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Is My Windows 32 Bit or 64 Bit?

Is My Windows 32 Bit or 64 Bit?

Is My Windows

32 Bit or 64 Bit?

Q. I've heard you can install more RAM with the 64-bit version of Windows 7. But how do I know if I currently have the 32-bit or the 64-bit version of Windows 7, and how can I find out if my PC can run the 64-bit edition?

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A. Microsoft makes most editions of Windows 7 available in 32- or 64-bit versions. To see which version your computer is using, go to the Start menu, to Computer, and click on the System Properties at the top of the window. In the System area of the box that appears, look next to System Type to see if the computer is running a 32- or 64-bit (x64) operating system.

The newer 64-bit systems handle data and memory more efficiently than the older 32-bit systems; a popular analogy is to think of a 64-bit operating system as a 64-lane highway compared with a 32-lane highway in terms of moving traffic. But while a 64-bit operating system can handle more installed memory than a 32-bit system can, you need a computer with a processor that can support it.

If you have the 32-bit version installed and want to see if your computer's processor can run the 64-bit version of Windows 7, go to the Start menu to Control Panel. In the Search box at the top of the window, start typing Performance Information and Tools and click on the link to that area when it appears in the window.

In the Performance Information and Tools box, click on the option for "View and print detailed performance and system information." In the System area, look next to 64-bit capable to see if it says Yes, which means the processor can handle the upgrade. If you choose to upgrade from the 32-bit version, you need to back up all your files, install the 64-bit edition of Windows and then copy your files back to the PC.

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One major thing to do before you upgrade: Make sure there are 64-bit drivers available for the hardware you use with the computer. Microsoft has other advice on upgrading to the 64-bit version of Windows 7 at bit.ly/aP3wnH.

Exporting Photos

With Geotags

Q. When I export my geotagged pictures from iPhoto on my Mac, the GPS coordinates are not included in the exported image. How I can fix this so the coordinates ride along in the file?

A. Geotagging -- which embeds longitude, latitude and other location data into a picture file -- is great for remembering where you went on vacation. But it can also cause privacy concerns, say, by letting everyone know where you live when you send around pictures of your fancy new television. The option to include location information is usually off by default.

If you want to include the location data in pictures you export from iPhoto '09, select the photos and choose Export from the File menu. In the Include section of the File Export box, check the box next to Location Information to embed the coordinates in the image.

TIP OF THE WEEK Add-ons like specialized search toolbars and other mini-programs can make Internet Explorer 8 more useful, but they can also make the browser take forever to open. If you want to see if a particular add-on is causing the slowness, go to the Tools menu in I.E.8 and choose Manage Add-ons. In the Manage Add-ons box, you can see a list of all the extensions and toolbars installed. In the Load Time column, you can see how long each one takes to start up with the browser. To turn off those little-used or unwanted slowpokes, right-click on the offending add-on and choose Disable from the menu. J. D. BIERSDORFER

Personal Tech invites questions about computer-based technology to QandA@nytimes.com. This column will answer questions of general interest, but letters cannot be answered individually.

First Published: February 4, 2010, 7:00 a.m.

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