is it bad to load 64 bit windows onto a 32 bit system

[Legolessed]

im going to be using windows on both a 32 and 64 bit system but i only want to have to buy it once. can i buy 64 bit?

[darealsoulless]

I don't think you can use x64 with an x32 system. But you can use an x32 Windows with an x64 system.

[xentropa]

It depends on your CPU.  A non 64 bit CPU cannot handle a 64 bit OS.  However I think every CPU made in the last 15 years is 64 bit.

[Legolessed]

Just now, GR1MES said:

I don't think you can use x64 with an x32 system. But you can use an x32 Windows with an x64 system.

what should i do then? im using https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/comments/4fym17/hwindows_10_7_8_81_office_2016_2013_2010_pc_mac_w/

[darealsoulless]

1 minute ago, Legolessed said:

what should i do then? im using https://www.reddit.com/r/microsoftsoftwareswap/comments/4fym17/hwindows_10_7_8_81_office_2016_2013_2010_pc_mac_w/

Buy 32-bit copy of Windows.

[Legolessed]

Just now, GR1MES said:

Buy 32-bit copy of Windows.

but 32 bit limits the computer

[darealsoulless]

Just now, Legolessed said:

but 32 bit limits the computer

But a 64-bit copy I'm fairly certain will refuse to boot on a 32-bit system.

[xentropa]

2 minutes ago, Legolessed said:

but 32 bit limits the computer

Well there is no sense in using an incompatible OS with an incompatible CPU.

 

What CPU do you have that requires 32 bit OS?  A Pentium III ?

[typographie]

12 minutes ago, Legolessed said:

im going to be using windows on both a 32 and 64 bit system but i only want to have to buy it once. can i buy 64 bit?

First of all, if you can install 64-bit Windows on a system, it's not a 32-bit system. Actual 32-bit CPUs cannot run 64-bit code, you'll get an error message. It seems very unlikely you're still using 32-bit hardware, as it would have to be a Pentium 4 or older.

 

Secondly, as far as I know your Windows license is good for both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. If the disk you bought is for the 64-bit version, you can still download the 32-bit version from the Microsoft website and install it with the product key you already have. You do have to pay attention to whether you're getting the Home or Pro version.

[Electronics Wizardy]

18 minutes ago, Legolessed said:

im going to be using windows on both a 32 and 64 bit system but i only want to have to buy it once. can i buy 64 bit?

The key works with either 32bit or 64bit. They key also only works on one system.

[Legolessed]

Just now, Electronics Wizardy said:

The key works with either 32bit or 64bit. They key also only works on one system.

only one? what? i thought it worked for more than one? 

[Electronics Wizardy]

41 minutes ago, Legolessed said:

only one? what? i thought it worked for more than one? 

Nope, only one system per key.

[GoodBytes]

3 hours ago, Legolessed said:

im going to be using windows on both a 32 and 64 bit system but i only want to have to buy it once. can i buy 64 bit?

What is your system?

[Legolessed]

2 minutes ago, GoodBytes said:

What is your system?

im building it. i just realized that it does in fact support 64 bit. derp

[GoodBytes]

2 hours ago, typographie said:

First of all, if you can install 64-bit Windows on a system, it's not a 32-bit system. Actual 32-bit CPUs cannot run 64-bit code, you'll get an error message. It seems very unlikely you're still using 32-bit hardware, as it would have to be a Pentium 4 or older

Actually, because Intel is being Intel, the early Atom CPUs where 32-bit only. But I doubt anyone has such computer, because you would be pulling your hair out from the slowness of such system. First gen Atom was truly awful. Each generation almost they got much better from the previous in either or both: CPU and GPU, not to mention 64-bit support, and multiple cores.

[GoodBytes]

1 minute ago, Legolessed said:

im building it. i just realized that it does in fact support 64 bit. derp

Yea. You can't buy (new) a 32-bit x86 CPU these days. They are all 64-bit, and minimum dual core.

[LogicalDrm]

Is there some reason why you are wondering dual booting 64bit and 32bit windows? Because that is what I thought original question was about. If not, it has been answered.

[Jarsky]

On 24/04/2016 at 5:55 PM, Legolessed said:

im building it. i just realized that it does in fact support 64 bit. derp

All CPU's for the last decade have been able to handle 64-bit instructions.

32-bit systems died with the Athlon XP and 2004 Pentium 4's

 

If you try and run a 64-bit OS on a 32-bit only system, it will probably crash constantly with memory allocation errors whenever it tries to execute a 64-bit instruction.

[thekeemo]

On 4/24/2016 at 8:57 PM, typographie said:

First of all, if you can install 64-bit Windows on a system, it's not a 32-bit system. Actual 32-bit CPUs cannot run 64-bit code, you'll get an error message. It seems very unlikely you're still using 32-bit hardware, as it would have to be a Pentium 4 or older.

 

Secondly, as far as I know your Windows license is good for both the 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows. If the disk you bought is for the 64-bit version, you can still download the 32-bit version from the Microsoft website and install it with the product key you already have. You do have to pay attention to whether you're getting the Home or Pro version.

Some 775 CPUs are 32bit only