64bit system backward compatible with 32bit software??

[Passingout101]

something I was just thinking about today. my new rig will be 64bit, and I have official xp disc from when I bought my laptop. I know I can dl 64bit xp, but I was just curious. thanx

 

[Aluvus]

Unless you have an Itanium, yes, you can run 32-bit Windows and all the 32-bit programs on it you would like. x64 processors (Athlon 64, Core 2 Duo, etc.) are fully backward-compatible. If you run the 64-bit version of Windows (which in the case of XP is not really recommended) it supports most 32-bit programs, though you will need to find compatible drivers for your hardware.

 

[Passingout101]

Originally posted by: Aluvus
Unless you have an Itanium, yes, you can run 32-bit Windows and all the 32-bit programs on it you would like. x64 processors (Athlon 64, Core 2 Duo, etc.) are fully backward-compatible. If you run the 64-bit version of Windows (which in the case of XP is not really recommended) it supports most 32-bit programs, though you will need to find compatible drivers for your hardware.

so, in other words. I can get my 64bit cpu and not have a problem running 32bit xp??

 

[CalvinHobbes]

Correct