Can I run my 32 bit software on 64 bit laptop?

No, there will be no way to run them. Ask the shopkeeper to give you 32 bit version of Windows or get 64bit version of these programs.

We had Catia 86x in my my college running perfectly on a 64bit system. If you can see in a 64 bits system in the c drive or where you installed the OS, There's a "programme files 86x" folder which contains the files when a 86x or 32 bit software is installed in a 64bit os. :)

I personally do not own a 64bit sys, so m not perfectly sure about it, still i think it should run.

Technically, they 'can' run on a x64 system, but softwares like this usually comes two versions, x32 and x64. So the companies that makes them make it impossible for the x32 version to run on a x64 system.
I'm not sure about those particular softwares but what Sudhir suggested is true.

I know of Window Virtual PC that will run older programs on windows 7 64 bit system. Free for window 7 users, check out the link below.

http://www.microsoft.com/windows/virtual-pc/

Maybe a good option.

As far as I know many 32bit softwares do run on 64bit but not all. You may google for the specific software whether it runs or not or you should check with the manufacturer by contacting them.

Pro/E wildfire 3 can run in Ubuntu OS through wine software.

I'm doing just that. I'm running it two ways.

1. I had a virtual machine installed that uses a copy of MS XP Pro. I ended up with a partitioned hard drive, and it is a real memory hog, but it works. My hard drive is too small now, so I am using an extension - which is a real pain. Had to put 8 Gb on the board also. Hard drive swaps were making it run continually, and task manager takes up 24% of the CPU - go figure.

Moving files from one side to another is painful. I use either dropbox or my extension drive. Peripherals have to be attached and released. Not fun. Integration features exist, but so slow they are not worth it. If you;re working a database, it does not like the use of an extension drive.

2. some of the MS files will load and run directly - Outlook, Word, Excel, Powerpoint. I'm using 2003 versions and they run fine. So try it out first before you invest in new software.

if i run on windows virtual box , do i have to install its drivers too in the virtual box?

Better use VMware Player!

I am not sure about other softwares like the ones you mentioned.
But I faced a similar problem with Ubuntu ( an OS ). There what i did was created a new partition ( which I made FAT32).
After this I installed that OS. So you might give this a try.
But I am not sure that it will definitely work.
Thank you.

Yes, you can. For that you have to check the OS whether it is a purely 64 bit OS or 64 bit X86 architecture OS. If it is 64 bit X86 architecture OS you can run 32 bit softwares in 64 bit OS. This is known as Windows on Windows.
To know the type go to the OS installed drive and see the name in the program files. If it is X86 then you can run 32 bit softwares on 64 bit OS.

yes u can run any software on any bit use virtual pc ...vmware etc...

64 bits, new software relase is 64 bits>>>>

Normally a 32bit version won't run on 64, neither the other way around.
: (

yes ,but can not run 64 bit software on 32 bit laptop>>>>>

Impossible to run a 32-bit software on a 64-bit system