saying, “I would (now) prefer 64.”

Cheers,
Drew

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Ya, there’s no problem going to x64, especially if all ties to the past have been cut, when all my legacy equipment croaks and XP is dodo-bird, and I expect these last few problems, which may in large part be related to maintaining 32-bit compatibility, are ironed out, then I would be in the same position, x64 is more forward thinking just because it has more capacity for RAM utilization…and someday more than a few, if they stick with desktop systems, might even need it!
But seriously, if its going to become a predominantly x64 world because one knows they’ll get the drivers for x64 and its only maybe for x86, then that’s another good reason, like it was 8 years ago, except the opposite.

I think all other considerations are mumbo jumbo for the most part, all things equal, it’s not faster, x64 software is not superior, etc. etc…anyone who knows how information is processed/produced in a computer knows that.

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I was speaking more about some 16 Bit apps that seem to work fine on Win 8 32 Bit, but not on 64 Bit. There are still a few of those floating around that many people seem to enjoy sticking with.

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OMG, Ted, sorry, 16 had never crossed my mind, @ all. I know we are ‘older’ but, geeesh, my mind just hadn’t cast back that far or rare. LOL

Cheers,
Drew

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There are many holdovers from the 16 Bit era. Many are games, etc. I know DrWho mentioned he was able to run a 16 Bit game using the 32 Bit version of Win 8 RP.

There are a lot of these “old timers” and some will be upgrading their equipment or OS. This is just one option for them.

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Cool, ted. I just be an ‘old timer’ who doesn’t/hasn’t used much old(er) stuff. No worries. I’m going to watch the V8 Supercars race from Australia I recorded last night. That & F1 are great fun in my books.

Even my roomie surprised me… he’s not very puter savvy, yet, when I told him the only thing not compatible when he moves from XP to Windows 8 is his Flight Sim game said, “Oh, well, there’s likely a new version, now, that is. That Flight Sim I have is, really, old.”

Cheers,
Drew

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Interesting thread. I WAS thinking of upgrading this Laptop to W8 (cheap 2 generation OS jump and i HATE Vista)

i HAD these issues: (1) Upgrade Assist wont work for 32bit to 64 bit so
(1)b what happens to toshiba custom firmware (prob. not essential but i like having a DVD burner,audio,
and must have networking working)
(1)c AFAIR this laptop ‘passed” the upgrade check. But the DirectX version 9/WDDM requirement is vaguely put.
Exactly what must be Dx9 or higher? the drivers? the HW? Exactly how does one check this?
Dxdiags seems useless – my main? driver is version 11 but on the right it mentions ver.7
AFAIR I used to have a better Dx checking tool but EXACTLY what are we checking for?
1(d) MS doesnt cover this – does a 32bit license include 64bit?
I assume for a retail/OEM disk, yes, ; for the d/l, no – but they dont say

why? because I had hoped for a 2 stage process:
1. upgrade the 32bit Vista to 32 bit Win8
1(b) migrate what programs I could, maybe buying laplink sw if reqd (but I’m poor so…)
2. upgrade 32bit Win8 to 64bit Win8 (still requires reformatting?)
(2b) maybe I could migrate my now-migrated win8 apps to 64 bit install w/ laplink)

but given this thread re the 2 GB (RAM is cheap but so am I and I’ve already running 8 GB in my main laptop
and probable a tablet is in my future so why invest…) maybe just do the 32bit Win8 and that’s it…

Thoughts?

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@B Gold

I see no advantage going 64 bit with just 2 GB RAM. I wouldn’t do it and you’d save yourself a lot of work with not much gain.
You didn’t say what Toshiba model you have. I have a Toshiba that had Vista when I bought it and now is running W8 Pro without issues of relevance. Networking works fine, everything works fine, but there is no specific Toshiba software. Yes, the DVD burner is gone, but audio works with the default windows drivers. I guess you could try downloading the Windows 7 DVD burning software, guess that is an option I haven’t tried, but probably will work.

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Yes, may as well just have x86 w/ the 2G RAM. As for DVD playing, grab Windows Media Centre.

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-8/feature-packs

Cheers,
Drew

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