The 64 bit Windows question

10/6/2007

I run XP 64 bit because I have 4 GB of RAM. It is amazing that the worst vendor for 64 bit compatibility is Microsoft. For those considering 64 bit, here is a list of software that has issues or incompatibilities with 64 bit.

Contrary to popular belief, 32 bit versions of Windows cannot use 4 GB of RAM.

Drivers

I have been using XP64 for over a year now and am quite happy with it. Before I moved to 64 bit I was a bit cautious. Others had told me I would have a lot of driver problems. So I was careful in the equipment that I bought. But it turns out drivers were not my problem. I only had one item that did not work in XP64, and it was a $10 modem which I never used anyways.

Applications

It turned out that applications were the problem. At first I did not notice any problems with my core applications. Everything installed and ran. But as the months went on, I occasionally encountered software that was not compatible with 64 bit.

The 64 bit Question

But there really was no list somewhere that I could find of what did not work. So unless I planned to check each and every piece of software by trying, I had no way to tell. So after a year using 64 bit, I've decided to make a living blog post. I am not going to list every little piece of shareware. Instead, I will list major software that is either incompatible with 64 bit Windows, or has issues.

The good news is, most software works fine on 64 bit. But if you have something in the list below, you will need to make adjustments. Most 32 bit software runs unchanged on 64 bit Windows and does not require separate builds. Some software does, depending on what libraries and system services that is uses.

Won't run on x64

• Microsoft Team Foundation Server - Details
• Microsoft ISA Server 2006 - How such an important piece of server software was never updated to support x64 is beyond me. The next version is slated to support x64, however as of late 2008 is still not released and it will only support Windows 2008.
  
• Camtasia
• Apple iPhone
  
• Norton 360 - It's best to avoid Norton products anyways, so really it is no loss.

Updates

• Apple Bootcamp - This means that you cannot install 64 bit Windows on any Mac, or MacBook. You also cannot use the drivers for the Apple Wireless keyboard. Update: Now works on x64 but other problems exist.
• Microsoft Zune - When the Zune was released it needed twiddling to make it work. Update: Microsoft has finally added proper 64 bit support
• WinPCAP - Or anything that relies on it like Ethereal, WireShark, etc. Update: Now works on x64
• Microsoft Home Server Client Connector Software - Want to install Windows Home Server? You will have very limited use from any 64 bit machines as the client connector software does not work on 64 bit. Update: Service Pack 1 available July 2008 adds 64 bit client support.

Runs with Workarounds

• Microsoft Robotics Studio - Workaround
  
• D-Link - Most D-Link products do not provide 64 bit drivers, although most have drivers available on the internet from the companies that D-Link buys chips from. But you have to search and spend a lot of time finding them.
• Adobe Shockwave - Will not install, but if you futz with it you can get it installed and will run as WOW.
  

Runs with Limits or Side Effects

• Visual Studio 2005 and 2008 - Edit and continue are disabled on XP64. Reports are that it functions however on Windows Server 2008 x64.
  

Drivers

Drivers are the real issue with 64 bit and most users know this.

• Asus - Excellent 64 bit support.
  
• D-Link - 64 bit support sucks. Many times you can find drivers from companies who D-Link buys chips from, but you are on your own. D-Link support is useless and unhelpful. D-Link websites do not bother to link to working 64 bit drivers, and often do not even bother to have up to date current 32 bit drivers.
• Microsoft Hardware - A mixed bag, but mostly good. Most devices function in 64 bit out of the box, or a little twiddling. For example, most Bluetooth (even non Microsoft ones) work in XP64, but only if you twiddle with the .inf file.
  

What runs in 64 bit?

Well, generally most software does just fine. Here is a post from another blog: Applications I'm running on Windows Vista x64. This post is from an IT Evangelist. If you are a developer like I am, you are likely to have a very different set of applications.

Have more?

Post a comment, and I will add to (or update) the list.

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