Yes, it does.
I can't believe how thick I'm getting. Thanks to everyone for the help. I
guess the questions were due to the growing paranoia and my shiny new
tinfoil hat..........................
Jeff
----- Original Message -----
From: "Greg Sevart" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "'The Hardware List'" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 6:59 PM
Subject: RE: [H] CPU-64 or 32?
An x64 CPU can run either x86 or x64 operating systems. Indeed, x64 may be
considered more of an "extension" to x86 than something new and totally
different.
Again, there is no mechanism to prevent an x64 processor from working with
a
32bit or even 16bit operating system, just as 32bit processors can run
16bit
operating systems.
When it comes to code execution under those operating systems, again,
there
is no CPU dependency. 16bit applications/installers will continue to work
under the x86 version of windows, and 32bit applications will continue to
work under the x64 version. However, Windows x64 -does- require that all
driver code be 64bit.
Does that help?
Greg
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:hardware-
[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Jeff Lane
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 8:25 PM
To: The Hardware List
Subject: Re: [H] CPU-64 or 32?
Just a little confused. You are saying that he has to run the 64bit OS
version on the 64bit CPU and cannot run the X86 OS version on that
processor, otherwise all will run as X86 if installed on the 64bit?
----- Original Message -----
From: "Wayne Johnson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "The Hardware List" <[email protected]>
Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 5:08 PM
Subject: Re: [H] CPU-64 or 32?
> At 06:55 PM 12/19/2006, Jeff Lane typed:
>>If I build a 64bit processor system can I run only X86 OS and S/W?
>
> No.
>
>> If so, will all the X86 drivers operate as in a normal X86 system?
>
> Yes.
>
>> In other words, is there automatic backward compatibility?
>
> Yes.
>
>>The reasoning here is that if he does decide, or need, to change to the
>>64bit in the future he will just have to change OS version and, maybe,
>>some S/W, rather than build a whole new PC.
>
