Xp 64 or Xp 32bit?

[htcstech]

Hiya all,
I'm building a custom gaming system for a friend - moving from an Intel P4 (Gigabyte) to an AMD 64 4000+ (San Diego single core) on an Asus board.
As he wants to keep the HD info, I'm ghosting the IDE drive onto a SATA2 drive and letting the installed XP reconfigure itself to the new processor and board.
Unfortunately I've got no idea what will happen with XP Pro recognizing a 64 bit processor.

Has anyone done this before?
Would he eventually need to install Windows XP 64? Will it install over the top of XP32?

Thanks

 

[Ricemarine]

Usually it's best to reformat when you're using totally different hardware, but it might work.

No you don't need x-64 bit windows to use a 64 bit proc.

 

[Schadenfroh]

http://forums.anandtech.com/messageview...atid=34&threadid=1750186&enterthread=y

 

[pohl]

No need at all, I asked myself that question in the beginning. AMD Processors somehow "emulate" 32bit programs... but in a good way. God, I'm not too technical, though I do have an AMD 64 3000+ with Windows XP PRO 32 bits.

 

[pkme2]

Had x64 Windows, switched back to 32bit XP Pro. Everything runs fine.

 

[KoolDrew]

Originally posted by: Ricemarine
Usually it's best to reformat when you're using totally different hardware, but it might work.

No you don't need x-64 bit windows to use a 64 bit proc.

:thumbsup:

 

[htcstech]

Thanks for all the replies.
I'm aware that a reformat is definitely the best way to go, however the old HD has downloaded apps and plugins with licences and registration keys that are written into the registry. I REALLY DON'T feel like picking through registry settings and trying to get new ones are difficult as contact with the software providers to get a new one is very difficult. All this stuff is because he runs Flight Sim 9 that has masses of addins, often with self generating keys that have to be emailed off for responses.
So If I can ghost an IDE to a SATA2 then half the worry is over......

 

[SophalotJack]

Be prepared to call microsoft to re-activate that OS. When extreme hardware changes are recognized by windows, they will ask you to re-activate your license. Should be no trouble if you own that license. Just sux to spend half an hour on Microsoft's piracy paranoia policy.

 

[RebateMonger]

XP Professional x64 is only available in an OEM version. As such, it will only install on a clean partition. There is no "upgrade" of XP x32 to x64.

Microsoft - Frequently asked questions about XP Pro x64 Edition

Q. Can I upgrade from 32-bit Windows XP Professional to Windows XP Professional x64 Edition?

A. No, you can't upgrade. You can use the Technology Advancement Program until the end of July, 2005, to exchange your copy of Windows XP Professional for the x64 Edition of Windows XP Professional, but doing so replaces your existing license with the new license. The actual installation of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is a fresh install, not an upgrade. All your programs will have to be reinstalled, and if you have data on the same drive as your operating system, it will be wiped out. Make a thorough backup of your important files before doing the installation.

 

[Swedish Avenger]

I used XP64 for a while but it was a nightmare because of the lack of support. If you want to run Far Cry in 64bit mode with the slightly unstable ATI 64bit drivers then go for it it's interresting, but only as a secondary partition because you will get extremely irritated when half your programs don't work / run slower.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: Swedish Avenger
I used XP64 for a while but it was a nightmare because of the lack of support. If you want to run Far Cry in 64bit mode with the slightly unstable ATI 64bit drivers then go for it it's interresting, but only as a secondary partition because you will get extremely irritated when half your programs don't work / run slower.

I believe a user over in the software forum had a guide on how to install all the features of the farcry 64bit pack into the 32bit version.

64bitness in and of itself doesn't really provide any performance advantage, at least not for awhile it won't...and support for 64bit drivers and apps is pretty weak at present.

 

[sourceninja]

Originally posted by: pohl
No need at all, I asked myself that question in the beginning. AMD Processors somehow "emulate" 32bit programs... but in a good way. God, I'm not too technical, though I do have an AMD 64 3000+ with Windows XP PRO 32 bits.

It doesn't emulate 32bits. Its a 32bit processor with 64 bit extentions. It can just run both. No emulation required. Unless you want to get deeper into cpu design and find out all about the wonders of processor design that I dont really care to know much about. Then you find out all the x86 instruction set stuff is emulated anyways on modern processors or something.