Hi wasnt sure where to put this so here it is, feel free to move if wrong forum.
Having dual booted Win 8.1 x86 version and x64 version for a few weeks now I have to say I have given up with the x64 bit version as there are too many hardware drivers that dont work or are not supported.
The main culprit is HP. No driver support for 32 or 64 bit old scanners of which I have two. I have found a company called Hamrick Software that is writing new drivers for these devices for new Windows OS. It costs but I now have a working HP 6200c after my HP6300c decided to produce just white noise. It costs for a years upgrades of the main program that also does the scanning but its not too expensive. They also to x64 bit version.
But the main problem is my HP 710c printer will not work in the x64 version despite the driver already being included. I have been told by an MS Printer rep, Alan Morris that the codebase for the driver in x64 needs updating or to try and find a 2003 x64 CD and extract the driver it may work for a while until Windows Update replaces it with the broken driver. 32 bit for the Printer works fine. MS rep also said its unlikely HP will update the driver.
The other hardware that I cant find a driver for is my Belkin USB video capture, but the XP driver works fine on the 32 bit version.
In general x86 vs x64, I find the 32 bit alot snappier launching programs. I have Windows Live Mail on both and on the x64 version there is a definite delay opening the program whereas 32 bit is almost instant. I find this with alot of other programs too which I have setup on both flavours.
So in essence my main OS will be the 32 bit version from now on as the x64 is just too much trouble.
Tim
Having dual booted Win 8.1 x86 version and x64 version for a few weeks now I have to say I have given up with the x64 bit version as there are too many hardware drivers that dont work or are not supported.
The main culprit is HP. No driver support for 32 or 64 bit old scanners of which I have two. I have found a company called Hamrick Software that is writing new drivers for these devices for new Windows OS. It costs but I now have a working HP 6200c after my HP6300c decided to produce just white noise. It costs for a years upgrades of the main program that also does the scanning but its not too expensive. They also to x64 bit version.
But the main problem is my HP 710c printer will not work in the x64 version despite the driver already being included. I have been told by an MS Printer rep, Alan Morris that the codebase for the driver in x64 needs updating or to try and find a 2003 x64 CD and extract the driver it may work for a while until Windows Update replaces it with the broken driver. 32 bit for the Printer works fine. MS rep also said its unlikely HP will update the driver.
The other hardware that I cant find a driver for is my Belkin USB video capture, but the XP driver works fine on the 32 bit version.
In general x86 vs x64, I find the 32 bit alot snappier launching programs. I have Windows Live Mail on both and on the x64 version there is a definite delay opening the program whereas 32 bit is almost instant. I find this with alot of other programs too which I have setup on both flavours.
So in essence my main OS will be the 32 bit version from now on as the x64 is just too much trouble.
Tim
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Windows 8.1 Pro
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- System Manufacturer/Model
- MSI MS7360
- CPU
- Intel E8400 (Wolfdale)
- Motherboard
- MS 7360 P35 V1.0
- Memory
- 4 GB
- Graphics Card(s)
- MSI Geforce GT610
- Sound Card
- Realtek Onboard
- Monitor(s) Displays
- Dell 19" Widescreen
- Screen Resolution
- 1920 x 1080
- Hard Drives
- 3 x 500 GB Hitachi and Seagate Drives
- PSU
- Corsair 500W
- Case
- Generic
- Cooling
- 2 case fans, Artic CPU Cooler
- Keyboard
- Logitech G19
- Mouse
- MS Comfort 4500
- Internet Speed
- 19 mbps
- Browser
- Firefox
- Antivirus
- MS Defender
