Explain "bit"

[Molin G Fort]

When ready to download "critical update" for my IBM
ThinkPad, WinXP Pro computer - noticed that there was a
discrimination between a 32-bit and a 64-bit program..
Looking over this website, the only reference I found
to "bit"s was regarding Windows Explorer 6 versions. Well
My Windows Explorer is version 6, 128-bit cipher
strength. That does not seem to have any relevance to the
critical update info.

Is the update referring to Windows Explorer? and security
for WE? and if not, how do I decide whether my WinXP Pro
program is 32-bit or 64-bit? Any assistance will be much
appreciated.

Molin G

[Ted]

"Molin G Fort" > wrote in message =
...
> When ready to download "critical update" for my IBM=20
> ThinkPad, WinXP Pro computer - noticed that there was a=20
> discrimination between a 32-bit and a 64-bit program..=20
> Looking over this website, the only reference I found=20
> to "bit"s was regarding Windows Explorer 6 versions. Well=20
> My Windows Explorer is version 6, 128-bit cipher=20
> strength. That does not seem to have any relevance to the=20
> critical update info.=20
>=20
> Is the update referring to Windows Explorer? and security=20
> for WE? and if not, how do I decide whether my WinXP Pro=20
> program is 32-bit or 64-bit? Any assistance will be much=20
> appreciated.
>=20
> Molin G

LOL!

[Sharon F]

On Wed, 30 Jul 2003 14:35:08 -0700, "Molin G Fort"
> wrote:

>When ready to download "critical update" for my IBM
>ThinkPad, WinXP Pro computer - noticed that there was a
>discrimination between a 32-bit and a 64-bit program..
>Looking over this website, the only reference I found
>to "bit"s was regarding Windows Explorer 6 versions. Well
>My Windows Explorer is version 6, 128-bit cipher
>strength. That does not seem to have any relevance to the
>critical update info.
>
>Is the update referring to Windows Explorer? and security
>for WE? and if not, how do I decide whether my WinXP Pro
>program is 32-bit or 64-bit? Any assistance will be much
>appreciated.
>
>Molin G

32bit and 64bit in this case refers to the architecture that the
operating system and a special CPU are designed around. Both cost a
pretty penny and are not common setups. Chances are good to excellent
that you have a 32bit system, 32bit version of XP and that you do not
need any of the upgrades marked for 64bit XP.

Sharon F
MS MVP
[Windows XP - Shell/User]

[David]

"Molin G Fort" > wrote in news:031901c356e2
:

> When ready to download "critical update" for my IBM
> ThinkPad, WinXP Pro computer - noticed that there was a
> discrimination between a 32-bit and a 64-bit program..
> Looking over this website, the only reference I found
> to "bit"s was regarding Windows Explorer 6 versions. Well
> My Windows Explorer is version 6, 128-bit cipher
> strength. That does not seem to have any relevance to the
> critical update info.
>
> Is the update referring to Windows Explorer? and security
> for WE? and if not, how do I decide whether my WinXP Pro
> program is 32-bit or 64-bit? Any assistance will be much
> appreciated.
>
> Molin G

Bits are the amount of data the system is able to move and work with.
Teh 128-bit you are refering to is actually for Internet Explorer and
it's the strenght of the encyrption that it uses.

As for whether you have a 32 or 64 bit system? Well...Did youur
computer and OS cost more then your car? No. Then you have a 32 bit
system. 64 bit is for high-end system using the new Itanium Processor and
is not something the average home user will have anytme soon. So, When
getting the Windows Updates. Choose the 32bit version.

David

[Benjamin Gay [MS]]

Hi Molin,

You are referring to the architecture of your system. Common 32 bit
processors would be the Intel Pentium and AMD XP processors, 64 bit
processors would be the Intel Itanium/ Itanium2 and AMD64 processors.

You can verify what type of architecture you are running by performing the
following steps:

1. Click start + Run
2. Type "cmd" and press enter
3. type "echo %PROCESSOR_ARCHITECTURE%" and press enter

The processor type will now be returned.

x86 = 32 bit operating system
IA64 = 64 bit operating system

For more information about the processor in your system you can Right-Click
on "My Computer" and view the properties or you can run the "systeminfo"
command from a command prompt.

I hope this answers your question.

Regards


--
Benjamin Gay (MS)

--
This posting is provided "AS IS" with no warranties, and confers no rights.



"Molin G Fort" > wrote in message
...
> When ready to download "critical update" for my IBM
> ThinkPad, WinXP Pro computer - noticed that there was a
> discrimination between a 32-bit and a 64-bit program..
> Looking over this website, the only reference I found
> to "bit"s was regarding Windows Explorer 6 versions. Well
> My Windows Explorer is version 6, 128-bit cipher
> strength. That does not seem to have any relevance to the
> critical update info.
>
> Is the update referring to Windows Explorer? and security
> for WE? and if not, how do I decide whether my WinXP Pro
> program is 32-bit or 64-bit? Any assistance will be much
> appreciated.
>
> Molin G

[Brian Tillman]

>64 bit processors would be the Intel Itanium/ Itanium2 and AMD64
processors.

And, of course, the Alpha, which has existed for years now.
--
Brian Tillman Internet: Brian.Tillman at smiths-aerospace dot com
Smiths Aerospace Addresses modified to prevent SPAM.
3290 Patterson Ave. SE, MS 1B3 Replace "at" with "@", "dot" with "."
Grand Rapids, MI 49512-1991
This opinion doesn't represent that of my company

[PCyr]

I'm afraid that XP 64 bit only runs on the Itanium Series

--
Member of "Newsgroups are for everyone" (Perdita X. Dream is a
self-righteous net-cop too!)

Email address is fake to prevent SPAM.
Real email address is pcyr2000 AT hotmail DOT com
Change the obvious to the obvious.
------------------
"Brian Tillman" > wrote in message
...
> >64 bit processors would be the Intel Itanium/ Itanium2 and AMD64
> processors.
>
> And, of course, the Alpha, which has existed for years now.
> --
> Brian Tillman Internet: Brian.Tillman at smiths-aerospace dot com
> Smiths Aerospace Addresses modified to prevent SPAM.
> 3290 Patterson Ave. SE, MS 1B3 Replace "at" with "@", "dot" with "."
> Grand Rapids, MI 49512-1991
> This opinion doesn't represent that of my company
>