Can I install and use XP 64 on non-64 system?

[GreyBeard]

I have an older Athlon 800mhz, w/XP Pro.
My original install disk was original version, pre SP1. To use it to
rebuild a corrupted system I have too many problems. First is that my
smallest drive is now 160G Maxtor, and all others are 250G+. My install
boot w/XP disk refuses to see whole disk, and when I try the default format
at approx 131G it says my drive is not an XP compatible drive. I
understand SP1 or SP2 fixed this, but I refuse to buy a new SP2 version just
to repair this compatibility issue. As I intend to ultimately upgrade my
MB and processor to a dual core 64 bit system and will require a new 64 bit
XP O/S for that, can I simply purchase the new O/S now and install it now to
my old MB and my two big 300G HDs as a raid, use it for a few more months,
then later just transfer the HDs to the new MB and boot up?

 

[Malke]

I have an older Athlon 800mhz, w/XP Pro.
My original install disk was original version, pre SP1. To use it to
rebuild a corrupted system I have too many problems. First is that
my
smallest drive is now 160G Maxtor, and all others are 250G+. My
install boot w/XP disk refuses to see whole disk, and when I try the
default format
at approx 131G it says my drive is not an XP compatible drive. I
understand SP1 or SP2 fixed this, but I refuse to buy a new SP2
version just
to repair this compatibility issue. As I intend to ultimately
upgrade my MB and processor to a dual core 64 bit system and will
require a new 64 bit XP O/S for that, can I simply purchase the new
O/S now and install it now to my old MB and my two big 300G HDs as a
raid, use it for a few more months, then later just transfer the HDs
to the new MB and boot up?

You cannot install a 64-bit operating system on 32-bit hardware. You
don't need to buy a new XP with SP2 included; all you need to do is
slipstream SP2 with your original installation media. It is very easy
to do this. I like Autostreamer, but there are other methods:

How to slipstream sp2 into XP
http://www.simplyguides.net/guides/using_autostreamer/using_autostreamer.html
- AutoStreamer
http://www.msfn.org/articles.php?action=show&showarticle=49
http://www.windows-help.net/windowsxp/winxp-sp2-bootcd.html
http://www.theeldergeek.com/slipstreamed_xpsp2_cd.htm
http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/slipstream.htm

Malke

 

[BigJim]

I don't think so, I believe the machine needs a 64 bit processor and
chipset.
You can run 32 bit applications on a 64 bit system.