windows vista

[n2humili8shun]

I have 2 systems running Vista. One is a desktop running Ultimate that I use primarily as a file server. The other is a laptop that we use as our desktop replacement. Bought at the same time. Desktop is home-brew lapto. Both have pretty similar stats, 2GB ram, both AMD procs (admittedly it's a Turion in the laptop, Athalon in the desktop), etc. etc.

LOVE it on the desktop. Responsive, stable as hell, absolutely zero issue.

Piece of crap on the laptop. From moment 1, takes forever to boot, everything lags, buggy in things like power/sleep functions. Not much improvement after SP1. When I get the chance, I'm upgrading to XP.

YMMV, but I have heard that it's particularly problematic on laptops w/mobile processors like mine.

[safn1949]

If I can make a suggestion,do a clean boot on the laptop,it will make a big difference.I am running the same basic laptop you are and it really helped.

[safn1949]

There is a recovery option available that you must have to confidently repair
a trashed or dead system. Read about it here _
http://www.pcworld.com/downloads/fil...scription.html

The site itself has two versions available, one for a 32 bit system ( why would
anyone run Vista on a 32 bit system, Vista operates lousy on anything thats
not 64 bit ) and one for 64 bit systems.
http://neosmart.net/blog/2008/window...-disc-download

.

I have the 32 bit system,how do I upgrade to 64 bit?

[franklynxxx]

I have the 32 bit system,how do I upgrade to 64 bit?

Can't, you need to buy a system already that way.
All the latest computers are 64 bit, I doubt there are
very many 32 bit computers remaining, although you
can still obtain 32 bit processors's pretty cheap.
I have a legacy dual processor 32 bit system which
has a socket for each processor. Now, dual and even
high end four processor chips plug into a single socket.
All 64 bit of course.

_____________________________________________


An issue not apparent to the casual computer user that is not aware of the technical
design specifications of computer platforms is that most software currently available is
32 bit, while current computers and their operating system are 64 bit. This is reminiscent
of the days in the early and mid 90's of the transition from the initial 16 bit computers
and software to 32 bit computers and software ( 386 and 486 chips, before pentium ).
While operating systems such as Win 98 was capable of running both 32 bit and 16 bit
code natively, since it was coded in both 16 and 32 bit, this presented the problem of
essentially having two incompatible operating systems operating simulataneously, 16 bit
DOS and 32 bit Windows. The subsequent transition to the Win NT platform of which XP
is just a variant, changed to all 32 bit operation in which 16 bit code is converted into
32 bit code on the fly while it is run. The NT, XP, operating system cannot run 64 bit
software ( an exeption would be Win 2000 server which is a 64 bit variant of NT ).

Another matter is that processor speeds have not appreciably improved at the same time.
A 64 bit system running 32 bit software must additionally compile ( change ) the 32 bit
code into 64 bit code to run. The 32 bit system just runs it natively, this extra work load
at the same processor speed explains the slowdown experienced. You can run a 32 bit
operating system on a 64 bit system but the processor type will determine the actual
performance, some do it better than others again due to the extra load to adjust the
code stream. Here is the breakdown _
32 bit processor - - will not run 64 bit software or operating system.
64 bit porcessor - - - - will run 32 bit software & operating system ( your mileage will vary )
64 bit processor - intended for 64 bit software and operating system.

______________________________________________

safn1949 _ wrote to me asking " how do yo tell if the system is 32 or 64 bit? "

You can find out by going to Control Panel -> System and Maintenance -> System.
or
Click Start. Type system in the Start Search box.



This will interrogate your system and tell you all thats relevant about it
http://www.belarc.com/free_download.html
also to ID hardware
http://www.cpuid.com/pcwizard.php
this specifically identifies your processor
http://www.cpuid.com/cpuz.php

More background http://361degrees.wordpress.com/2006...ion-x64-vs-x86

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/win...01033.mspx#EOD

.

[safn1949]

OK,now my head hurts. Thanks for taking the time to explain all of this,I do indeed have a 32 bit system and I will study the links and info you have included.

[elgrego]

Ummm. I have a laptop that appears to be 64 bit
(AMD Athlon 64 x 2) but my Vista as supplied with it is only the 32 bit version.

Will I be better off with a 64 bit version of Vista .. is there such a thing?

[franklynxxx]

Ummm. I have a laptop that appears to be 64 bit
(AMD Athlon 64 x 2) but my Vista as supplied with it is only the 32 bit version.

Will I be better off with a 64 bit version of Vista .. is there such a thing?

Don't be so lazy, the answer is in those links I provided to safn1949 above

More background http://361degrees.wordpress.com/2006...ion-x64-vs-x86

Read here -> " Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows? "
http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/win...01033.mspx#EOD

But since you need to be spoon fed put on your bib
Short answer _

Most hardware like software still runs 32 bit drivers, you really need 64 bit drivers
to run well and only the newest latest most expensive devices are equiped to run
this way. Budget computers and especially laptops ( which are usually a generation
behind desktops ) are made of the more common mundane hardware.

.

[elgrego]

I consider myself chastened.

Having read all the info now, I shall remain with 32 bit Vista.