Microsoft strongly recommends the use of 32-bit (x86) versions of Office 2010, Project 2010, and Visio 2010 applications as the default option for all platforms.

There is no compelling advantage to a 64-bit Office version, on a 64-bit version of Windows, unless you want to open spreadsheets or database files bigger than 2GB in size, or you have more than 4GB of RAM installed on your computer.

You will also find that most add-ins don’t work, because they were written for a 32-bit environment. The 32-bit version of Office 2010 provides the same functionality and is also compatible with 32-bit add-ins. Therefore, the 32-bit version of Office 2010 should be installed in most cases.

For more information, contact the IT Support Center Help Desk at 713-743-1411, email support@uh.edu, or visit the IT Support Center in Tech Commons (basement behind the MD Anderson Library). In addition, please consult the UH Get Help system, located at http://www.uh.edu/gethelp/ for answers to common inquiries.