I am a 64 bit virgin

[Gigantus]

and I want to know where the bad guys are hiding.

Seriously: what are the pitfalls when I start installing programs after my OS (Win7 Premium) is up and running? I heard all those horror stories about 32bit programs going whacko when meeting the 64bit beauty, but then I don't believe in father Christmas anymore either, so it can't be that bad.

1. Is there a way to figure out beforehand which 32bit programs won't run on 64 bit?
2. If they don't and there is no 64bit version - is there some compatibility gadget?

[irishron]

1. I have some oldies that won't install on 64bit, much less run. Windows does too good a job of telling me about it and refuses the install.
2. I use the Comptibility Mode settings in the programs' icons besides and including games, and you'd be surprised what I got SimCity4 to run on 64bit with.

A lot of it is trial and error because you get absolutely no help from Microsoft beforehand.

[Gigantus]

That sounds as if I am gong to loose some favorites of mine. No silver bullet then, just have to bite one.

Thanks.

[Gigantus]

I have got one more question, slightly related: my external hard drive with all my installation files just gracefully gave up it's electronic soul and left me the rejuvenating option of installing new stuff that I haven't tried before. For years I have been using an Avast\ZoneAlarm combo to keep the nasties out but I am under the impression that the latest versions are becoming a wee bit too resource hungry.

Question now: are the "Microsoft Security Essentials" a feasible replacement? I believe it got AV and firewall rolled into one package.

[Ishan]

I heard all those horror stories about 32bit programs going whacko when meeting the 64bit beauty.

All those stories are BS. With 64 bit OS you get to lose the capability to run 16-bit applications but no one uses those nowadays, it's history. Moreover your hardware is 64 bit so it will perform better on 64 bit OS. RAM, CPU registers etc.

1. Is there a way to figure out beforehand which 32bit programs won't run on 64 bit?
2. If they don't and there is no 64bit version - is there some compatibility gadget?

1) Yes google. Most the apps can be seen on cnet and then verified if it's compatible with 64 OS as well or not, but usually they are. As for some games etc, 95% of them are 32 bit & run well on 64 bit with a few exceptions of old games. I have been playing games on 64 bit vista and then windows 7 for years now.
2) No there isn't, 64 bit version means you need 64 bit compatible .exe, which no one is going to make. Only few developers have made games like Bioshock, Crysis etc which have 64 bit exes as well. There's no tool\gadget that can convert 32 bit exes to 64 bit exes.

Lastly any huge issue and desperation then use XP virtual mode.[/win]

Question now: are the "Microsoft Security Essentials" a feasible replacement?

Yes.

[Gigantus]

Thanks for all the info - let's see how it all works out.

[Ishan]

Haha yeah i find such stuff boring as well.

Thanks for all the info - let's see how it all works out.

No problem.

[irishron]

I have XP VM set up on mine but I have not had the time nor the will to eally get in and finish the job.