Posted: 4/25/2015 11:31:47 AM EDT
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Can we run Linux Debian Wheezy amd64 in a PC with a 64-bit processor only or all PC's architecture must be 64-bit.
Question is whether we can install it in a Dell Venue Pro 8. It has a Atom 64-bit processor but it does not seem to be all 64-bit. It seems that some tablets have 64-bit processors but can only run 32-bit OS, hence they ship with Windows 32-bit. How does that work for Debian Wheezy? |
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Atom_%28CPU%29#Intel_64_software_support
ETA: Not that this will actually answer your specific question, but maybe you'll find more information from it. ETA2: Further searching: Kind of disheartening that there has been no response from Dell on this request as of yet. That quote is from back in August, 2014. Dell Community: Venue 8 Pro: when do we get 64bit UEFI and/or legacy boot enabled bios? We want android (and others)! Nothing I've seen so far suggests you'll have or get 64-bit support on that device - looks like you're stuck with 32 bit. ETA3: Check this out, too. We’re now going to have to change that, but it’ll take time (the plan is to set things up so a 32-bit UEFI grub2 can boot a 64-bit kernel, and ship images with a 32-bit bootloader but 64-bit system, AIUI). In the mean time, I have hacked it up very very dirtily myself, by whacking on livecd-tools with a hammer until it did something that appears to work. I cut shim out of the loop entirely and just convinced it to create 32-bit live images with an EFI bootloader included; The Fedlet revived - Fedora Linux on a Dell Venue 8 Pro |
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Thanks!
I found similar articles, which just added to my confusion about this. There are a few announcements about Dell (and others) launching tablets that can run 64-bit Windows even though they would be "crippled". E.g. a specific driver that would allow a "semi-dormant" operation. http://forums.windowscentral.com/dell-venue-8-pro/263543-64-bit-windows.html There are new processors available that can support a 64-bit OS. http://www.cnet.com/news/finally-here-come-the-64-bit-windows-8-1-tablets/ However, I had forgotten about the UEFI. Any way to bypass this with Linux? I'm also still a bit confused about the difference of a PC with a 64-bit processor and a PC with a 64-bit architecture. As far as I know they are different monsters. If we can bypass the UEFI boot issue would a PC with a 64-bit processor support Linus Debian Wheezy amd64? It's not very clear in their website. |