Vista 64 drivers

[Ajb2528]

I was wondering whether you can run 32bit drivers under Vista64 bit? I have an Astra Umax 3400 scanner and the only driver that I can find for it is a XP version that I managed to get running under Vista32 bit.

Regards,

Alan

 

[linney]

These are some notes from an unamed source, plus a couple of links which may assist you.


"32-bit device drivers
Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003 operating systems do not support 32-bit device drivers. Applications that depend on 32-bit device drivers will not function correctly and might cause an error during an installation or operation. Most 32-bit antivirus programs are affected and should not be installed on computers that are running these operating systems.

If an application attempts to install a 32-bit driver, the installation will fail, and the application will have the opportunity to handle the error. If an application registers a driver for automatic startup, meaning the driver should be installed when the system starts, the operating system will determine that the driver is an unsupported 32-bit driver, not install it, and continue installing the other drivers. The event log will record details of the failure, including the name of the unsupported driver and its location. If this occurs, contact the driver vendor for a software update that is compatible with Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and the x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003 operating systems".



"If I'm running a 64-bit version of Windows, do I need 64-bit drivers for my devices?
Yes, all hardware devices need 64-bit drivers to work on a 64-bit version of Windows. To learn how to check for drivers, see Repair or update a driver or go to the device manufacturer's website. You can also get information about drivers by going to the Windows Vista Upgrade Advisor website".



32-bit and 64-bit Windows: frequently asked questions

http://windowshelp.microsoft.com/Windows/en-US/help/41531554-d5ef-4f2c-8fb9-149bdc5c8a701033.mspx

How to find a compatible printer driver for a computer that is running a 64-bit version of Windows

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/895612#appliesto

 

[Ajb2528]

linney,

Thanks for the reply. The second link only gave information on printers - not scanners. I have tried to locate a 64bit driver for my scanner but so far the search has ended in a blank!

Regards,

Alan

 

[linney]

The printer article was just a guide on what you can try, allowing some adaption on your part as you search for drivers. You wont be the first, or the last, to retire perfectly good hardware because of lack of support from a manufacturer for Vista drivers. I had the same problem with a HP Scanner, but overcame it somewhat by dual booting XP with Vista.

You can try a site like

http://www.driveragent.com

but 64 bit drivers for older hardware is a bit hit and miss.