Thread: 64 bit testing

  1. #1
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    64 bit testing

    Hi, I'm going to do some testing for the 64 bit version of my program but I'm finding it hard to find a machine with 64 bit Windows. Is it neccessary to have 64 bit windows when testing or is it sufficient to have the proccessors be 64 bit?

    Also I am a bit curious...is there a system32 folder in windows vista 64 bit?

  2. #2
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    You need 64-bit Windows. Of course, you can use a virtual machine, e.g. Xen or VMWare's products. You do, of course, also need a 64-bit processors.

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    Ok thanks, I guess I'll have to keep looking. If anybody has an idea where to get a cheap 64 bit system like that in Sweden I would apreciate a tip. I need this computer only for testing.

  4. #4
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    Any "cheap'n'cheerful' Athlon64 system should be fine. Then install Vista64 on the machine [if it doesn't come with it as standard option of course]. Simplest version of Vista should be fine - it's the same core components anyways.

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  5. #5
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    Quote Originally Posted by DrSnuggles View Post
    Ok thanks, I guess I'll have to keep looking. If anybody has an idea where to get a cheap 64 bit system like that in Sweden I would apreciate a tip. I need this computer only for testing.
    My own desktop is using the Intel Celeron D326 2,53gHz. I bought it about a year ago for 250DKK, and i guess it should be even lower by now. It's quite stabile, it's 64-bit and if you're into those kind of things, it overclocks like a monster

    I wouldn't be surprised if you could get one for about 150DKK, it's most likely, the cheapest 64-bit CPU money can buy...

  6. #6
    Frequently Quite Prolix dwks's Avatar
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    Personally, I don't think buying a 64-bit computer just to test your program on it would be worthwhile. There's not really much difference between 32 and 64 bit Windows, at least as far as I can tell. Unless your program does some really weird, strange, questionable stuff (like antivirus programs or firewalls), what runs on 32 should run on 64.

    I don't have much experience with this, however. And 32 and 64 bit Linuxes are certainly quite different . . .

    The only thing I have to go by is the fact that nearly every 32-bit program I ran under 64-bit Windows Vista ran perfectly, except for the aforementioned antivirus and firewall programs.

    Is your 64-bit code different in any way from your 32-bit code?
    dwk

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  7. #7
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    There's a world of difference between running 32-bit apps in WoW64 and actually creating 64-bit apps. All nasty pointer tricks that worked earlier (including using GetWindowLong for handles and pointers) may now fail because int and long are smaller than pointers.
    All the buzzt!
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  8. #8
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    Hey thanks for the replies.

    dwks - The thing is that what I'm doing is a plugin for a program that has 32 and 64 bit versions so I can not use a 32 bit for both. My code is however exactly the same for both versions except for some compiling definitions.

    I went ahead and got a pretty cheap computer anyway and installed Windows Vista 64 bit. All seems to be working ok so far for 64 bit.

    Thanks.

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