64 bit question

[Toobi Won Kenobi]

Does a 64 bit processor require a 64 bit O/S?
I have just bought an AMD 64 bit CPU, motherboard and sATA drive with the
intention of transferring my current IDE drive (32 bit O/S) onto the new
sATAdrive.
When I boot the system with my IDE as the only drive onboard, after the MB
welcome screen etc., I just get a black screen with a blinking cursor and no
error messages (anything missing etc.)
If I try and do a clean installation onto the sATA drive with my XPPro
disk(not OEM) It gets half way through copying files and then throws up a
whole host of files it cannot copy over.
I have read of others who use a dual boot system using 64 and 32 bit O/Ss,
so it must be possible.
Any suggestions gratefully recieved.

TWK

 

[Og]

Item #1 "Does a 64 bit processor require a 64 bit O/S?"
Answer #1 64 bit O/S is absolutely _ not _ required.

Item #2 "When I boot the system with my IDE ... I get a black screen"
Answer #2 It is rare that one can move a boot drive from one Windows XP
hardware base to another hardware base without at _least_ performing a
Repair Install.

Item #3 "...clean installation onto the sATA drive ... a whole host of
files it cannot copy"
Answer #3 In order to perform a Clean Install onto an sATA drive, you
will need to press F6 to install the motherboard sATA drivers.
If you have performed the F6, ensure that your CD is clean and
un-damaged;
ensure that your CD-ROM drive is not faulty.
Steve

 

[Toobi Won Kenobi]

Item #1 "Does a 64 bit processor require a 64 bit O/S?"
Answer #1 64 bit O/S is absolutely _ not _ required.

I'm relieved to hear it.

Item #2 "When I boot the system with my IDE ... I get a black screen"
Answer #2 It is rare that one can move a boot drive from one Windows XP
hardware base to another hardware base without at _least_ performing a
Repair Install.

Never thought to try that.

Item #3 "...clean installation onto the sATA drive ... a whole host of
files it cannot copy"
Answer #3 In order to perform a Clean Install onto an sATA drive, you
will need to press F6 to install the motherboard sATA drivers.
If you have performed the F6, ensure that your CD is clean and
un-damaged;
ensure that your CD-ROM drive is not faulty.

Did all the above and the CD doesn't appear to be damaged, will try
suggestion two. Many thanks for your reply.

Regards

TWK

 

[Raymond J. Johnson Jr.]

Item #1 "Does a 64 bit processor require a 64 bit O/S?"
Answer #1 64 bit O/S is absolutely _ not _ required.

It's true that a 32-bit OS will run on a 64-bit processor, but only in
32-bit mode. There isn't much point in having the extra processing power
if the OS can't use it.

 

[Toobi Won Kenobi]

Steve,
I ended up downloading WXP 64 trial version, .it wouldn't load the 32 bit
version (tried two discs.)
I tried a repair installation on my IDE drive (set to first boot harddisc in
the BIOS but boot from CD) and and didn't get past "Windows is determining
your hardware etc.," just a black screen with a blinking cursor.
I can see the drive in Explorer though so I can get at my files.
Biggest problem is the brand new video card driver disc doesn't recognise
the OS version and the site (nVidia) seems to be having problems with its
Vista drivers.
My monitor is not recognised either (Eizo crt) and there aren't many AV
progs around for W64

Regards

TWK

 

[Toobi Won Kenobi]

Hello Raymond,

I agree, but how is the extra OS performance affected by only using 32 bit
applicatiuons/programs?

Regards

TWK

 

[Bill Blanton]

In very general terms, it's possible to process and move more bits per CPU
cycle, with the wider 64-bit architecture.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/64-bit

 

[Bob I]

It's true that a 32-bit OS will run on a 64-bit processor, but only in
32-bit mode. There isn't much point in having the extra processing power
if the OS can't use it.

True but if you don't have any 64 bit applications and you don't have 64
bit drivers for your hardware, a 64 bit operating system is pretty much
a self inflicted millstone!