Parents' laptop Win 7 32 or 64bit?

[brammers]

Pretty similar to the one below, my parents have inherited a 2ghz Dual Core 3gb RAM lappy to replace an aging Athlon xp desktop for general wordprocessing, internet and occasional scanning and photoshop.

It's got XP on it at the moment, which I've never been impressed with, so I'm going to have that off and replace it with win 7. They've got a couple of older bits of kit, noteably an Epson scanner, which I'll have to check drivers for, but assuming that all checks out would you go 32bit or 64bit for their uses?

One thing to bear in mind is that last time around we used the same copy of windows on several machines, so while 64bit may seem a bit of a hassle for this laptop, if they ever get another desktop maybe 64bit would prove its worth then...

Any strong opinions either way? If it's all much of a muchness, I'll probably go 64 for them.

Cheers all!

[timtim86]

In what respect would installing 64bit Windows be a hassle? I've had Win7 x64 on my desktop and have not had any trouble with it at all - there is very good support for 64bit now.

I would say 64bit is newer and better and if there's no downside then go for it!

[Mblaster]

I would say 64bit is newer and better and if there's no downside then go for it!

This is the same way I do it. Try and think of a reason that 32bit would be better, if you can't, go for 64bit.

Chances are you won't be able to tell the difference either way, but a larger installed base of 64bit OSes is more likely to encourage 64bit application development.

[scaryjim]

1) Check that all legacy devices have a Windows 7 driver *at all*
2) Check that all devices have a Windows 7 x64 driver.

As long as 1 and 2 check out OK, install Windows 7 x64.

Although frankly I'd be tempted to leave them with Win XP and save the hassle of teaching them where everything has moved to...

[Rob_B]

Doesn't seem like you'll get many benefits from 64bit with only 3GB RAM & considering the users. Stick with 32bit for compatibility?

[brammers]

I guess the 'hassle' is finding not only Windows 7 drivers for old bits of kit, but then 64bit Win 7 drivers. I already know they'll have to chuck out a perfectly good webcam, I'm hopeful about their printer, but I've got a bad feeling about an Epson perfection scanner - will check it out when I get home and get the model number.

I've just put 7 64bit on my Inspiron 1420 which was bundled worldwide with Vista 32bit - right hassle finding some of the specific drivers and I'm still one or two down.

However, as I said they'll probably use that OS through several different machines, so I'd rather go 64 than 32bit. Thanks for comments.

[pp05]

Make sure all their old hardware has drivers for windows 7. If not, stick with XP.

Secondly, 3gb, might as well stick with windows 32-bit. For average user, they won't be touching 2gb of that.

[squirrelz]

However, as I said they'll probably use that OS through several different machines, so I'd rather go 64 than 32bit.

I may be wrong, but I thought the licences were no longer OS bit specific. ie. you just buy Windows 7, rather than buying Windows 7 32bit or Windows 7 64 bit.

[brammers]

Definately not sticking with XP - have always hated that OS. My rents aren't as computer literate as I am and their installations always get fouled up. Would rather pick up a 20quid scanner off ebay.

The standard Win7 licences aren't bit specific, but I'll be getting a student & teacher one - for these you have to specify 32 or 64 bit. Although maybe the key would work on the other version anyway - any ideas?