6 ms·

Is there any harm in installing the 64bit version? Will most programs be available for it? I have a core2duo processor, those are 64bit right?

bootload 18y ago
"... Is there any harm in installing the 64bit version (ubuntu)? ..." Are you upgrading or re-installing from another OS or is this a new system? Each of those have slight problems (bloat when upgrading, backup your data before you install). Aside from that the only problems I've had are existing commercial software like flash (32 bit probably never to be 64).
- tocomment 18y ago
  Doing a clean install. Was running Hardy 32bit. Anyone know if flash 64bit works yet?
  - bootload 18y ago
    "... Anyone know if flash 64bit works yet? ..." No 64bit but try http://wiki.ubuntu.com/FlashPlayer9 http://wiki.ubuntu.com/FlashPlayer9 (Adobe Flash Player Non-free plugin installer) and more FOSS alternatives System->Administration->Synaptic & search for 'Flash'. "... Was running Hardy 32bit ..." You can keep your home partition or data if you want.
  - timtrueman 18y ago
    Oh it works just it often crashes (the whole browser).
jbert 18y ago
I don't know how much things have improved with Ibex, but there are some (mostly resolvable) issues with 64bit on hardy. You need to play around to find solutions for some bits of software you don't have the source to, e.g. flash plugin, ndiswrapper wifi drivers. Ubuntu forums are good for this. The only unresolved 64bit issue I hit was that Java LiveConnect (accessing browser javascript from java applets) was broken in the 64-bit java available for Hardy. Haven't checked to see if it's fixed in Ibex yet. (Hmm...I abbreviate Hardy Heron => Heron, but Intrepid Ibex => Ibex. I wonder why.) Yes, core2 is 64-bit.
jrockway 18y ago
I have used 64-bit Debian for several years and haven't had any problems.
timtrueman 18y ago
I've had major issues with the Flash player not having an up to date and stable 64-bit version. Everything else has been perfect.
jlouis 18y ago
Remember that pointers are the double size in a 64bit memory layout. Depending on their structure, your programs might consume more memory. But you get to break the memory limit of a single program and you get rid of some of the cruft in the x86 ISA. I've had few problems with a 64 bit Ubuntu on an AMD64 Athlon. The most notable is 32bit video codecs and flash. Interestingly, you can play Homeworld 2 and Warcraft III fine in Wine even on 64 bit. The primary is problem is not that we progressed to 64 bit. It is that some operating systems and programs are still 32 bit dependent.
Prrometheus 18y ago
Third party programs not in the repositories are sometimes released only for 32-bit, though I expect to see this change pretty rapidly.

bootload 18y ago

"... Is there any harm in installing the 64bit version (ubuntu)? ..." Are you upgrading or re-installing from another OS or is this a new system? Each of those have slight problems (bloat when upgrading, backup your data before you install). Aside from that the only problems I've had are existing commercial software like flash (32 bit probably never to be 64).

tocomment 18y ago
Doing a clean install. Was running Hardy 32bit. Anyone know if flash 64bit works yet?
- bootload 18y ago
  "... Anyone know if flash 64bit works yet? ..." No 64bit but try http://wiki.ubuntu.com/FlashPlayer9 http://wiki.ubuntu.com/FlashPlayer9 (Adobe Flash Player Non-free plugin installer) and more FOSS alternatives System->Administration->Synaptic & search for 'Flash'. "... Was running Hardy 32bit ..." You can keep your home partition or data if you want.
- timtrueman 18y ago
  Oh it works just it often crashes (the whole browser).

jbert 18y ago

I don't know how much things have improved with Ibex, but there are some (mostly resolvable) issues with 64bit on hardy. You need to play around to find solutions for some bits of software you don't have the source to, e.g. flash plugin, ndiswrapper wifi drivers. Ubuntu forums are good for this. The only unresolved 64bit issue I hit was that Java LiveConnect (accessing browser javascript from java applets) was broken in the 64-bit java available for Hardy. Haven't checked to see if it's fixed in Ibex yet. (Hmm...I abbreviate Hardy Heron => Heron, but Intrepid Ibex => Ibex. I wonder why.) Yes, core2 is 64-bit.

jrockway 18y ago

I have used 64-bit Debian for several years and haven't had any problems.

timtrueman 18y ago

I've had major issues with the Flash player not having an up to date and stable 64-bit version. Everything else has been perfect.

jlouis 18y ago

Remember that pointers are the double size in a 64bit memory layout. Depending on their structure, your programs might consume more memory. But you get to break the memory limit of a single program and you get rid of some of the cruft in the x86 ISA. I've had few problems with a 64 bit Ubuntu on an AMD64 Athlon. The most notable is 32bit video codecs and flash. Interestingly, you can play Homeworld 2 and Warcraft III fine in Wine even on 64 bit. The primary is problem is not that we progressed to 64 bit. It is that some operating systems and programs are still 32 bit dependent.

Prrometheus 18y ago

Third party programs not in the repositories are sometimes released only for 32-bit, though I expect to see this change pretty rapidly.