32 bit OS on a 64 bit computer?
 

New guy and this is my first post

Hey all

now I have a question

I am a windows user and i also have Ubuntu on my computer. My computer is a 64 bit computer

I am planning on getting a live-USB version of a linux OS so I can boot it off of my USB.

Here is the question

If I put a 32 bit version of linux on the Flash USb will it still work on 64 bit computers

I want the USB flash drive to work with more than one computer I know for sure that 64 bit would not work on a 32 bit but can 32 bit work on 64 bit

If anyone has a solution please help

Yes.

All x86_64 computers can run x86 (32 bit) OS's.

ok I know a bit about computers

are all 64 bit computers x86

what onn earth is x86

"x86" is just an abbreviation for the Intel 80x86 family of processors, where the "x" refers to the model number (e.g. 80286, 80386, etc.), but it expands to include pretty much any processor of the Intel architecture that most PCs use these days.

x86_64 refers to the 64-bit extended version of this CPU architecture.

You can check out Wikipedia for more info if you want. ;)

x86 refers to 32 bit. Not all 64 bit machines are x86_64, but if you are talking about an AMD athlon of some sort or maybe an Intel core2 or i7 then yes it x86_64. Intel has a seperate and distinct 64 bit architecture called IA64 which would include the Itanium line.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86-64

wow you guys are very knowledgeable

thanks for your help guys

The simple answer is: If you bought a 64 bit computer and don't know what architecture it is, then it is x86_64. The kinds of 64 bit computers sold to ordinary computer users are all x86_64.

There are other 64 bit architectures, such as IA64 (Itanium). But they are specialty items, so it would be very hard to buy one without knowing what you were buying.

A 32 bit build of Linux that isn't x86 would be equally obscure. It certainly exists, but you wouldn't find it by accident when looking for 32 bit Linux.

The x86_64 architecture is a 64-bit extension to the x86 architecture.

But x86_64 will run x86 software.