Is it possible to run 32-bit OS on 64-bit processor?

[saitama]

Hi,
Sorry for a basic question, but I can't find an answer.
I need a 32-bit Windows 7 laptop, but anything immediately available these days have 64-bit Windows 7 pre-installed. That means the processor is 64-bit, right? Is it possible to overwrite the pre-installed 64-bit Windows 7 and install 32-bit Windows 7 on a 64-bit machine?

 

[manojgj]

YES it's possible ....you can install 32 bit OS on 64 bit processor without any problem...

 

[sminlal]

The newer 64-bit processors are supersets of the older 32-bit ones (ie, they include everything that a 32-bit processor does, plus the 64-bit stuff).

So yes, any 32-bit program, including Windows, will work just fine on a 64-bit processor.

There are some compatibility issues with some 32-bit application programs under 64-bit Windows, but those are Windows/application issues, not processor ones.