There will be full HD DVD and Blu-ray support in 32-bit Vista

32-bit versions of Windows Vista will not handle copy-protected HD DVD and Blu-ray content.

To play copy-protected high-definition HD DVD and Blu-ray videos, you'll need a computer with a 64-bit processor and, of course, an x64 edition of Vista. This could be very inconvenient for a significant proportion of users, as 64-bit systems are not yet widespread enough, configurations with 32-bit processors remain the dominant players in the market, and no major changes are expected until Vista is released.

The problem is very complex, starting with the fact that new 64-bit versions of Windows will only be able to install a digitally signed driver from Microsoft, increasing operating system stability, but also a costly expense for hardware manufacturers due to the longer testing process. In contrast, 32-bit Vista also allows you to install unsigned drivers to avoid compatibility issues. Because only 64-bit drivers will support copy protection for new formats, the 32-bit operating system will not know what to do with copyrighted content.

Steve Riley, Microsoft's program director at TechEd 2006 in Australia, said it was not Microsoft's decision, they were only adapting to the media and software vendors involved, adding that unprotected content would be seamless on 32-bit systems. we don’t have to worry about handling formats either.