I read about update drivers for 64bit, but...

Major Eazy

Major Eazy

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I'll be installing 64-bit version of Windows. I have read that if I do that, I would need to go online and download updated drivers, or 64-bit verison drivers to help the hardware work with Windows. But...

Do this applies to ALL and every hardware? I haven't been able to notice just what types of hardware and drivers those are referring to, I meant, I figure I would need to download 64-bit drivers for printers, scanners, NAS, keyboards, stuff like that.

But do it actually have to includes cameras, specially such as cameras that are no longer made, like say the Olympus Camedia C3040. Since there are no longer any card readers that includes SmartMedia, I usually have to plug the camera into the computer by means of USB cable, but am I going to end up finding that it's that's is it, doubtful Olympus would have updated drivers, so it'll be one of the hardware that won't work with 64-bit Windows?

What about say I have an external USB 2.0 HDD which I had been using with Windows XP, even if I were to plug it into the next computer, using 64-bit Windows, supposing there are no updated drivers, would that meant I won't be able to transfer the files to the new computer?

I somehow thought that even if you don't have 64-bit drivers for most hardware, surely some of those hardware may still work, but in somewhat limited ways, like maybe you can only transfer files but can't do much more? I mean, we're talking about hardware designed for 32-bit Windows being used on 64-bit Windows, not hardware designed for Windows being stopped dead becuase your computer happens to be Apple with XOS.
 
Windows 64 bit usually includes a host of drivers which cover a lot of stuff you may have.

If you need other drivers they are usually downloadable from the makers of your hardware (printers etc).

USB 2.0 drivers are (as far as I'm aware) built into Windows SP1 so no need to worry.

Windows 64 is such a great upgrade that I simply wouldn't worry, and it also means that your PC can use ALL the RAM available something which 32 bit cannot do.
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Yes, that is why I'm going to be installing 64-bit version because I've actually put in 32GB of RAM.

I know i can download drivers for most hardware to help them work with a 64-bit version.

But what about some hardware that's like about 10 years old, well I do not meant printers and such, but I meant cameras, chances are they may no longer be supported by their manufacturers.

Well I hope you're right, that I shouldn't worry about it, if I do find some problems, I guess I can alway MacGyver a way around.
 
Major Eazy said:
Yes, that is why I'm going to be installing 64-bit version because I've actually put in 32GB of RAM.

I know i can download drivers for most hardware to help them work with a 64-bit version.

But what about some hardware that's like about 10 years old, well I do not meant printers and such, but I meant cameras, chances are they may no longer be supported by their manufacturers.

Well I hope you're right, that I shouldn't worry about it, if I do find some problems, I guess I can alway MacGyver a way around.
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Not quite sure what you mean about cameras.

I have a Canon 1Ds MKII which has a USB connection but it is really slow because it is (as far as I know) USB 1.whatever.

But it still does work even though really slow so I usually just take out the SD card and use a USB 3 card reader.

And the file type on a camera is a product of the camera manufacturer (if you use RAW) or JPEG which is universal.

So as long as the image editor you use supports the RAW files then no probs.
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petersmart said:
Not quite sure what you mean about cameras.

I have a Canon 1Ds MKII which has a USB connection but it is really slow because it is (as far as I know) USB 1.whatever.

But it still does work even though really slow so I usually just take out the SD card and use a USB 3 card reader.

And the file type on a camera is a product of the camera manufacturer (if you use RAW) or JPEG which is universal.

So as long as the image editor you use supports the RAW files then no probs.
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Okay. I'll try to explain what I meant.

I kept reading informtion almost all over the Internet, in some books (including iBooks), maybe a magazine or two, that if you install 64-bit Windows, then old hardware will no work with your computer. Examples being a Zip diskette drive, a printer, a scanner, and so on, because the drivers that comes with the installation CDs, were for 32-bit Windows. It was advised that you go on the Internet and download updated drivers which hopefully would help make it work with 64-bit Windows.

I figure that say as an example: Nowadays, hardly anyone use Zip diskettes, so the people who makes the Zip would no longer bother to make new drivers for 64-bit Windows. So I figure, I would say "Goodbye Zip diskettes, you have served me well, but sorry, doubtful you would work with 64-bit Windows."

But what I read, most don't make it clear if it is ALL hardware, or supposed to be only big hardware like printers which usually tend to need drivers, but not small stuff like USB memory sticks. As far as I know, we all just plug in a USB key, I don't recall anyone actually install drivers, just plug it in and use it. We tend to only install drivers for printers or similar hardware that usually need drivers, keyboards, mouse, an such do need drivers.

I have a camera that is 10 years old, well got to be 12. maybe 13. So if I plug it into the computer via USB, well, do such old hardware like my camera, would no longer work wih 64-bit Win, or considering that, as far as I know, we've never actually installed drivers on Windows just to access cameras do we? (Did you install drivers for your Canon 1D?) So I was wondering do such old hardware like that, like my old camera, would actually still work with 64-bit Windows?

I was wondering if what I read about old hardware on 64-bit Win, is not 100% rigth, and that some hardware would still work?

If you see what I meant?
 
If you need drivers then you will usually need to update them for a 64 bit OS, but, as I've already said Win 64bit OS has a vast number of drivers already there, and some things LIKE USB plug ins WILL WORK on either system because the drivers are pre-installed.

Cameras have no drivers because they don't need them to operate from windows only the USB plug ins do and they are already there.

So plug your camera cable from the usb port on your camera and IT WILL WORK!

And no, I did not install drivers for my camera because they don't exist FOR THE CAMERA - they already exist, as I've said, for the USB port.

And the working of your camera does not depend on Windows to work - only the USB port which will work regardless.

Please note there is a difference between drivers and Programs - I need Canon's DPP program if I want to use RAW files, but that allows me to convert the RAW files into TIFF or JPEG etc, nothing to do with drivers.

And some older technology - like zip drives - will probably be no longer supported by anyone so drivers may not exist for them - but printers and scanners may still have the appropriate drivers - or they could be available from the makers on the Internet, unless they are too old, and even then they may still be able to work under the compatability programs built into win 64 bits.

Frankly there are a lot of scare stories on the internet by people who are quoting them fourth or fifth hand.

I still use programs which are 10-15 years old and they still work perfectly under win 7 64 bit.

So I would say just try it - in fact if you want to address more than 3.5 Gb of memory you have to!
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petersmart said:
And the working of your camera does not depend on Windows to work - only the USB port which will work regardless.


I still use programs which are 10-15 years old and they still work perfectly under win 7 64 bit.

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I see, so anything that do not depend on Windows, just only need a USB port, like cameras, and I assume that this also includes joysticks? Okay, got it thanks.

I do have some programs that are about 15 years old too, but I found out two of them won't work, one won't install and the other won't work, even in compatiablity modes.

Okay, thanks, will check them out.
 
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