Windows 7 64bit and Lightroom 2.5

[Geraldine]

Hi there.

Can anybody help me. I am having to upgrade my computer system and it is giving me huge problems with programme compatability, so much conflicting information on the web. (Current system was XP home)

New System: - Windows 7 Home Premium operating system 64bit. 4gb DDR3 RAM plenty of disc space.

Does Adobe photoshop Lightroom 2.5 work properly with this operating system?

Does Photoshop CS2 Creative suite work with this system?

I also have Photoshop Elements 8 Which I assume does, unless anyone knows otherwise.

Any help would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Geraldine

[Paul Smith]

I can confirm that Lightroom 2.5 definitely works as I'm running it on windows 7 64 bit.

There is no reason why the other programs shouldn't work, anything that worked in xp or vista should work in 7 and I've yet to find anything that wont.

Have you performed an upgrade from an earlier operating system or is this a new install? What specific errors are you seeing?

[Geraldine]

Hi Paul.

Many thanks for your reply. I am having to buy a new computer and I think I have decided to bite the bullit and go for the 64 bit windows 7.

Very glad to hear that Lightroom and hopefully the others will work on this new system. I am having to download some new drivers for printers etc and one accounts package that I use definitely won't work on a 64 bit system.

As to errors I actually haven't purchased the system yet as there is so much to take into account. I was thinking about changing the operating system on the new computer from windows 7 home premium 64 bit to windows 7 professional 32bit,( then I could run my accounts package) but apparently I would have to do a clean install as you can't change from 32bit to 64 bit and other way, unless its an upgrade from vista or XP. For the time being I do have an old laptop with XP on that the accounts package can go on.

I knew it wasn't going to be easy but I didn't realise it would be quite such a headache.

Thanks again.

Geraldine

[Paul Smith]

You can't upgrade from 32 bit to 64 bit or vice versa using any version of windows it has to be a clean install. 64 bit allows for the use of more RAM (working memory) and if photo editing is a priority then that is a very useful feature as photoshop and lightroom will eat as much RAM as you throw at them.

Most 32 bit applications should still work on a 64 bit operating system. Windows will launch a virtual 32 bit environment for the program to run in.

Windows 7 ultimate has an xp compatibility mode which should run anything that ran in xp but probably isn't worth the extra unless you really need the old application.

Some older printers/scanners/calibrators from xp days may not run in Vista/7 as the manufacturers haven't produced drivers.

I would recommend Windows 7 Home Premium 64bit for most home users as it is far more stable than Vista and allows for the use of loads of RAM. It has been out for a while now so the early bugs have been smoothed out and is going to be around for a few years to come.