TOM WALKER -> ALAN ZISMAN said..

 TW> Which brings a question to my mind. What is the quick way to
 TW> find out. I am years, if ever, away to having a 64 Bit OS but
 TW> am courious.

You could try the 64bit edition of Ubuntu. To test if your CPU/mobo is
ready, you could run the handy tool "Securable" at www.grc.com.

"SecurAble indicates by displaying either a "32" or a
"64" whether the system's processor has the 64-bit instructions
or extensions necessary to run 64-bit versions of Microsoft's present and
future operating systems. "

Select Freeware/ Security/ Securable.

--- Thunderbird 2.0.0.24 (Windows/20100228)