Windows 11 confirmed to be 64-bit CPU exclusive.

[wadmodder1999]

We are all aware that Windows 11 will be released in Late-2021, but there is a price to this. In order to upgrade to Windows 11, you permanently need a 64-bit CPU and other 64-bit hardware to comply to the upgrade path to the OS itself, there isn't any support for 32-bit IA-32 processors anymore, though 32-bit programs will still be compatible with the OS with some compatibility issues.

This is the first time in that Windows has dropped support for older processors since the beginning of Windows NT becoming consumer friendly with the release of XP & the discontinuation of the Windows 9x family of operating systems. Though this wasn't the first time support for 32-bit CPUs was dropped, that was with Windows Server 2008 R2 back in 2009 where that server OS only supported 64-bit processors, so this is the second time this has been put into place, this time on the consumer operating system side of the OS.

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/324102-microsoft-introduces-windows-11-makes-microsoft-account-mandatory

Also, because Windows 11 is now a 64-bit exclusive OS, this will also mark death to the NTVDM component used in the 32-bit versions of the Windows NT operating system family, though fortunately DOSBox & OTVDM (aka WineVDM) have filled those gaps regarding compatibility for MS-DOS games & software for the former, and Windows 3.1 games & software for the latter, so not all is lost anyways.

What are your opinions on this topic? Feel free to provide thoughts & comments on this discussion.

[Cathulhu]

To be honest, not that much of a loss. Won't affect most 32Bit software anyway.
Should have been done earlier though in my opinion. Back with Windows 8 would have been a good idea.

[plat]

Yes, there's no 32 bit Windows anymore. But my 32 bit software works fine in Windows 11. Surprsingly, I haven't had any software malfunctions yet.

[tonimark]

Originally posted by wadmodder1999:

We are all aware that Windows 11 will be released in Late-2021, but there is a price to this. In order to upgrade to Windows 11, you permanently need a 64-bit CPU and other 64-bit hardware to comply to the upgrade path to the OS itself, there isn't any support for 32-bit IA-32 processors anymore, though 32-bit programs will still be compatible with the OS with some compatibility issues.

This is the first time in that Windows has dropped support for older processors since the beginning of Windows NT becoming consumer friendly with the release of XP & the discontinuation of the Windows 9x family of operating system. Though this wasn't the first time support for 32-bit CPUs was dropped, that was with Windows Server 2008 R2 back in 2009 where that server OS only supported 64-bit processors, so this is the second time this has been put into place, this time on the consumer operating system side of the OS.

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/324102-microsoft-introduces-windows-11-makes-microsoft-account-mandatory

Also, because Windows 11 is now a 64-bit exclusive OS, this will also mark death to the NTVDM component used in the 32-bit versions of the Windows NT operating system family, though fortunately DOSBox & OTVDM (aka WineVDM) have filled those gaps regarding compatibility for MS-DOS games & software for the former, and Windows 3.1 games & software for the latter, so not all is lost anyways.

What are your opinions on this topic? Feel free to provide thoughts & comments on this discussion.

1.its for the ram since 32-bit are limited to 6gb
2.windows 11 is targeting more of gaming audience rather your everyday desktop ones so it it obvious that there is no much profit-propuse to develop 32-bit variant so RETRO-GAMERS if you want backwards compitability (stay)use windows 10 or more to 11 for the latest games

[Bad 💀 Motha]

32bit OS' are limited to 4GB RAM
This has nothing to do with 32bit apps.
You all have been running a 64bit CPU and OS since Vista/Win7 was a current everyday OS.

[wadmodder1999]

Also, NTVDM will finally be permanently killed off with Windows 11, dropping native support for Windows 3.1-era software & games, though fortunately OTVDM (aka WineVDM) will fill that gap for Windows 11 users.

[76561198343548661]

I wonder who has 32 bit CPU nowadays ?! 64bit processors have been selling for nearly 20 years .

[Illusion of Progress]

Originally posted by wadmodder1999:

We are all aware that Windows 11 will be released in Late-2021, but there is a price to this. In order to upgrade to Windows 11, you permanently need a 64-bit CPU and other 64-bit hardware to comply to the upgrade path to the OS itself, there isn't any support for 32-bit IA-32 processors anymore, though 32-bit programs will still be compatible with the OS with some compatibility issues.

This is the first time in that Windows has dropped support for older processors since the beginning of Windows NT becoming consumer friendly with the release of XP & the discontinuation of the Windows 9x family of operating system. Though this wasn't the first time support for 32-bit CPUs was dropped, that was with Windows Server 2008 R2 back in 2009 where that server OS only supported 64-bit processors, so this is the second time this has been put into place, this time on the consumer operating system side of the OS.

https://www.extremetech.com/computing/324102-microsoft-introduces-windows-11-makes-microsoft-account-mandatory

Also, because Windows 11 is now a 64-bit exclusive OS, this will also mark death to the NTVDM component used in the 32-bit versions of the Windows NT operating system family, though fortunately DOSBox & OTVDM (aka WineVDM) have filled those gaps regarding compatibility for MS-DOS games & software for the former, and Windows 3.1 games & software for the latter, so not all is lost anyways.

What are your opinions on this topic? Feel free to provide thoughts & comments on this discussion.

This was mentioned in the Windows 11 thread with the hardware requirements.

The last consumer desktop 32-bit only CPUs were earlier Pentium 4s (yes, even some later Pentium 4s were 64-bit capable) and Athlon XPs, as far as I recall. I am probably overlooking some specialty CPUs, but everything after thereabouts has been 64-bit capable, and those CPUs will come from older platforms that are probably limited in maximum RAM capacity too (to probably around 4 GB or less). Unfortunate, sure, but not too surprising. Now feels right to drop support for 32-bit CPUs.

The bigger problem is the REAL effective CPU cutoff is MUCH more recent than this due to the requirement for TPM 2.0. Even boards that are new come without the chip or a header for it, and in that case, you need a firmware fallback, which is reliant on both CPU and BIOS. While, say, an older 64-bit CPU might be fine itself, in practice, anything older than Coffee Lake (Intel 8th generation) or Zen+ (Ryzen 2000 series) is up in the air and may or may not work.

[wadmodder1999]

Since DOSBox has been used for Digital Distribution platforms since the late-2000s, now we need a similar approach for Windows 3.1 games via OTVDM/WineVDM.

[wadmodder1999]

Also, I wonder what game developers have to say about Windows 11, and the OS being exclusive to 64-bit CPUs. Time Will Tell.

[_I_]

all desktop cpus pentium d or amd 939 (athlon64) and later are 64bit
even arms are going to 64bit

64bit os has abilities to run 32bit programs yet

[Bad 💀 Motha]

Originally posted by wadmodder1999:

Also, I wonder what game developers have to say about Windows 11, and the OS being exclusive to 64-bit CPUs. Time Will Tell.

All AAA Ganes since Win8 came around have required that the user have a 64bit CPU and have the 64bit OS installed in order to run such things. This is nothing new. I think the Windows 11 requirements are just saying this to prove that they aren't going to waste time making Win11 be offered in a 32bit version / ISO. To be honest this should have been cut by the time Win7 came out. Requiring a 64bit OS does not mean that you can no longer run 32bit apps. 64bit OS, like what you are on at this very moment can run both 64bit and 32bit apps. If you are a gamer who has been gaming on PC since any WinOS since Vista, then you should already know everything I just stated to be true and that you have been on a 64bit OS all of that time.

[wadmodder1999]

Also, I wonder if Steam or GOG can replicate the success of old MS-DOS games being rereleased on their respective services, this time with Windows 3.1-era games via OTVDM/WineVDM. I Guess Only Time Will Tell.
https://youtu.be/uYU15CQcA-s

[Lord Flashheart]

Creating a 32 bit OS would be pointless as so few people are using 32 bit machines. Just extra work, especially drivers for little benefit.

Running 32 applications is still needed though.

[76561198343548661]

32bit OS cant address more than 4GB RAM , which is so little nowadays ! Similar thing is with hdd s , despite they adopted an advanced approach .

[BloodShed]

Originally posted by wadmodder1999:

Since DOSBox has been used for Digital Distribution platforms since the late-2000s, now we need a similar approach for Windows 3.1 games via OTVDM/WineVDM.

Why not just use DOSbox with Windows 3.1?