Microsoft Project 2013: The Missing Manual

Installing Project on Your Computer

The Install Wizard can handle a plain-Jane installation, an upgrade from an earlier version, or a custom installation. But before you get started, make sure your computer has what it takes to run the new version.

Tip

The following pages describe how to install Project 2013 on a single PC, but what if your entire team or company is going to use the program? If you need to install Project on many computers at once and keep them up to date, check out the 2013 Office Resource Kit at http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc303401.aspx to learn about fancy software deployment features.

32-Bit or 64-Bit Project?

Project 2013 comes in both 32-bit and 64-bit versions. If you’re like most people, 32-bit software is the way to go. The only time you may need the 64-bit version of Project is if you work with huge amounts of data—for example, files larger than 2 GB or a master project that contains 500 or more subprojects.

Note

32-bit and 64-bit refer to the number of bits a computer processor can handle. A 32-bit processor can address about 4 GB of memory, while a 64-bit processor can address more than 16 GB of memory. 64-bit software takes advantage of a 64-bit processor’s memory to run faster and to handle larger file sizes.

There are several limitations that might prevent you from running the 64-bit version of Project:

• If your computer runs a 32-bit operating system, you can install only 32-bit programs.

• You can’t run 32-bit and 64-bit Office programs on the ...