Ok, so for uninstalling 32-bit, exe, 0.92, then restarting computer, then
attempting to install 0.92pre3 of 64-bit Inkscape -- Inkscape does correctly
want to install it in Program Files.
So as long as there are no pre-existing versions installed, Inkscape does
install to the correct directory.
But for multiple versions, it does not necessarily. And the question about the
safety of having multiple versions installed is still unanswered.
For testing whether I am able to successfully uninstall my few different
versions (on the other computer), will have to wait a little while. Tomorrow
morning maybe. I'll post as soon as I've had a chance to try it.
Thanks again :-)
-----Original Message-----
From: brynn
Sent: Friday, December 02, 2016 10:24 PM
To: Inkscape User Community
Subject: Re: [Inkscape-user] installing on Windows, 32-bit vs 64-bit
Thanks for your comments, Ray. Much appreciated.
Since there hasn't been much response to this, which to me seems like a
potentially serious problem/bug, I'm wondering if those who package Inkscape for
Windows already are aware of this, but don't have time to explain it.
If you have a 64-bit machine and 64-bit Windows, indeed...go with
the
64-bit program only.
I had to use the 32-bit version of 0.91, because of a bug in the 64-bit version
which was bothersome. I felt it was fortunate that I had a choice. But I also
understood that Inkscape wouldn't be using all my cores and memory threads (or
whateve they are called). (I think it's been fixed for 0.92, so I'll be glad to
switch back to 64-bit.
Indeed, two versions of Inkscape should be listed as two versions in
your list of installed programs. The fact that it isn't is of course
not your fault. But ignoring it may not be a good idea...
Are you saying that what I thought was true, that multiple versions can be
installed, as long as they are in different directories? Or are you saying the
*if* multiple versions are allowed, they should both (or all) be shown in
Programs and Features?
Next steps for me depend on whether we are trying to find a solution to my
problem (if I have one, I'm not sure), or whether we are trying to find a
solution to a problem with Inkscape's installation.
For me, my previously installed 3 or 4 or maybe even 5 versions (if you count
7z, I'm sure I have at least 1 or 2 of those) are on an old computer, which is
on its last legs. I'm just about finished configuring my new computer (which is
where I discovered this potential problem).
The old computer has already died twice, and miraculously come back to life. So
I've been avoiding major changes, such as installing and uninstalling anything.
I've even been avoiding Windows Updates. Now that I have the new computer ready
to take over, I'll probably see to the updates. If it can handle the updates,
maybe I'll try to uninstall all the Inkscape versions I have.
If it doesn't handle installing/uninstalling, I will only have this new computer
to work with. I have only installed Inkscape 0.91, 32-bit on the new computer.
So it will be easy to uninstall it, and try the 64-bit version. I'm on the new
computer at the moment, so I'll go ahead and do that. But for uninstalling all
the versions on the old computer, maybe later tonight.
When I do all this uninstalling and installing, I will be transferring my same
preferences.xml file from the old into the new. The prefs file has no bearing
on this issue, right? And what about Inkscape versions? Should I experiment
with 0.91 stable, or 0.92pre3? Or that doesn't matter either?
But even if the 64-bit version installs correctly, I still would like someone to
address the issue of having multiple versions installed. Do bug managers and
testers use all 7z versions, when they do their testing? What if they have to
test a problem with an EXE or MSI version??
This would be a really odd thing for my brain to have dreamed up, all on its
own. I don't doubt that I read that from some authorative source. Seems like
it might have been....I don't think more than 5 years ago.
Thanks for everyone's attention and support. I'll post results of the first
test shortly.
All best,
brynn
-----Original Message-----
From: Raymond Wan
Sent: Wednesday, November 30, 2016 7:53 PM
To: Inkscape User Community
Subject: Re: [Inkscape-user] installing on Windows, 32-bit vs 64-bit
Hi Brynn,
I haven't been following this discussion, but I hope you don't mind if
I jump in...
I agree with Alvin's suggestion and also his idea to uninstall all
versions and then re-install the 64 bit version. (I would further
suggest that you do a reboot prior to installing the 64 bit version,
just in case.)
However, you raised some interesting points which I'll try to answer,
even though I'm not much of an expert with Windows...
On Wed, Nov 30, 2016 at 6:35 PM, Brynn <brynn@...3089...> wrote:
But the bottom line is that over and over again, I read the Program
Files is
meant for 64-bit programs and Program Files (x86) is meant for 32-bit
programs. I read that generally the distinction is made because Program
Files is better equipped to handle programs which use a lot of RAM, and
having the 2 separate directories generally helps Windows to work more
efficiently.
That is partly true. However, a 32-bit version of a program and a
64-bit version of the same program are two different versions of the
same program. There was a time when you had to decide which version
you had to download or buy. (i.e., older versions of Microsoft
Windows was like this...you had to choose one version to buy and if
you bought the wrong one, you have to go out and buy the other one).
Nowadays, when you buy one, you get both versions. But it's still two
different versions.
So, by this, I mean if you download the 32-bit version and it
"somehow" installs itself in the 64-bit Program Files directory, it
doesn't "make it" into a 64-bit version. It is actually being
installed in the wrong place.
Placing them in two separate directories makes it easier to
distinguish between two different versions of the same program. This
is because a 64-bit Windows can run both 32-bit and 64-bit programs.
But yes, 32-bit programs (running under 64-bit Windows) have access to
less memory. But sometimes that's the only version available for
download / purchase.
If you have a 64-bit machine and 64-bit Windows, indeed...go with the
64-bit program only.
Maybe the distinction is more and more moot, as the 64-bit type of
computers
are more common these days? But that's only me trying to make sense of why
Inkscape wants to install its 64-bit version in the directory that's meant
for 32-bit programs.
I am surprised this happened to you but Alvin's message is a
reasonable guess. I *think* something is definitely going wrong...
My experience follows what I thought was true, that multiple versions
of
Inkscape can be installed without any problems. But I'm in no position to
be able defend whether it really is true or not. Maybe I've just been
lucky? (Although it should probably be cleared up, so that I don't continue
to provide incorrect info to other users.)
I think a program being installed correctly doesn't necessarily mean
it is a good thing. You may have mixed up versions of programs that
will cause headaches for you further down the road.
Installation is a fancy term for copying a file. And often, when you
copy a file, you don't check if there is a file already there and
also, if that file is important to someone else. Installation
programs are also like this.
Suppose version 1 copies a file called abc.bin to a directory.
Version 2 copies its abc.bin on top of version 1's. Now, you
uninstall version 1. abc.bin gets deleted. When you try to uninstall
version 2, it might flag an error because it says abc.bin is
missing... This is one scenario that I can imagine when you uninstall
all your versions of Inkscape, but at this stage, it's a bit
unavoidable.
I think uninstalling all versions of Inkscape is the way to go, but I
wouldn't do it before a deadline. :-) Make sure you are in a patient
mood before attempting.
Indeed, two versions of Inkscape should be listed as two versions in
your list of installed programs. The fact that it isn't is of course
not your fault. But ignoring it may not be a good idea...
I don't need a very technical explanation. But I'd really
appreciate a
simple answer :-)
I hope my answer wasn't very technical and that it was helpful! I'm
new to Inkscape but installing multiple versions of a program on to a
Windows machine is a nightmare I've had before... ;-(
Ray
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
_______________________________________________
Inkscape-user mailing list
Inkscape-user(a)lists.sourceforge.net
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-user
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Check out the vibrant tech community on one of the world's most
engaging tech sites,
SlashDot.org!
http://sdm.link/slashdot
_______________________________________________
Inkscape-user mailing list
Inkscape-user(a)lists.sourceforge.net
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/inkscape-user