How to tell if a Windows computer has a 64-bit CPU or OS

windows cpu 64-bit 32-bit community-faq-proposed

18,286

Solution 1

If you are on 64-bit XP, under C:\ you will see a "Program Files" as well as "Program Files (x86)" folder.

System properties will also reflect a 64-bit OS:

alt text

Solution 2

Almost all processors produced since 2006 support the 64-bit instruction set, and can run either a 32-bit or a 64-bit operating system. Running a 64-bit OS requires an x86-64 CPU, but you do not need a 64-bit OS to use one of these CPUs.

Hardware

Almost all AMD processors since the Athlon 64 have supported 64-bit instructions. If you have an AMD processor, it probably can run a 64-bit OS.

Almost all Intel processors since the Core 2 series have supported 64-bit. If you have a Core 2, or Core i_x processor, it can run a 64-bit OS. The only exceptions are a few of the Atom netbook processors. To check whether your processor version supports x64, look it up in Intel's processor database.

Software

Mac OS X has supported x64 since OS X 10.4 Tiger, and has been x64 only since 10.6 Snow Leopard.

There have been 64-bit versions of Windows since Windows 2000 Server, but did not enter mainstream until Windows Vista. Many computers sold with Windows today come with 64-bit Windows 7. You can check whether you have 64-bit Windows installed by going to My Computer and clicking on System Properties.

windows 64 bit

Solution 3

If you are running Windows XP then you are most likely running a 32-Bit Operating System, since the 64-Bit WinXP Version is extremely rare (for a good reason since it's largely unsupported).

If the PC itself is 64-Bit compatible is trickier to find out in that case. Try downloading CPU-Z and check if Instructions lists something like EM64T, AMD64, x86-64 or similar. If in doubt, please post what CPU-Z displays for Name, Specification and Instructions.

Solution 4

Using autoit, run this script:

If @CPUARCH = "x86" Then
    $CPUARCH = "32-bit"
Else
    $CPUARCH = "64-bit"
EndIf

If @OSARCH = "x86" Then
    $OSARCH = "32-bit"
Else
    $OSARCH = "64-bit"
EndIf

MsgBox(64,"OS and CPU Architechure","The CPU is " & $CPUARCH & " and the OS is " & $OSARCH)

There is a compiled version here if you don't want to download autoit and compile it yourself. Note, this will work on 2K/XP/VISTA/7

Solution 5

Below is a list of methods for checking whether your currently installed Operating System is 32 or 64 bit, and whether your processor can support a 64 bit OS.

Note that the methods will vary depending on your version of Windows.

Any Windows Version

Operating System

If you are using a 64 bit version of Windows, you will have Program Files (x86) and Program Files on your C:\ drive.

If you are using a 32 bit version of Windows, only the Program Files folder will be present.

Windows 10

Operating System & Processor

Right click the Start Button then click System.

The OS and Processor type will be shown under the System heading next to System Type.

Source: WD Support - How to determine if Windows OS is 32-bit (x86) or 64-bit (x64)

Windows 8

Operating System & Processor

From the Desktop, press ⊞ Win + i (Windows Key + i), then click PC Info.

The OS and Processor type will be shown under the System heading next to System Type.

Source: Picohelp - How to Check if Windows 8 is 32-bit or 64-bit Version

Windows 7/Vista/Server 2008

Operating System

Open the Start Menu, right click Computer, and select Properties. The OS type will be listed under System.

Source: WikiHow - Check if Your Computer is 64-Bit

Processor

This method may require Administrator rights.

Open Performance Information and Tools by clicking the Start button, and then clicking Control Panel. In the search box, type Performance Information and Tools, and then, in the list of results, click Performance Information and Tools.
Click View and print detailed performance and system information.
In the System section, you can see what type of operating system you're currently running under System type, and whether or not you can run a 64-bit version of Windows under 64-bit capable. (If your computer is already running a 64-bit version of Windows, you won't see the 64-bit capable listing.)

Source: Microsoft Support - 32-bit and 64-bit Windows: Frequently asked questions

Windows XP

Operating System

Open the Start Menu, right click My Computer, and select Properties. The General tab will show if your system uses a 64 bit-OS under the System header.

Screenshot courtesy of John T

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18,286

Author by

tintincutes

newbie in Programming world, just programming - new language Java

Updated on September 17, 2022

Comments

tintincutes over 1 year
How you can check if your Windows computer
- Has an x86 (32-bit) or x86-64 (64-bit) processor?
- Is running a 32 bit or 64 bit operating system?
- Prerak Diwan over 13 years
  
  what OS are you running?
- tintincutes over 13 years
  
  win xp professional
- Gilles 'SO- stop being evil' over 13 years
  
  Use Linux and superuser.com/questions/208301/… (and I'm sure there's a duplicate for Windows as well).
- tintincutes over 13 years
  
  I don't have lInux
- Eugene Kaurov about 3 years
  
  just run in command line 'wmic os get osarchitecture'
tintincutes over 13 years

I did that but there is no way here that says it's 32 bit
InBetween over 13 years

Are you using XP? Vista? 7? ME?
tintincutes over 13 years

@MaQleod: That's nice of you. Would appreciate it. Is there a way to check without installing it? As much as possible I don't want to install because, it makes my PC slow
tintincutes over 13 years

I'm using XP Professional
tintincutes over 13 years

hmm, how to I run this script? Do I need to run this in the command prompt? I'm sorry as I'm a beginner in a programming world
tintincutes over 13 years

the link for the compile version looks strange to me, but I have to download it from here.
MaQleod over 13 years

Sorry about the spelling error I just noticed, was trying to do it quickly with kids screaming at me, I'll fix it when I have time, but it really doesn't make much difference in how the app works.
John T over 13 years

@tint, correct.
Billy ONeal over 13 years

EM64T only applies to Intel chips. AMD chips will show as "x86_64". +1
InBetween over 13 years

So in the screenshot above, (i.imgur.com/wJa5R.gif) when it says x64 Edition thats because he has the 64-bit version of Windows XP installed. What does yours say when you open up the properties?
tintincutes over 13 years

thanks MaQleod, I'm interested how to try this script. How do you run a script? Not really sure.
MaQleod over 13 years

If you got the compiled version, you just run it, like any exe, it'll pop up a message box with both the OS and Processor architecture. If you installed autoit first, you just paste the above script to a text file, save it as a .au3 file and right click and choose "run script".
tintincutes over 13 years

nothing. Mine is quite old I guess. It just say: Microsoft Windows XP Professional Version 2002 Service Pack 3. So I assumed that this is only 32 bit
tintincutes over 13 years

@MaQleod:the link requires me to download: this is what I got if I clicked on the compiled version: i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa253/tintingerri/Test/…
MaQleod over 13 years

@tintincute: thats the program. You don't need to install it, just unzip it and run it. The file itself has been compiled into an executable, you don't need anything else for it to run, the message box will tell you both what your OS and processor architecture is (32 or 64 bit)
tintincutes over 13 years

@MaQleod: thanks for your reply. but the site looks strange to me. so I just click on the architectur.zip?
MaQleod over 13 years

honestly, I don't normally use that site for putting up files, but my regular was down, it appears I didn't do it right, I'll try and correct it with my normal site
jiggunjer over 8 years

I would correct the first sentence to: "Almost all processors produced since 2010 support the 64-bit instruction set" There were still alot of 32-bit laptops released in 2007/2008.