Re: Running a 32-bit app in 64-bit Vista

[Lukas Beeler <lukas.beeler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Tue, Jan 5, 2010 at 20:37, Mike <koldark@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> My sister called saying that she has an application that she needs for class
> needs to run on 32-bit Windows Vista and, according to the school's tech
> support, won't run in 64bit Vista. Is there a way to force 32-bit mode for
> this application? I know very little about 64-bit Windows.

32bit Applications running on 64bit Windows will automatically execute
in WoW64 (Windows on Windows), a 32bit environment.

However, WoW64 is restricted to userspace - if an application needs to
load a driver, it will fail, because 64bit Windows only accepts signed
64bit drivers.

Try if the application works - a very high percentage of 32bit
applications work flawlessly on 64bit Windows.The only ones that don't
are security applications (they need device drivers to intercept other
programs) or programs with extended copy protections (extremely old
video games, or some professional software like CAD applications).

If it does not work on 64bit Windows, you will need to setup a 32bit
VM. Use VirtualBox, VMware Player or Microsoft's Virtual PC. All three
are free.