any computer genius here pls?

[historian]

I have win 7 pro 64 bit. Some devices though will not recognize a 64 bit so im wondering if i create another partition for win 7. And if i do that, could i open the 36 bit, use the device (a scanner) and move the pics over to the 64 bit program? May whoever answers this be blessed with ooodles of money. thanks

[DainBramaged]

1. Windows Compatibility mode.......

I use it at work......have old HP scanners, work fine in WinXP 32 bit mode.


http://www.microsoft.com/windows/compatibility/windows-7/en-us/default.aspx


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/316-compatibility-mode.html

[bluerum]

2. You should be able to get 64 bit drivers for the older 32 bit devices.

I am surprised that windows 7 still has this problem. That's one of the reasons viSta was such a failure.

You may be able to manually locate one online - but what a pita.

om edit - what Dain said is immensely preferable.

[TheMadMonk]

7. You try getting XP or later drivers for just about any old gaming device...

...that was at all propietary. Or any number of legacy device that demand RAW access to I/O ports to function correctly. IIRC a lot of people with tape drives accessed through the floppy port had their backup protocols broken by upgrading to XP.

[pinboy3niner]

3. Go to the pros:

Support for Windows 7 technical problems and troubleshooting
http://support.microsoft.com/ph/14019#tab0

Make sure you're updated, and after an update and reboot, update again until you're told there are no more updates available. Then go to the site above if you still have problems.

[Trekologer]

4. You should be able to use the 32 bit drivers

Many manufacturers didn't bother to re-submit the Vista drivers for older hardware to be certified for Windows 7 but should work anyway.

[lumberjack_jeff]

5. If windows compatibility mode isan't an option

you could try a virtual machine.

http://www.virtualbox.org/

That said, I've had zero luck running 32 bit apps on my 64 bit machines, regardless of the os.

[demwing]

6. Microsoft answers that question here:

http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_7-windows_install/can-i-dual-boot-32bit-and-64bit-windows-7-and-if-i/e5099d54-3d67-48c3-a77e-8a3ca1b2c994

Essentially, the answer is "Yes"

Create the second partition, run the alternate version of Win 7, and you're fine.