64-bit Windows Vista

Unlike Apple, Microsoft does not control the hardware that its software runs on. This means that Apple can more easily move all its users to an x64 operating system: all Macs currently have 64-bit CPUs, and Snow Leopard is rumored to be a 64-bit-only release. Windows 7, on the other hand, will still be released in x86 and x64. Microsoft would prefer not to make Windows 7 available on computers with 32-bit CPUs (indeed, Windows 7 Server will be x64-only), but the decision is driven by software compatibility demands.

People are beginning to use 64-bit Windows Vista on PCs in favor of the 32-bit version of the OS faster than they have previously, Microsoft said this week. However, analysts warn the uptick may have less to do with customers' interest in a 64-bit OS and more to do with the fact that so few people have, until now, used a 64-bit client version of Windows.

A big "shift" is now on to 64-bit Windows Vista PCs, even among consumers, according to Microsoft product manager Chris Flores. But he acknowledges that, even now, few if any 64-drivers are available for some categories of consumer products, including DVD/RW devices.

We've been tracking the change by looking at the percentage of 64-bit PCs connecting to Windows Update, and have seen a dramatic increase in recent months. The installed base of 64-bit Windows Vista PCs, as a percentage of all Windows Vista systems, has more than tripled in the U.S. in the last three months, while worldwide adoption has more than doubled during the same period. 

Last month's desktop announcement from Gateway showed us two things: one, that desktop memory is now more affordable than ever; and two, that the 64-bit software era is upon us in full force.

The Vista Multimedia Scheduler Configuration Tool (vistammsc) is a small utility to help you configure the multimedia class scheduling service in Windows Vista and above. This software is also included in Process Lasso v3.00 and above. License: Freeware - Last update on 07/20/2008.

If you are using a 64-bit (x64) version of Windows Vista, then this is something you should know. By default, the shortcut in the Start menu points to the 32-bit (x86) executable for Disk Cleanup. While Disk Cleanup will work fine from this shortcut for most things, there is one function that does not work correctly – the cleaning of System Restore points and Shadow Copies / Previous Versions.

Even though the processor market is dominated by Intel, with AMD struggling to expand its elbow room, new players are able to find a little room to breathe. VIA Technologies is an illustrative example in this respect, with its products embraced even by Microsoft.

Several users have been complaining about the missing “Send to OneNote” functionality after installing Vista 64 (see here, here and the several comments on an MSDN blog). The response from Microsoft has been rather indifferent, as they decided not to fix it before the next version of OneNote (see here). 

I had several comments to my last posting "Are you ready to deploy Vista 64-bit?" These comments indicated that Vista 64-bit was a champ. Considering that my last posting was necessarily my opinion. I wanted to weigh in on the comments that I have received.

With a comprehensive demo script, sample content, and a preconfigured installation including user accounts and applications, you have everything you need to demo with Windows Vista with virtually no effort. Burn your own bootable DRT DVD with this ISO file. NOTE: This ISO file will erase all data on your Hard Drive

Understanding Their Rationale and How to Make Them Work for You Look at five features of Windows Vista that are often misunderstood, learn about their background and rationale, and get the straight scoop on how to deal with them.

A lot of companies have been understandably hesitant to upgrade to Windows Vista. After all, Vista requires far beefier hardware than Windows XP, and it has been plagued by compatibility problems with various applications since the beginning.

Inspired by the Corsair Performance Analysis of 4GB versus 2GB of memory, we figured it would be fun to see for ourselves how gaming performance is impacted by adding more system memory. We got our hands on a 2GB and a 4GB set of Corsair DOMINATOR PC2-9136C5 memory modules and set off to see what happens to the average framerate in nine games at 1920x1200 on one of the fastest gaming systems that one can build. 

We knew it would come sooner or later, and from the looks of it widespread 64-bit computing might be on the horizon. Just yesterday we posted the results of our poll asking whether you’re running a 64-bit operating system, and only about a quarter of you are. That could be changing as more PC manufacturers start to push 64-bit machines.