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[Alessandro Menti <896945@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thanks for reporting.

The 64-bit version Ubuntu generally supports running 32-bit programs.
There are, however, two notable "exceptions" to this: installing .deb
packages and using a driver.

In your case, you tried to install a .deb package (it's like an MSI
package on the Microsoft Windows operating system). In Debian and
Ubuntu, .deb packages are strictly tied to the architecture of the
system they are installed on; thus, Ubuntu correctly told you that the
architecture was wrong.

I think this limitation exists mainly to prevent packages containing
kernel-related stuff or drivers to be installed on the wrong
architectures.

I have taken a quick look to the package and to its purpose: I think it
contains a driver required to operate a Swedish smart card or token for
online banking. In this case, the architecture mismatch actually saved
you from installing a driver not apt for the kernel you are using: since
you are using a 64-bit kernel, you should use a 64-bit driver.

Another search led me to this page:
<http://ubuntu.se/threads/8631-Handelsbanken-inloggning-dosa-med-sladd-i-Ubuntu-9-10-64-bit?p=39517#post39517> (in Swedish)
There you will find a step-by-step guide to install your card reader (it is for Ubuntu 9.10/10.10 but I think it should work even for Ubuntu 11.10); follow it, just make sure to install OpenJDK instead of Sun Java (since Sun Java is not distributed anymore).

This kind of problem should be addressed directly by Handelsbanken (they
are responsible for the security software they provide, not Ubuntu);
unfortunately, other users have tried contacting them directly and they
replied they won't officially support 64-bit Ubuntu versions (see
<http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=948323&page=2>), so I'm afraid
you shall stick to the workaround I linked earlier or check the website
of the card reader/token manufacturer for 64-bit drivers.

As this is not strictly an Ubuntu bug, I'm marking this report as
closed. Feel free to report any new bugs you may find.

** Summary changed:

- I cannot install this 32-bit program on my 64-bit computer
+ Unable to install Handelsbanken driver on a 64-bit computer

** Package changed: software-center (Ubuntu) => ubuntu

** Changed in: ubuntu
       Status: New => Invalid

-- 
You received this bug notification because you are a member of Desktop
Packages, which is subscribed to software-center in Ubuntu.
https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/896945

Title:
  Unable to install Handelsbanken driver on a 64-bit computer

Status in Ubuntu:
  Invalid

Bug description:
  I tried to install a 32-bit-program on my 64-bit computer and i got
  the error-message: "Wrong architecture i386" . I don't know if this is
  a bug or a misfeature, but there should be a 32-bit-mode so when my
  computer encounters a 32-bit-program it should pretend to be a 32-bit
  computer for that program. I believe that Microsoft has something like
  this on their 64-bit operating-systems.

  ProblemType: Bug
  DistroRelease: Ubuntu 11.10
  Package: software-center 5.0.2ubuntu0.1
  ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 3.0.0-13.22-generic 3.0.6
  Uname: Linux 3.0.0-13-generic x86_64
  NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
  ApportVersion: 1.23-0ubuntu4
  Architecture: amd64
  Date: Sun Nov 27 19:55:29 2011
  InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 11.10 "Oneiric Ocelot" - Beta amd64 (20110901)
  PackageArchitecture: all
  SourcePackage: software-center
  UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to oneiric on 2011-09-26 (61 days ago)

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