What are these descriptions new to me in Win7?

chicagofan wrote:

I'm seeing a lot of x86 and x64 file tags

x86 is good old 32 bit, x64 is 64 bit AMD64/EM64T (but not itanium which
is IA64)

chicagofan wrote:

I'm seeing a lot of x86 and x64 file tags in Win 7 now, what do these mean?

It's easier to ask here, and get a simple definition than add it to my
long list of things to do/look up right now. Please... someone? :)
bj

The number 86, is in reference to the part numbers for Intel processors.
(4004, 8008, 8080, 8086, 80286, 80386... after a while the 86 part begins
to stand out.) It has become synonymous with the instruction set used on
Windows PCs. And in this particular case, as Andy points out, it means
"32 bit stuff".

AMD did instruction set extensions for 64 bit sized instructions,
and x64/AMD64/EM64T all refer to those kinds of extensions.

Your typical modern processor now, supports both kinds of instructions
at the same time. That is how it is relatively easy to run 32 bit
programs, from within a 64 bit OS, as well as running 64 bit programs.
There aren't a lot of 64 bit programs, and an example of one, is the
availability of both 32 bit and 64 bit versions of Internet Explorer,
on the same machine.

When both 32 bit and 64 bit programs are staged on the same machine,
it's handy to keep them in separate folders. Presumably for the
benefit of humans, as the machine knows what they are. (32 bit ones
are PE format, while 64 bit ones are PE+ format, which stands for
portable executable. As far as I know, the loader can tell what they are.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PE_executable

There are some programs now, which are only available in 64 bit form.
Adobe sells some like that. Presumably, to piss off the people
running a 32 bit OS.

Paul

Andy Burns wrote:

chicagofan wrote:

I'm seeing a lot of x86 and x64 file tags

x86 is good old 32 bit, x64 is 64 bit AMD64/EM64T (but not itanium which
is IA64)

LOL! Just the opposite of what I thought! I thought 86 must be
something newer. :)
Thanks!
bj

Paul wrote:

chicagofan wrote:

I'm seeing a lot of x86 and x64 file tags in Win 7 now, what do these
mean?

It's easier to ask here, and get a simple definition than add it to my
long list of things to do/look up right now. Please... someone? :)
bj

The number 86, is in reference to the part numbers for Intel processors.
(4004, 8008, 8080, 8086, 80286, 80386... after a while the 86 part begins
to stand out.) It has become synonymous with the instruction set used on
Windows PCs. And in this particular case, as Andy points out, it means
"32 bit stuff".

AMD did instruction set extensions for 64 bit sized instructions,
and x64/AMD64/EM64T all refer to those kinds of extensions.

Your typical modern processor now, supports both kinds of instructions
at the same time. That is how it is relatively easy to run 32 bit
programs, from within a 64 bit OS, as well as running 64 bit programs.
There aren't a lot of 64 bit programs, and an example of one, is the
availability of both 32 bit and 64 bit versions of Internet Explorer,
on the same machine.

When both 32 bit and 64 bit programs are staged on the same machine,
it's handy to keep them in separate folders. Presumably for the
benefit of humans, as the machine knows what they are. (32 bit ones
are PE format, while 64 bit ones are PE+ format, which stands for
portable executable. As far as I know, the loader can tell what they are.)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PE_executable

There are some programs now, which are only available in 64 bit form.
Adobe sells some like that. Presumably, to piss off the people
running a 32 bit OS.

Paul

Thank you so much, Paul! I was worried about what the 86 represented,
because I have a lot of old programs I want to work on this machine, and
I thought if they already have *another* type [86[, the 32 bit programs
probably won't work. :)

Your detailed explanation of Intel & AMD logic regarding this, will help
me remember it. Thanks again... :)
bj

Hi, bj.

Just what I thought when I first saw "x86" in WinXP x64 back in about 2005.
Took me months to find out the truth, and by then I had hopelessly tangled
my 32-bit and 64-bit apps. :>(

In case you haven't guessed by now, the "86" refers to the line of CPUs from
Intel with those digits in their names, starting with the 8086, then the
less-popular 80186, and continuing with the 80286, 80386 and 486 - and then
that name-style was abandoned for the Pentium.

WinXP x64 also introduced the "Program Files (x86)" folder to hold 32-bit
apps, along with their 32-bit DLLs and other support infrastructure,
reserving the "Program Files" folder for 64-bit apps.

RC
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX

Microsoft Windows MVP (2002-2010)
Windows Live Mail 2011 (Build 15.4.3538.0513) in Win7 Ultimate x64 SP1


"chicagofan" wrote in message news:jhhfuk$rf$

Andy Burns wrote:

chicagofan wrote:

I'm seeing a lot of x86 and x64 file tags

x86 is good old 32 bit, x64 is 64 bit AMD64/EM64T (but not itanium which
is IA64)

LOL! Just the opposite of what I thought! I thought 86 must be
something newer. :)
Thanks!
bj