[SOLVED]Can I run a 64 bit operating system?

Tux the penguin · 2010-11-23 02:43:07

I want to know if I can run a 64 bit operating system on my laptop. the lshw command says I have a 64 bit processor, so does that mean I can run a 64 bit O.S. because almost everything else says 32 bit. So, does all my hardware have to be 64 bit, or is it only the processor that matters? I have looked on the internet and it always seems to relate only to the processor, so I don't know if the other stuff matters. My laptop came with 32 bit vista, if that matters. Sorry if this is a stupid question. Thanks.

Last edited by Tux the penguin (2010-11-23 20:01:40)

ngoonee · 2010-11-23 02:45:28

64-bit processor means you can run a 64-bit OS. What 'everything else' are you talking about?

Allan · 2010-11-23 02:52:55

It would be a lot easier if you actually gave your processor details...

Tux the penguin · 2010-11-23 02:55:59

Thanks for the quick reply. Sorry. I should have been more clear. By everything else I meant for example:

*-pci:1
             description: PCI bridge
             product: MCP79 PCI Express Bridge
             vendor: nVidia Corporation
             physical id: 10
             bus info: pci@0000:00:10.0
             version: b1
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 33MHz
             capabilities: pci pm msi normal_decode bus_master cap_list
             resources: ioport:d000(size=4096) memory:faf00000-fbffffff ioport:e0000000(size=402653184)

-storage
             description: SATA controller
             product: MCP79 AHCI Controller
             vendor: nVidia Corporation
             physical id: b
             bus info: pci@0000:00:0b.0
             logical name: scsi0
             logical name: scsi1
             version: b1
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: storage pm msi ahci_1.0 bus_master cap_list emulated
             configuration: driver=ahci latency=0 maxlatency=1 mingnt=3
             resources: irq:42 ioport:c000(size=8) ioport:bc00(size=4) ioport:b880(size=8) ioport:b800(size=4) ioport:b480(size=16) memory:fae72000-fae73fff

*-multimedia
             description: Audio device
             product: MCP79 High Definition Audio
             vendor: nVidia Corporation
             physical id: 8
             bus info: pci@0000:00:08.0
             version: b1
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list
             configuration: driver=HDA Intel latency=0 maxlatency=5 mingnt=2
             resources: irq:21 memory:fae78000-fae7bfff

*-network
             description: Ethernet interface
             product: MCP79 Ethernet
             vendor: nVidia Corporation
             physical id: a
             bus info: pci@0000:00:0a.0
             logical name: eth0
             version: b1
             serial: 00:24:21:6d:a4:82
             capacity: 1Gbit/s
             width: 32 bits
             clock: 66MHz
             capabilities: pm bus_master cap_list ethernet physical mii 10bt 10bt-fd 100bt 100bt-fd 1000bt-fd autonegotiation
             configuration: autonegotiation=on broadcast=yes driver=forcedeth driverversion=0.64 latency=0 link=no maxlatency=20 mingnt=1 multicast=yes port=MII
             resources: irq:20 memory:fae7d000-fae7dfff ioport:c080(size=8) memory:fae7e800-fae7e8ff memory:fae7e400-fae7e40f

 description: Notebook
    product: CR600 (To Be Filled By O.E.M.)
    vendor: Micro-Star International
    version: Ver 1.000
    serial: System Serial Number
    width: 32 bits
    capabilities: smbios-2.6 dmi-2.6 smp-1.4 smp
    configuration: boot=normal chassis=notebook cpus=2 family=To Be Filled By O.E.M. sku=To Be Filled By O.E.M. uuid=00020003-0004-0005-0006-000700080009

Processor details-

 *-cpu:0
          description: CPU
          product: Pentium(R) Dual-Core CPU       T4200  @ 2.00GHz
          vendor: Intel Corp.
          physical id: 4
          bus info: cpu@0
          version: 6.7.10
          serial: 0001-067A-0000-0000-0000-0000
          slot: CPU 1
          size: 2GHz
          capacity: 2GHz
          width: 64 bits
          clock: 200MHz
          capabilities: x86-64 boot fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm xsave lahf_lm
          configuration: cores=2 enabledcores=2 id=1 threads=2

So, I could still run a 64 bit OS, even though most of the hardware is 32 bit?

Last edited by Tux the penguin (2010-11-23 02:57:18)

Hund · 2010-11-23 03:17:13

Most of your hardware is 32 bit? Thats bull. A network card cannot be 32-/64-bit compatible.

It all depends on your CPU, if it uses the x86 or the x86-64 architecture.

Awebb · 2010-11-23 03:19:08

Hardware connot be "32bits". The only thing you have to worry about is the cpu. In this case you're lucky. Your CPU can do it.

ngoonee · 2010-11-23 04:36:37

He's looking at 'width'. Which is probably (just guessing) the internal memory allocation of the specific device?

In any case OP, yes you can. I don't think any machine made in the last 5 years or so (netbooks, mobile phones, and some toasters excluded) CAN'T run 64-bit.

Tux the penguin · 2010-11-23 20:01:14

OK. Thanks for the replies everyone. I might give 64 bit arch a try after the school year is over.

Arch Linux

#1 2010-11-23 02:43:07

[SOLVED]Can I run a 64 bit operating system?

#2 2010-11-23 02:45:28

Re: [SOLVED]Can I run a 64 bit operating system?

#3 2010-11-23 02:52:55

Re: [SOLVED]Can I run a 64 bit operating system?

#4 2010-11-23 02:55:59

Re: [SOLVED]Can I run a 64 bit operating system?

#5 2010-11-23 03:17:13

Re: [SOLVED]Can I run a 64 bit operating system?

#6 2010-11-23 03:19:08

Re: [SOLVED]Can I run a 64 bit operating system?

#7 2010-11-23 04:36:37

Re: [SOLVED]Can I run a 64 bit operating system?

#8 2010-11-23 20:01:14

Re: [SOLVED]Can I run a 64 bit operating system?

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