XP On 64-Bit PC?

[(PeteCresswell)]

I'm shopping for a beater PC that I will install Windows XP Pro
on.

I'm guessing that if, by some chance, I purchase a 64-bit
machine, there's no way Windows XP is going to run on it.

Have I got it right?

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

I'm guessing that if, by some chance, I purchase a 64-bit
machine, there's no way Windows XP is going to run on it.

Have I got it right?

Don't think so.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I'm shopping for a beater PC that I will install Windows XP Pro
on.

I'm guessing that if, by some chance, I purchase a 64-bit
machine, there's no way Windows XP is going to run on it.

Have I got it right?

Not really.


Most machines now are capable of runnng 64-bit code. But that only
matters if you buy a 64-bit OS. If you buy a specifically 64-bit
processor, you're not going to

 

[Patrick Keenan]

I'm shopping for a beater PC that I will install Windows XP Pro
on.

I'm guessing that if, by some chance, I purchase a 64-bit
machine, there's no way Windows XP is going to run on it.

Have I got it right?

Probably not quite.

Most machines now are capable of runnng 64-bit code via extensions. But
that only really matters if you buy a 64-bit OS, and for XP, that's only
available from system builders with a hardware to run it on. That means
you've bought a package, and *you* won't be installing XP on it. It will
have a motherboard specifically designed for that processor.

But, buying a new system with a specifically 64-bit processor won't happen
"by some chance". You will likely have paid a significant amount more, and
you will have sought out a vendor who supplies such things, and your
specific needs will have been discussed. You'll probably notice yourself
going out of your way to get this.

On the other hand, many 64-bit processors from AMD are fairly easy to get
and are designed to run 32-bit XP just fine, because they also support the
32-bit instructions.

It is *possible* - assuming the term "beater" isn't a typo for "better" -
that you can buy a used 64-bit system without OS. In that case, you'll
need to do some research into what the system is and what its capabilities
and compatibilites are. For example, if it's a SPARC system, yes, you may
have major issues getting a standard XP release to run on it.

That can be, by some definitions of the word, a "fun" project.

HTH
-pk

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Patrick Keenan:

Most machines now are capable of runnng 64-bit code. But that only
matters if you buy a 64-bit OS.

I meant the other way around.

Assuming that Windows XP is inherently 32-bit (bad assumption on
my part?), my question is whether it will run on a 64-bit PC.

 

[Uncle Grumpy]

Assuming that Windows XP is inherently 32-bit (bad assumption on
my part?), my question is whether it will run on a 64-bit PC.

Of course it will.

 

[Ken Blake, MVP]

I'm shopping for a beater PC that I will install Windows XP Pro
on.

I'm guessing that if, by some chance, I purchase a 64-bit
machine, there's no way Windows XP is going to run on it.

Have I got it right?
--

No. 32-bit Windows (XP or any other flavor) runs just fine on 64-bit
hardware.

The problem is the other way around. 64-bit Windows won't run on
32-bit hardware.

 

[Jon Scott]

No. 32-bit Windows (XP or any other flavor) runs just fine on 64-bit
hardware.

The problem is the other way around. 64-bit Windows won't run on
32-bit hardware.

Correct. 32/64-bit OS on 64-bit hardware, but 32-bit only OS on 32-bit
hardware. You can get Windows XP x64 Edition if you're interested:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx

Jon.

 

[Tim Slattery]

I'm shopping for a beater PC that I will install Windows XP Pro
on.

I'm guessing that if, by some chance, I purchase a 64-bit
machine, there's no way Windows XP is going to run on it.

Have I got it right?

No. I think it was the Intel Itanium chip that would run *only* 64-bit
code, but 64-bit processors since then have been capable of running
both 32-bit and 64-bit code. That means that you can install a 32-bit
operating system on such a machine, and it will work fine. You may not
be able do everything the machine is capable of when you run in 32-bit
mode, but it will work.

And XP Professional comes in a 64-bit flavor. It's OEM only, and IIRC
it doesn't have some of the goodies that the 32-bit version does.
Every version of Vista comes in both 32- and 64-bit versions.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

Per Patrick Keenan:

I meant the other way around.

And I answered that, too.

Assuming that Windows XP is inherently 32-bit

It is.

(bad assumption on
my part?), my question is whether it will run on a 64-bit PC.

Please see the rest of my reply. It depends on the processor architecture,
but most Intel and AMD 64-bit processors have standard 32-bit instruction
compatibility. 64-bit processors from other companies, like Sun or DEC,
may not run retail versions of XP at all.

But again, you aren't likely to "just happen to get" a 64-bit processor.

HTH
-pk

 

[(PeteCresswell)]

Per Patrick Keenan:

It is *possible* - assuming the term "beater" isn't a typo for "better" -
that you can buy a used 64-bit system without OS.

I meant "beater" in the sense of the most el-cheapo, low-end
machine I could find that would run XP Pro and let the user do
webmail and maybe render YouTube videos.

My benchmark is currently a 1.1 ghz Compaq that I rescued from
the dumpster a couple of years ago and added a half-gig of RAM
to.

It's no flash, but serves well as a backup PC.

In fact, I might be tempted to give that one to the person in
need and get something faster for my backup machine....

Started thinking I'd build my own, but some comments on "the
unspoken lifetime support covenant" rang true to me and I started
looking at low-end Dells. Seems tb about six bills there....
and maybe dumpster diving would be a realistic alternative in
that case (figuring about $250 for a decent digital monitor and
fifty bucks for memory added to whatever I could get for free).

OTOH, time is money and it's tempting to just place an order....

 

[Guest]

My experience is that WinXp Pro x86 runs BETTER than x64 on a 64-bit machine.
I built an Athlon 64 machine about a year ago; installed XP Home 32-bit (and
linux) to avoid paying Microsoft yet another license fee: EVERYTHING ran
great. All my hardware answered up, all my games run great, I have no problem
with dirvers, etc. Then, on a whim, I decided to try Win XP Pro x64. My cable
modem won't connect via USB anymore; MANY hi-end games can't find my DirectX
9.c installation - so they refuse to run: some refuse to even install. My
Microsoft .Net Visual Studio has SIGNIFICANT difficulties with the way XP x64
handles the Program Files directories. Even simple stuff like Microsoft's
Solitaire, argueabley the most thoroughly "tested" software in the world -
exhibits memory-mapping erros in XP x64 that don't exist in the 32-bit
version. In short, I've experienced not a littel bit of pain for absolutely
NO GAIN in system performance since 32-bit XP maps up to 4 gig of RAM with no
problem. I have since unloaded XP x64 and gone back to the 32-bit XP Pro.

 

[dobey]

My experience is that WinXp Pro x86 runs BETTER than x64 on a 64-bit
machine.
I built an Athlon 64 machine about a year ago; installed XP Home 32-bit
(and
linux) to avoid paying Microsoft yet another license fee: EVERYTHING ran
great. All my hardware answered up, all my games run great, I have no
problem
with dirvers, etc. Then, on a whim, I decided to try Win XP Pro x64. My
cable
modem won't connect via USB anymore; MANY hi-end games can't find my
DirectX
9.c installation - so they refuse to run: some refuse to even install. My
Microsoft .Net Visual Studio has SIGNIFICANT difficulties with the way XP
x64
handles the Program Files directories. Even simple stuff like Microsoft's
Solitaire, argueabley the most thoroughly "tested" software in the world -
exhibits memory-mapping erros in XP x64 that don't exist in the 32-bit
version. In short, I've experienced not a littel bit of pain for
absolutely
NO GAIN in system performance since 32-bit XP maps up to 4 gig of RAM with
no
problem. I have since unloaded XP x64 and gone back to the 32-bit XP Pro.

Well I've had no problems with items I can find drivers for, and the very
occasional program that won't run properly.

Some games/programs won't install, but that is usually because the installer
doesn't recognise the OS. Some installers are just poorly written and assume
a certain directory structure, and in the case of XP64, 32 bit programs are
installed to a different directory.

I've played Quake 4, Stalker, BF2142, Far-Cry, (including 64 bit patch),
Unreal Tournament 200x, (again including 64 bit patch) and others can't
recall any DirectX issues. I might have had one or two games that did
install and not run, but I can't think of them off-hand.

The problem is, not a lot of driver support and not many 64 bit programs to
take advantage of the hardware.

For the moment stick with 32 bit XP and maybe in a year ot two Vista 64 bit
might encourage some more apps to be written. I wouldn't hold my breath for
XP pro 64 bit drivers coming out in a rush, except with new hardware.