i apologise in advance if this isn't the right forum for this question... none of the other, more specific forums seemed like the apply to my question.

i haven't done a whole lot of research on the topic either... it's always easier to ask someone who knows than to go hunting for information that might be coming from some 2bit twat who doesn't really know the first thing about it.

here's my question:

if i upgrade to a 64-bit processor, such as the Athlon x64, will i still be able to run a 32-bit operating system? i currently use Ubuntu 7.10 (32 bit) on an Athlon XP 3000+, but i am in need of an upgrade, and am considering a multicore processor... but by time i have the time and cash to get one, i suspect they'll all be 64-bit, and i sure as hell do not want to reinstall my entire operating system (i just got it the way i like it, and i have about 45 GB of music that i do NOT want to lose).

anyone have any idea if my 32bit ubuntu will still run on a 64-bit processor?

thank you,

AN

Yes is the answer

Good luck finding a (new) 32-bit processor for a PC today. Short answer, yes x86_64 processors are designed to be backwards compatible thus they will run both 32-bit and 64-bit applications. Side by side at the same time in fact.

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-x8664-589715/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...estion-588519/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-x8664-588938/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-amd64-578605/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...system-570955/
http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...-linux-544993/

Well, yes. But not on any old “64-bit” processor, only those compatible with x86_64 (like your Athlon x64).

P.S.
How can you tell that I’m not a 2bit twat who doesn’t know the first thing about it?

Because you have 1000+ posts, so you must be a 1 kilo twat.

I know of a few people here with 1000+ posts who I would hate to have advising my friends.

That made my day Andrew.