Considering Linux if I can load a x86 program onto a x64 computer
Linux - NewbieThis Linux forum is for members that are new to Linux.
Just starting out and have a question?
If it is not in the man pages or the how-to's this is the place!
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
Considering Linux if I can load a x86 program onto a x64 computer
Howdy,
I've heard great things about Linux.
I still use Windows 7 on my home laptop but am having a difficult time loading a 32 bit program onto my 64 bit computer.
Will downloading Linux afford me the ability to do so?
I really don't want to purchase the 64 bit version of the program I'm trying to download.
Generally, 32 bit programs will run on 64 bit computers. For example, on Fedora, if one uses the command line yum package manager, it will pull in all necessary 32 bit libraries that are needed by that 32 bit program.
You might specify the program you have in mind, then someone can give a more definitive answer. Generally speaking, however, I can't think of a 32 bit program that failed to run for me on 64 bit Linux.
Howdy,
I've heard great things about Linux.
I still use Windows 7 on my home laptop but am having a difficult time loading a 32 bit program onto my 64 bit computer.
What problems are you experiencing? Please considering reading the following FYI to aid you for future posting(s).
Quote:
FYI: Netiquette is a set of social conventions that facilitate interaction over networks, ranging from Usenet and mailing lists to blogs and forums.
FYI: I suggest that you look at 'How to Ask Questions the Smart Way' so in the future your queries provide information that will aid us in diagnosis of the problem or query.
Quote:
Originally Posted by basparky
Will downloading Linux afford me the ability to do so?
I really don't want to purchase the 64 bit version of the program I'm trying to download.
Thanks in Advance!
Basparky
NO!
Installing a Gnu/Linux will afford you the abilities to utilize programs developed for Linux. Sure you could use a Virtual Machine(VM) to host other clients to provide the ability to run native code within the client OS. Remember, if you are experiencing issues now you will experience the same issues in a OS within a vm. Code for a MS based OS will run within that OS. 32 bit & 64 bit are arch for a particular system. Of course you could use 'Wine' for Linux;
Quote:
WINE <- Open Source Windows API on top of X, OpenGL, & Unix. WINE Application Database (AppDB) <- Information on application compatibility with Wine
Quote:
(Linux is Not Windows) <- 'Refer to the GNU/Linux OS and various Free & Open-Source Software (FOSS) projects under the catch-all name of "Linux". It scans better.' + Great Article
Comparison of Windows and Linux <- 'Comparisons between the Microsoft Windows and Linux computer operating systems are a long-running discussion topic within the personal computer industry.' + Great Wiki
Linux-Newbie provides useful links to hopefully help you to understand things as a newbie to Linux.
Quote:
Just a few more links to aid you to gaining some understanding. Sure some may seem beyond a newbie but you must start somewhere;
I think it matters what particular program you're running. Does it require libraries or DLL files to run? If it is a stand-alone executable, then it will help. Unfortunately, many programs would be compiled to use the standard OS supplied input/output libraries; much like in C when you use stdio.h. And there's a difference between Linux and Windows at the point where the libraries come into play. The linker which created that program informed it how to locate the standard OS libraries for a particular type of OS.
Linux has an environment available, Wine; which allows Windows programs to run under Linux, because a Windows environment is embedded like a virtual OS, on your Linux machine. I used it a long time ago, it was a trade-off, but it did work. Meanwhile I had a relative who used it extensively and always asked me support questions. I didn't get the impression that it worked on an everyday basis as well as they'd have liked. They were into gaming so a lot of it was performance of graphics.
And sorry to hear of your plight. We have a similar dilemma in our company. Some of the design tools no longer exist, but we have the binaries which formerly ran on things like W95 and absolutely cannot run on 64-bit machines. So we maintain a few old machines and only boot them when we wish to use the utilities, always looking for replacements, or finding alternatives because as good as the tools were, there are alternatives such as writing replacement utilities on our own.
"Will downloading Linux afford me the ability to do so?"
Quote:
Originally Posted by rtmistler
... always looking for replacements, or finding alternatives because as good as the tools were, there are alternatives such as writing replacement utilities on our own.
So, Linux: yes...more info\fun definitely always good too. (dual boot Linux and Linux ofcourse)
Last edited by jamison20000e; 07-17-2013 at 08:40 AM.
I still use Windows 7 on my home laptop but am having a difficult time loading a 32 bit program onto my 64 bit computer.
Will downloading Linux afford me the ability to do so?
I really don't want to purchase the 64 bit version of the program I'm trying to download.
Most Linux distros are multi-lib compatible, which means they will have no problem running a 32-bit binary on a 64-bit machine. However, chances are they will not be able to run a Windows binary (32 or 64 bit), simply because Windows binaries are not compatible with Linux. Some simple Windows programs can run in WINE, but otherwise you'd need to set up a virtual machine running a real Windows OS, which brings you back to your current dilemma. That is unless the program you're referring to is offered in a Linux version as well.
Last edited by suicidaleggroll; 07-17-2013 at 08:37 AM.
I still use Windows 7 on my home laptop but am having a difficult time loading a 32 bit program onto my 64 bit computer.
Will downloading Linux afford me the ability to do so?
I really don't want to purchase the 64 bit version of the program I'm trying to download.
Running 32 bit bit Linux programs on 64 bit Linux is common and easy, but it is more common and easier to run 32 bit Windows programs on 64 bit Windows.
So I suspect your problem in Windows is not with the program being 32-bit.
If you need to pay to get a 64-bit Windows version of the program, then what about a 32-bit Linux version?
If the 32-bit Windows version is free, you should be able to tell us what it is in order to get more specific help.
If the 32-bit Windows version is pirated, please don't ask for help with that here.
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.