hello folks
im hoping to visit a friend this weekend and make some music
im planning on taking some software from my xp 32 bit machine
to use on his windows 7 64 bit machine
ive never used a 64bit machine before
will the software work?

Generally, yes, aside from drivers as 32 bit drivers won't install on a 64 bit OS. I have not come across a piece of 32 bit software that won't run on my machine running Windows 7 Professional 64 bit.

Here's the answer direct from Microsoft: -

Quote:

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Most programs designed for the 32-bit version of Windows will work on the 64-bit version of Windows. Notable exceptions are many antivirus programs.

Device drivers designed for the 32-bit version of Windows don't work on computers running a 64-bit version of Windows. If you're trying to install a printer or other device that only has 32-bit drivers available, it won't work correctly on a 64-bit version of Windows. To learn how to check for drivers, see Update a driver for hardware that isn't working properly or go to the device manufacturer's website. You can also get information about drivers by going to the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor webpage.

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http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/windows7/32-bit-and-64-bit-windows-freq uently-asked-questions

What's the issue then with having to use that extra software, VST Bridge, or whatever it's called?

In this instance a 32bit sequencer will work in a 64bit OS but then all the plugin's you install will need to be the 32bit versions as you can't run a 64bit plug in inside a 32bit sequencer.

If you had a 64bit specfic plug in then by bridging it you would be able to run a 64bit plug in, inside of your 32bit host.

This also applies in reverse, so if you have a plug in you really have to be able to use but only has a 32bit version available, and your running a 64bit sequencer for (example) memory requirement reasons then it'll let you use those older plug in's.

Additional bonus - if your using jBridge (not sure on other bitbrige solutions, never had to do it, sure someone here knows) it'll run the plug in, inside it's own memory allocation, taken from the unused memory pool outside of the sequencer allocation. So if you have a 32bit sequencer and you've choose to bridge your large libary playback tools using it (VSL/EW/Kontakt) giving you access to far larger banks without having to migrate up and risk loosing some of your older plug's.

The's a more indepth article to be found @ http://www.soundonsound.com/sos/nov10/articles/64-bit.htm by some odd chap who appears to know his beans.

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ScanProAudio & 3XS Audio Systems
ScanProAudio Blog

thanks for the replies chaps

now i know itll work

thanks