Why does 64bit Vista & Windows 7 have both...

[HeXen]

Why does 64bit Vista and W7 have both 32bit and 64bit versions of WMP, IE, Defender, Movie Maker...etc in 2 seperate folders?

Why is the default shortcuts all point to the 32 bit versions?

I don't quite understand why not default to the 64bit versions and why even bother having 32bit counterparts of the exact same applications in a 64bit OS.

IF the 32bit counterparts run faster, then why have the 64bit versions? I was just curious cause it seems like a waste.

 

[sonoma1993]

my best guess would be for backwards compatibility

 

[JackMDS]

Cause there are things on the Internet that would not work with x64 applications.

So it reverts to the x32 under this circumstances.

 

[HeXen]

backwards compatability? with what? it cannot be the hardware otherwise 64bit would not install.

I can understand IE x64 compatability on the net...but explain the other applications like WMP, windows Defender?

and all the links to those apps point to the 32 bit versions, so its not really reverting under any kind of circumstance, the 64 bit versions are basically "hidden" in a way. So thats what i mean by saying...why bother putting 64 bit apps in there to begin with?

Sooo....its basically a 32 bit OS, i mean from the standpoint of using applications and games, its like using 32 bit W7 except you get to use more ram?
sorry for rant, but it just seems ....whats the word i'm looking for....

 

[Nothinman]

64-bit processes can't load 32-bit libraries without some major hacks, although ndiswrapper worked fairly well on Linux.

So that's 32-bit IE for plugins, AFAIK there's still no 64-bit Flash plugin like there is for Linux.
And 32-bit WMP and Movie Maker for codecs, I imagine the codecs for Windows are still mostly 32-bit as well.

Sooo....its basically a 32 bit OS, i mean from the standpoint of using applications and games, its like using 32 bit W7 except you get to use more ram?

Pretty much. Although that's generally a good thing. 64-bit binaries use more memory out of the box, so for something that won't benefit from being 64-bit, i.e. IE, it's best to use a 32-bit binary anyway.

At work I have Linux box that's a normal 32-bit Debian install with a 64-bit kernel. All of my userland is 32-bit but I have the option of running 64-bit binaries if I have the need.