Products  |  Solutions  |  Support and Drivers  |  Company   Home     Shopping Cart     Store Login   Europe  |  Change Location     Select Your Product     KnowledgeBase     Tools and Utilities     Bundled Software     Supported Operating Systems     Product Warranty     Contact Support                                     Windows Vista 32-bit vs 64-bit   Homepage    Bundled Software    Hardware Compatibility    32-bit vs 64-bit    How to Update a Driver   What is the difference between 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows? The terms 32-bit and 64-bit refer to the way a computer's processor (also called a CPU), handles information. The 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows are designed for use in computers with 32-bit or 64-bit processors, respectively.   Can my computer run a 64-bit version of Windows? To run a 64-bit version of Windows, your computer must have a 64-bit processor. To find your computer's processor speed, do the following: Open System by clicking the Start button, clicking Control Panel, clicking System and Maintenance, and then clicking System. Under System, you can view the processor type and speed.   Can I upgrade from a 32-bit version of Windows to a 64-bit version of Windows? No. If you are currently running a 32-bit version of Windows, you can only upgrade to another 32-bit version of Windows. Similarly, if you are running a 64-bit version of Windows, you can only upgrade to another 64-bit version of Windows.   Can I run 32-bit programs on a 64-bit computer? Many programs designed for a computer running a 32-bit version of Windows will work on a computer running 64-bit versions of Windows without any changes. However, in some cases there might be differences in performance. If you have a 64-bit computer, it's best to run programs designed to run on a 64-bit computer.   Would I benefit from using a 64-bit computer? A 64-bit computer can process twice as much information as a 32-bit computer, and can have significantly more random access memory (RAM). This makes a 64-bit computer a good choice if you're working with video, large database searches, or games and other programs that require complex calculations and a lot of memory. A 32-bit computer works very well for most programs, however. For example, spreadsheet programs, web browsers, and word processing programs will run at about the same speed on either a 32-bit or a 64-bit computer.   If I'm running a 64-bit version of Windows, do I need 64-bit drivers for my devices? Yes, all hardware devices need 64-bit drivers to work on a 64-bit version of Windows. To learn how to check for drivers, see Repair or update a driver or go to the device manufacturer's website. You can also get information about drivers by going to the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor website.     Visioneer Home | Support Home | Warranty Info | Privacy Policy | Resellers | Contact Us Copyright © 2009 Visioneer, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Visioneer and the Visioneer Logo are registered trademarks of Visioneer, Inc. Prices, features, specifications, capabilities, appearance and availability of Visioneer products and services are subject to change without notice.