Can Windows 32 bits run in 64 bits?

Can windows 2003 server 32 bits run in 64 bits server?

I was checking this product

http://www.globalcomputer.com/applications/SearchTools/item-details.asp?EdpNo=3595998&Sku=SYXS-ST-989730

I called the customer support and they said that Windows 2003 32 bits will run in this 64 bits machine.

Is that true? I never saw that.

Thanks.

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Comments

dynamik

Yes, 64-bit CPUs are essentially an extension 32-bit CPUs, so 32-bit software is compatible. That's why you can also run 32-bit software on 64-bit operating systems.

impelse

Let me understand somehting, because I installed Windows server 2003 32 bit and SQL 32 bit will work fine too?

Thanks

Daniel333

Assuming you are not using an Itanium processor here....

x64 processors will just run as a x386 ("32 bit") processor when a 32 bit OS is installed. It is backward compatible. The extra memory space and additional registers are just unused I believe.

So yes, SQL Server 32bit will run just fine, unaware that there is a 64 bit processor under the hood.

dynamik

Daniel333 wrote: »

Assuming you are not using an Itanium processor here....

The CPU in the link had a Xeon, so I didn't get into that, but that's a good clarification. There are other 64-bit CPUs; what I said applies to x64 and x86 CPUs.

impelse

Now lets check this scenarion. If I install Windows 2003 Server 64 bit. Will the SQL 2005 32 bit work or not. Because I have a version of Windows 2003 server 64 bits but I only have SQL 2005 32 bits.

Sorry guys, I have to ask all this questions to make sure that I am buying the right appliance.

Thanks

dynamik

Scroll down to "Operating System Requirements (32-Bit)" here.

It looks like all versions are supported.

impelse

Thanks.

That was the information I was looking for.

Thanks again.