How do I get the most out of a 64-bit processors with WinXP Home?

[Guest]

I have a computer with an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0 Ghz processor that is 64-bit. It also has windows XP. I heard that there is a version of WinXP designed not only for 64-bit processors but for AMD's actual chipsets, entitled Windows XP 64-bit edition. I would like to purchase the new OS without buying a new machine, but have no idea how to. Help?

 

[Guest]

http://download.microsoft.com/download/7/a/f/7af62a47-
5020-42ec-9eb3-
0b146bfd7501/srv03sp1_usa_1069_amd64fre_pro.iso
for free

-----Original Message-----
I have a computer with an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0 Ghz

processor that is 64-bit. It also has windows XP. I
heard that there is a version of WinXP designed not only
for 64-bit processors but for AMD's actual chipsets,
entitled Windows XP 64-bit edition. I would like to
purchase the new OS without buying a new machine, but
have no idea how to. Help?

 

[Star Fleet Admiral Q]

To answer your subject line "How do I get the most out of a 64-bit
processors with WinXP Home?" - you don't - you'll need the XP 64-bit
edition for AMD, if you have an AMD processor, 64-bit edition for
Intel Itanium processors, if you have an Intel Itanium, or you'll have
to wait for the 32/64-bit XP edition for Intel Xeon processors (since
Intel just released them, I don't think MS is due to release the
version of XP for it until later this year - fallish). This is if you
won't the best performance from your hardware/software combo, although
there is nothing saying you can't run the 32-bit version on the 64-bit
processor (the 64-bit Itanium is an exception - it must run the 64-bit
version) with a performance hit.
--

Star Fleet Admiral Q @ your service
--------------------------------------------------------

I have a computer with an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0 Ghz processor that

is 64-bit. It also has windows XP. I heard that there is a version
of WinXP designed not only for 64-bit processors but for AMD's actual
chipsets, entitled Windows XP 64-bit edition. I would like to
purchase the new OS without buying a new machine, but have no idea how
to. Help?

 

[XS11E]

I have a computer with an AMD Athlon 64 3200+ 2.0 Ghz processor
that is 64-bit. It also has windows XP. I heard that there is a
version of WinXP designed not only for 64-bit processors but for
AMD's actual chipsets, entitled Windows XP 64-bit edition. I
would like to purchase the new OS without buying a new machine,
but have no idea how to. Help?

You can't get Windows XP 64-bit edition for your computer, it hasn't
been released yet. There is a very early Beta version available for
free but before you install it, please be aware it DOES NOT WORK very
well, the parallel port is not supported, there are no available
drivers for most hardware, etc.

If you'd like to dual boot with XP-32 bit, it may be fun to play with
but you'll soon get tired of it. Start here:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx

Also, you should know that XP-32 bit will NOT be available in a retail
edition, ever, you'll have to purchase an OEM version, maybe from the
retailer who sold you your computer. Microsoft has talked about an
upgrade program that will allow you to trade in your XP-32 license for
XP-64 at reduced cost but that's only a possibility, there's no final
decision yet AFAIK.

Be SURE and join the newsgroup and start reading where to find drivers
for your machine, etc.

If you'd like to run a 64 bit operating system (and I can't see why
not, since you now have the hardware) be aware that there are quite a
few distributions of Linux that DO have 64 bit editions and they are
complete and ready to go. I run Mandrake, generally considered more
suited to beginners than most. It identified and installed ALL my
hardware and is easy enough for me to operate.