Why does windows 8 still have two program files, and will offer a 32bit edition?

[Hugo Drax]

Why two folders. Cant you have one folder called Program Files and put everything in it?

No one sells 32bit computers anymore, why focus time and money compiling and maintaining a 32 bit version of windows 8.

 

[wirednuts]

i agree. win7 i wasnt even sure about having a 32bit version, but since that os clearly runs on basically ANY winxp machine i can see why they did it.

win8 though? are we really going to be installing that on our old p4 machines? who knows, maybe we will... but i dont see why

only other thing i can think of is netbooks... most of those are still 32bit (damn you atom processors! )

 

[lxskllr]

My guess is compatibility with older programs. If an installer expects Program files(x86) and doesn't get it, it may error out.

 

[Hugo Drax]

i agree. win7 i wasnt even sure about having a 32bit version, but since that os clearly runs on basically ANY winxp machine i can see why they did it.

win8 though? are we really going to be installing that on our old p4 machines? who knows, maybe we will... but i dont see why

only other thing i can think of is netbooks... most of those are still 32bit (damn you atom processors! )

Microsoft really needs to focus on moving forward and stop trying to collect every red cent, hoping to sell a few copies to people running workstations built in 2003.

Windows 8 should have dropped support for any non 32bit hardware and just focus on moving forward. Clean things up, less time spent testing etc.. for old obsolete hardware. Time that can be used for making Windows 8 better and less buggy on modern hardware.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

OP, you need to realize that the enthusiasts on this site (and all the others) while influential, are in the VAST minority of computer users. MOST of the computing world uses old machines running out of date software on networks held together with duct tape.

 

[wirednuts]

honestly i think it has a lot to do with what i hinted at- tablets. win8 runs on arm? well, there you go. they want to compete with android, and theyre going to.

 

[Hugo Drax]

OP, you need to realize that the enthusiasts on this site (and all the others) while influential, are in the VAST minority of computer users. MOST of the computing world uses old machines running out of date software on networks held together with duct tape.

And those same users will never buy windows 8.0 to upgrade their Pentium III desktops. They will run Windows XP till it dies. And those users on Banyan vines streetalk networks/Novell netware will not be upgrading to windows 8.0

Business users pretty much stick to older versions of windows unless they have to buy new hardware, since XP/windows 95/WFW 3.11 is fine for Dbase IV and Wordperfect 5.1.

 

[JackMDS]

Because Enthusiasts are less the 3% of computer users, and out there you can find Millions that have 32bits applications that are still useful for practical purposes.

Enthusiasts are Enthusiasts and Not practical people. Not that any thing is wrong with this.

 

[Berryracer]

But even if you install a 32 bit program in the Program Files folder rather than the Program Files (x86) folder it would still work so I don't get why this confusion honestly

 

[Hugh Jass]

I'm waiting for the OP to send me the money to buy a new PC that meets his standards...PM me for my address.

LOL.

 

[BrightCandle]

A lot of software written for windows continues to be 32 bit. Most enterprises have custom software and its still 32 bit because they still have XP in places. It costs a lot of money to replace 50,000 computers especially when only a few even need 64 bit and dual core processors.

Even a lot of the programs we enthusiasts use is still 32 bit. MSI afterburner, prime95 etc are both 32 bit. It will move over to 64 bit in the same way it all eventually moved away from 16 bit but its notable you can still run quite a lot of 16 bit programs on Windows today. Windows has always been about backwards compatibility, that 32 bit support will probably be there for a decade at least.

 

[gevorg]

I still install 32-bit Windows 7 for family computers that have <4GB RAM. More efficient memory usage that way.

 

[Nothinman]

I still install 32-bit Windows 7 for family computers that have <4GB RAM. More efficient memory usage that way.

It may give very slightly less memory usage, however it removes the chance to upgrade the PC without doing a reinstall and to run 64-bit software if it actually might be beneficial. So all you've really done is limit their choices going forward.

 

[gevorg]

It may give very slightly less memory usage, however it removes the chance to upgrade the PC without doing a reinstall and to run 64-bit software if it actually might be beneficial. So all you've really done is limit their choices going forward.

Quite a significant difference actually, especially on 1GB systems. And I never upgrade Windows, fresh install always.

 

[Nothinman]

Quite a significant difference actually, especially on 1GB systems. And I never upgrade Windows, fresh install always.

I meant upgrade the memory because 32-bit Windows won't let you break that 4G mark. But if you're already spending money on Windows wouldn't it make more sense to add more memory while you're at it? I couldn't imagine being forced to use any PC with only 1G in it these days, regardless of the OS.

 

[Red Squirrel]

Really I don't get why they can't just put everything in program files, regardless of if it's 32 or 64 bit, why does it need it's own folder in first place? If it's a 64 bit app it will run at 64 bit, if not then it will run at 32, no need to separate them.

MS has been known to keep legacy support for a very long time, and I suppose in a way it's a good thing. For example, people were not impressed when Vista forced IPv6 on it's users. Imagine if they took IPv4 out completely!

 

[jpiniero]

IIRC, MS originally said Windows 7 was going to be the last OS that would support 32-bit. Obviously they changed their mind.

 

[ViRGE]

IIRC, MS originally said Windows 7 was going to be the last OS that would support 32-bit. Obviously they changed their mind.

They changed their mind when they decided that they wanted Win8 to run on everything Win7 ran on, to avoid another Vista. As a result it needs to run on 32bit Atom netbooks, among other things.

 

[oynaz]

A lot of software written for windows continues to be 32 bit. Most enterprises have custom software and its still 32 bit because they still have XP in places. It costs a lot of money to replace 50,000 computers especially when only a few even need 64 bit and dual core processors.

Even a lot of the programs we enthusiasts use is still 32 bit. MSI afterburner, prime95 etc are both 32 bit. It will move over to 64 bit in the same way it all eventually moved away from 16 bit but its notable you can still run quite a lot of 16 bit programs on Windows today. Windows has always been about backwards compatibility, that 32 bit support will probably be there for a decade at least.

All true, but most 32 bit apps run fine on 64 bit Windows.

 

[themillak]

They changed their mind when they decided that they wanted Win8 to run on everything Win7 ran on, to avoid another Vista. As a result it needs to run on 32bit Atom netbooks, among other things.

isn't there supposed to be a minimum display for windows 8 that is more than most of the atom netbooks?

 

[Chiropteran]

Quite a significant difference actually, especially on 1GB systems. And I never upgrade Windows, fresh install always.

Windows 7 Home Premium licenses: ~$99

4GB of DDR3: ~$25

Wouldn't it make more sense to upgrade those computers rather than keeping them around and buying Windows licenses for them? And if the hardware is so old you can't even upgrade beyond 1GB of RAM, you could probably triple the speed of the computer by replacing it with a used $99 dell from ebay.

All true, but most 32 bit apps run fine on 64 bit Windows.

I think all do. You might find an XP app that won't run on 7, but it won't run on 32 bit or 64 bit 7. AFAIK the only applications that won't run on 64 bit 7 specifically are those that run in 16 bits.

 

[notposting]

Plus, you can run 16-bit apps on 32-bit Windows. :awe:

 

[Chiropteran]

Plus, you can run 16-bit apps on 32-bit Windows. :awe:

Most of which are perfect candidates for running in a VM, or with DOSbox.

 

[Jaskalas]

The goal of Win8 is to work on ALL Win7 computers.

Can't very well do that if they eliminate 32bit.

 

[ViRGE]

isn't there supposed to be a minimum display for windows 8 that is more than most of the atom netbooks?

Metro does. However you can still use the Windows desktop.