Okay, call me what you want, I am trying to get a grasp on this concept and need to ask this simple question. I am looking to upgrade several computers (50+) in the near future and I want the systems to be 64bit CPUs but at this time I only want to use the 32bit Windows XP/Vista I currently have a license and don't want to reorder a new OS. Can I run the 32bit OS on the 64bit CPU without any problems? I understand if I run the 32bit I can't use any of the 64bit features. I just don't want to purchase new hardware in the next phase of the upgrades and this is the reason I want to get 64bit CPU now and run 32bit OS.
Welcome to HWF When using 64-bit hardware, you can run a 32-bit OS without any problems. You only won't be able to use 64-bit features like using 4 GB of RAM or more. The licenses of Windows Vista are interchangable between the 32-bit and 64-bit version. So the 64-bit version of Business Edition can be installed and activated with the key of the 32-bit version. It's also the same with all other versions of Vista.
Thanks for your response. I will be going forth with my plan to get the hardware 64bit compliant in our first phase and work on software in the next.
