Introduction > Requirements and Versions

What are the system requirements necessary to run HIPAA Eligibility Responder? (Is this information something that should be included in other applications?)

When you download the software, you are confronted with the choice of selecting either the 32-bit or 64-bit versions.

The 32-bit and 64-bit options refer to the Windows operating system and the processor in your hardware. Computers, hardware, and software were running in a 32-bit wide bus. That means 32 individual pieces of information could be processed as one. In more recent years, we have seen 64-bit computers emerge with near-unlimited memory and number capability. Now, all major operating systems run on this new 64-bit hardware.

For programmers, this opens new possibilities while also confronting us with the necessity to support two versions of the software. Fortunately, Microsoft solved this with an integrated development environment that allows users to write one set of code and create two sets of installations. The HIPAA Eligibility Responder application is written in Visual Studio 2010 and needs the .Net framework 4.0. The installer checks for the presence of the framework and will download it from Microsoft and install it if necessary. Programs based on .Net architecture are resource-consuming. We recommend a powerful workstation with Windows 7 or Vista. (Or higher? Does this technical information need updating with current technology?)

If your computer has a 64-bit operating system, use the 64-bit version of the HIPAAsuite software. It will better utilize the available resources. However, the 32-bit version will also run without issue. If you have a 32-bit computer, you can only run the 32-bit version.