64 bit only or 32 bit as well

Hi there
Anybody know if this (preview) version is 64 bit only or will a 32 bit version also be released.

IMO I can't think of any machines made recently that are 32 bit so it would make sense for Ms to kill off the 32 bit version -- of course though keeping 32 bit apps like Office working.

(Incidentally unless your machine is REALLY OLD you can actually run a 64 bit GUEST OS under VMware even on a 32 Bit HOST so killing off a 32 bit OS IMO would make sense).

I've run in the past Windows 7 ultimate 64 bit as a VM on a Windows XP host!!! of course the restriction is that GUEST + HOST together can only access up to 4GB RAM. Simply enable the VT virtualisation feature on older machines and your guest 64 bit os will work.

Cheers
jimbo

MrNeeds said:

Aww, Jimbo, It's not right when you haven't got Stone Cold Steve Austin as your avatar lol.

Hi there

some prob initially with avatars -- I'll have to see if I can dig it out again -- It's on an old XP machine so I'll have to find it and re-create the GIF file again. I tried copying from W7 Forum but didn't work so I'll re-create again from scratch.

Cheers
jimbo

MrNeeds said:

I don't think the site supports GIF avatars, can anyone confirm?

Edit, tried using your gif from 7 forums and it's too big lol

One for @z3r010 maybe

I can see a number of reasons why a 32 bit version is still produced.

1. Most computers capable of running Windows 10 are also able to run the 64 bit version. But there are still substantial numbers that cannot. Some people owning such systems will be very vocal in their complaints.

2. Most 32 bit software will run with no problems on a 64 bit OS. But there are significant exceptions.

3. 16 bit software will not run at all on a 64 bit OS.

4. 64 bit operating systems require 64 bit drivers. For many older devices currently in use they do not exist.

Put all of that together and dropping the 32 bit version is considered more trouble than it is worth. But that won't last.
It would make things much easier for Microsoft if they could go 64 bit only. Parallel development of 2 versions of the same OS requires a lot of extra resources. While 32 and 64 bit systems appear to be very similar on the surface internally they are VERY different.