Switching from 64 bit to 32 bit version

[Leonard Bussey]

On Sun, 2008-07-20 at 11:57 +0930, Brian Astill wrote:
> On Sunday 20 July 2008 06:35:51 David Fox wrote:
> > > How do you tell which version you are currently running?
> Simplest answer - give each installation a different name.
> If I see this at the terminal:
> brian at brian-desktop:~$                I know I am in 32 bit mode
> On the other hand, if I see this:
> brian at brian-amd64:~$                 I am using my 64 bit version
> 
> If you do install both 32 and 64 bit versions - as I have - it is 
> helpful to have a separate partition for /home which both 
> versions access.
> This is what my drive looks like:
> Number  Start   End     Size    Type      File system  Flags
>  1      32.3kB  15.7GB  15.7GB  primary   ext2         boot
>  2      15.7GB  48.6GB  32.9GB  extended               lba
>  5      15.7GB  17.8GB  2097MB  logical   linux-swap
>  6      17.8GB  48.6GB  30.8GB  logical   ext3
>  3      48.6GB  80.0GB  31.4GB  primary   ext3
> Partition 6 is /home for the versions on the primary partitions 1 
> and 3.
> 
> Frankly, if you have an AMD64 you probably don't need to worry 
> about installing a separate 32bit installation, because the AMD64 
> chip runs 32-bit natively - but there is always the exception.  A 
> little while ago Opera did not have a 64-bit version and the 
> 32-bit version would not install on a 64-bit system.  Opera now 
> has a 64-bit version, so that isn't an issue today.
> 
> HTH
> 
> --
> Brian
> 
I have an AMD64 and was happy with the 64 bit version, but I could not use Adobe Flash with Firefox.
I now use the 32 bit version.  Everything seems to work just fine and I
do not see much of a performance difference.