I often see people getting lost between 64 bit and 32 bit operating systems and application conversation. There are plenty of individuals still today, not sure what is the difference between them as well what runs on what platform. Here are a few very simple questions related to Windows OS and SQL Server.
Question: Can you run SQL SERVER 32 bit on Windows 32 bit OS?
Answer: Yes
Question: Can you run SQL SERVER 64 bit on Windows 32 bit OS?
Answer: No
Question: Can you run SQL SERVER 32 bit on Windows 64 bit OS?
Answer: Yes
Question: Can you run SQL SERVER 64 bit on Windows 64 bit OS?
Answer: Yes
I guess there you go. In a simple words, you can run pretty much everything on Windows 64 bit OS. However, Windows 32 bit OS can’t run SQL Server 64 bit.
Reference:Â Pinal Dave (https://blog.sqlauthority.com)
7 Comments. Leave new
It would have been useful to include reasons why would someone use 32 bit OS or SQL Server at all
That’s a good suggestion. Will see if I can write one.
HI Pinal,
can we migrate Databases of 64bit Sql server to 32 Bit Sqlserver
same editions is it possible.
Yes. Moving database files is possible. The file format seems to be same for 32 and 64 bit.
Thanks Pinal
You are most welcome :) …
Main thing here is higher version software cannot be run on lower version Os.