XPPro to XP-64 - will all my software still work???

[kxdude4]

Hello,

I'm considering a core duo or quad chip with a new MotherBoard and
thought that upgrading to WinXP64 would be good although I'm worried
that all my software that works under XPPro32 will have a problem
under 64. Will there be a problem? ((MS Office to TMPGEnc to Nero to
old MS Cardfile ('member that from the early days?? )

Thanks!

Rod

 

[Michael Cecil]

Hello,

I'm considering a core duo or quad chip with a new MotherBoard and
thought that upgrading to WinXP64 would be good although I'm worried
that all my software that works under XPPro32 will have a problem
under 64. Will there be a problem? ((MS Office to TMPGEnc to Nero to
old MS Cardfile ('member that from the early days?? )

Thanks!

Rod

The bigger question is what programs do you have that require x64?

 

[Paul]

Hello,

I'm considering a core duo or quad chip with a new MotherBoard and
thought that upgrading to WinXP64 would be good although I'm worried
that all my software that works under XPPro32 will have a problem
under 64. Will there be a problem? ((MS Office to TMPGEnc to Nero to
old MS Cardfile ('member that from the early days?? )

Thanks!

Rod

Platform SDK: 64-bit Windows Programming -- "Running 32-bit Applications"
http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d...s/win64/win64/running_32_bit_applications.asp

"WOW64 is the x86 emulator that allows 32-bit Windows-based applications
to run on 64-bit Windows."

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/d.../win64/win64/wow64_implementation_details.asp

"All user mode address space above the 32-bit limits (2 GB for most applications,
4 GB for applications marked with the IMAGE_FILE_LARGE_ADDRESS_AWARE flag in the
image header) is reserved by the system."

One question I'd want to ask, is how much further ahead you'd be, running a
32 bit application in a 64 bit OS. If you had 8GB of memory, chances are you
could run more applications, and make use of the memory. But an individual
application would still have some limits, that looked similar to the limits
they had in a 32 bit OS environment.

An application compiled to run natively in the 64 bit world, would
presumably not need WOW.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_XP_Professional_x64_Edition

That Wikipedia article mentions this thread on Xtremesystems...

"Windows XP64 Programs, drivers and games that work!"
http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showthread.php?t=101437

You may wish to have multiple boot options, for those situations
where something doesn't work right.

Paul

 

[CBFalconer]

I'm considering a core duo or quad chip with a new MotherBoard and
thought that upgrading to WinXP64 would be good although I'm worried
that all my software that works under XPPro32 will have a problem
under 64. Will there be a problem? ((MS Office to TMPGEnc to Nero to
old MS Cardfile ('member that from the early days?? )

Once you get involved with Windows, your old software probably will
NOT work. Think about some version of Linux.

 

[paulmd]

Hello,

I'm considering a core duo or quad chip with a new MotherBoard and
thought that upgrading to WinXP64 would be good although I'm worried
that all my software that works under XPPro32 will have a problem
under 64. Will there be a problem? ((MS Office to TMPGEnc to Nero to
old MS Cardfile ('member that from the early days?? )

Thanks!

Rod

There are limited advantages going to xp-64 bit. (more than 4gb if
ram is almost the only real one)

There are also limited drivers for xp64.

And there are indeed reports of software compatibility issues.

You will be able to run a dual or quad core processor on 32 bit xp
just fine.

My advice is to stick with 32 bit XP unless you can really justify
xp64.

 

[JAD]

Once you get involved with Windows, your old software probably will
NOT work. Think about some version of Linux.

yes and that will 'guarantee' your software won't work....

 

[Conor]

Think about some version of Linux.

Where you'll break all your old apps when you upgrade to GCC3.x to run
whatever you've just downloaded.

 

[Bob Fry]

I tried that a few months ago...and have finalized on a dual-boot
setup, with x86 (32-bit) XPPro as the default boot OS, with x64 Vista
as the 64-bit OS. Still have devices--in particular a VOIP gadget
that lets me use Skype from a telephone--that don't work with x64.
--
.... the designer of a new system must not only be the implementor and
the first large-scale user; the designer should also write the first
user manual. ... If I had not participated fully in all these
activities, literally hundreds of improvements would never have been
made, because I would never have thought of them or perceived why they
were important.
Donald Knuth

 

[DaveW]

You would need 64 bit version drivers for ALL your hardware if you go that
route. Not generally recommended for the faint of heart.

 

[Pat]

You can download a free trial version and see for yourself. I did and
decided against it.

 

[Pecos]

I tried that a few months ago...and have finalized on a dual-boot
setup, with x86 (32-bit) XPPro as the default boot OS, with x64 Vista
as the 64-bit OS. Still have devices--in particular a VOIP gadget
that lets me use Skype from a telephone--that don't work with x64.

Warning! Off topic.

Hi Bob,

At the risk of discussing software in a hardware forum, you want to be
careful running XP and Vista, any flavor of each.

XP will corrupt all Vista restore points. I've seen it happen and when
you need the restore points the most, you will discover that they are not
there. There are several not so simple solutions.

1. Stop running XP.
2. Hide the partition(s) from XP where the Vista restore points are
created.

I like your solution in theory though. It would be almost perfect were
it not for the fact that two MS operating systems don't play well
together.

To the OP (original poster) - If you have any 16 bit programs leftover
from a bygone era and still want to use them, they won't work. Programs
that directly access the hardware may also fail. These tend to be Anti-
virus programs, firewalls and games. Finding 64 bit drivers for your
hardware can also be a big problem.

There is supposed to be better security with the 64 bit version as well
as the capability for breaking the 4 GB memory barrier.

I have used both 32 and 64 bit versions of Vista and prefer the 64 bit.
Using 64 bit now is an investment in future-proofing your system.

I have also used the 64 bit trial version of XP and found it to be an
excellent OS. I don't have a problem with 64 bit drivers though and
found reasonable substitutes for ZoneAlarm and Norton anti-virus. I
don't do much gaming these days, though if I remember correctly Half Life
2 will run in the 64 bit version.

You may have some software that won't run in the 64 bit version of XP.
If you can't find a substitute for the software or don't want to spend
money on an upgrade that will run on XP Pro x64 then the x64 version
isn't for you.

You can download or order a trial version of XP Pro x64 (no charge for
the download, shipping and handling charge of $10.00 - $15.00 U.S. for
the CD):

http://tinyurl.com/2d5zaa

Try it out and see if you like it. My version worked for 120 days and
then went into reduced functionality mode for the next 60 days.

 

[Conor]

You would need 64 bit version drivers for ALL your hardware if you go that
route. Not generally recommended for the faint of heart.

Driver support is the main stumbling block IME.