First of all hi to all linuxquestion community.

I have installed Ubuntu 5.10 for AMD64. The problem is that I can't install any software made in 32 bits.

I can see 3 options:

* Use only 64 bits based software (lamentably Opera isn't)

* Use some kind (if exists) of 32 bits emulator

* Reinstall Ubuntu for i386.

I have Windows XP in dual boot. Is there any guide that can help me to reinstall Ubuntu without breaking the Wxp installation?

Thanks!

Re installing Ubuntu shouldn't touch the XP install. Just make a note of the partitions and resintall ubuntu to the same partitions.

I have a friend who also installed the 64 bit version on his AMD machine recently but opted to re-install the 32 bit version as there was far more pre-packaged software in the repository and he had to compile all his own stuff for 64..
if you require tools that are not available for 64 bit yet then maybe it would be wise to do the same - although i have not used a 64 bit install ever so there may be some options.

Re-Installing Ubuntu should not hurt your windows install - if it didnt for the current version you have then the -i386 one will behave the same =)

reinstalling won't touch your windows install, I can speak from experience (have configured and reinstalled quite a few dual boot ubuntu/xp machines)


If you're just looking for 32-bit binary support in 64 bit, install the ia32libs from apt. Also, once dapper comes out I highly reccomend upgrading to amd64 ubuntu dapper.


Quote from https://alioth.debian.org/docman/vie...d64-howto.html :

"There is already a minimal set of IA32 libraries packaged for use in a 64bit Debian system. Simply do an 'apt-get install ia32-libs' and you will be able to run most 32bit binaries within your system."

give it a shot and let us know, at the very least this is worth a try before reverting to 32 bit. If all else fails, you can install the amd64 kernel for the 32 bit ubuntu distribution after reinstalling (this is the exact process I went through with my latest 64 bit server running debian)

I'm running Dapper AMD64 and the only 32 bit issue I've had were Firefox plugins. I plan on trying nspluginwrapper to allow 32 bit plugins to run with 64 bit Firefox. Running 32 bit on a 64 bit machine may be easier, Microsoft does it, but its not necessary.

Finally I installed Ubuntu for i386, and yes, my WinXP installation keeps alive.

Saw these posts and wondered... I'd like to run Wine for a couple of progs, but it won't work with the amd64 Ubuntu 6.06 I'm told. Being a noob I'm not sure if installing the ia32 libraries will compromise the running of anything on my amd64 OS. If not should Wine run ok? I have a couple of specialty fitness software progs in windoze, that I'd like to get running in linux if possible. Many TIA.

ia32 libraries won't compromise 64 bit operation because I believe they are in addition to 64 bit libraries and not a replacement.

Thanks George. Much appreciated. I'll get the hang of this stuff yet. Cheers.