Is Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Right for Me

8/6/2019 Is Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Right for Me

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Is Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Rightfor Me?White Paper

Charlie Russel

Microsoft MVP

Author ofMicrosoft Windows Server 2003 Administrators Companion 2nd Edition

(Microsoft Press, 2006)

Published: May 2006

For the latest information, please see

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

Abstract

This whitepaper outlines the factors that users should consider before adopting Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

The paper starts by defining what 64-bit computing is, how its different from 32-bit computing, and its benefits. The

paper then details who the key target audience is in the short and longer terms, and finishes with a discussion of the

potential roadblocks to adoption.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx


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The information contained in this document represents the current

view of Microsoft Corporation on the issues discussed as of the date

of publication. Because Microsoft must respond to changing market

conditions, it should not be interpreted to be a commitment on the

part of Microsoft, and Microsoft cannot guarantee the accuracy of any

information presented after the date of publication.

This White Paper is for informational purposes only. MICROSOFT

MAKES NO WARRANTIES, EXPRESS, IMPLIED OR STATUTORY,AS TO THE INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT.

Complying with all applicable copyright laws is the responsibility of

the user. Without limiting the rights under copyright, no part of this

document may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval

system, or transmitted in any form or by any means (electronic,

mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise), or for any

purpose, without the express written permission of Microsoft

Corporation.

Microsoft may have patents, patent applications, trademarks,

copyrights, or other intellectual property rights covering subject

matter in this document. Except as expressly provided in any written

license agreement from Microsoft, the furnishing of this document

does not give you any license to these patents, trademarks,

copyrights, or other intellectual property.

2006 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.

Microsoft, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, Windows Server,

and Windows Vista are either registered trademarks or trademarks of

Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.


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Contents

Introduction....................................................................................................................6

What Is 64-Bit Computing?............................................................................................7

What does 64-bit mean?.............................................................................................7

What are the benefits?................................................................................................9

Who Is It Right For?.....................................................................................................12

Immediately..............................................................................................................12

Soon..........................................................................................................................12

What Do I Need to Consider?.......................................................................................14

System requirements.................................................................................................14

Applications..............................................................................................................14

Devices.....................................................................................................................17Evaluation.................................................................................................................18

Windows Vista readiness..........................................................................................20

64-bit readiness checklist..........................................................................................20

Conclusion ...................................................................................................................22

Glossary........................................................................................................................23

Memory Terms.........................................................................................................23

Processor Terms.......................................................................................................24

Related Links................................................................................................................25


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Acknowledgements

Greg Amrofell, Microsoft

John Clavin, Microsoft

Serena Ho, Microsoft

Shawn Maloney, Microsoft

Padmanand Warrier, Microsoft

Lisa Pere, Studio B

Elsa Rosenberg, Studio B

David Talbott, Studio B


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Introduction

Since the introduction of Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition inApril of 2005, the availability of systems and components that support 64-bit

computing has significantly increased. If you go to buy or build a new desktopcomputer today, the chances are that one of the choices youll need to make iswhether to select Windows XP Pro x64 as your operating system or to choose regular,

32-bit Windows XP. In this paper, Ill give you the information to make an informed

decision, including most users top three questions:

What is 64-bit computing?

Who is it right for?

What do I need to consider before choosing to install Windows XP Pro x64?

Ill also discuss evaluation and transitional techniques to allow you to test out 64-bitcomputing in your environment, with your software and hardware, to see whether

Windows XP Pro x64 is the right choice for you.


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What Is 64-Bit Computing?

The first thing to understand when youre making a decision about 64-bit computingis what that really means. In this section, Ill cover some of the basics that it helps to

understand when youre trying to decide whether 64-bit is for you: What does 64-bitmean?

Is 64-bit worth the effort?

What will the future bring?

The goal is to give you a clear understanding of what 64-bit means and what 64-bit computing

is all about.

What does 64-bit mean?

Lets start by defining what we mean by 64-bitin general and by x64 specifically. The

CPU of a computer (its brain, if you will) can address, or communicate with, memoryin various forms, as Figure 1 shows. Some of that memory is actually part of the chip

that contains the CPU in the form ofregisters and cache; most of the memory isexternal to the chip, in the form of RAM and even hard-disk space. As the CPU

communicates with that memory, both internally and externally, it processes data inchunks. In the case of a 64-bit computer, the CPU does that processing in chunks of64 bits at a time. In the case of the original IBM PC, the CPU did that processing 8

bits at a time. (For more information about basic terms and concepts in this white

paper, see theGlossary andRelated Links sections.)

Figure 1: The memory pyramid

What Is x64?

The termx64 was created by Microsoft to describe processors that support the

AMD64 architecture. The AMD64 architecture is an extension of the same processor


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architecture that has been used to power personal computers since the original IBM

PC. Because the x64 architecture extends rather than replaces the existing architecture

of personal computers, applications and the operating system still use the same basiclanguage and instructions. You can, in fact, run 32-bit Windows on an x64 processor

without any difficulty.

So, are all 64-bit processors x64 processors? No, hardly. There are other 64-bitprocessors on the market today, running other operating systems. But both AMD andIntel manufacture processors that support the x64 architecture: AMD calls its

processors AMD64; Intel calls its processors EM64T. Both are completely compatible

the same programs run on either companys processors.

Whats the difference between 64-bit and 32-bit?

The biggest difference between 64-bit and 32-bit processors is that 64-bit processorshave a larger address space. That is, they have the ability to communicate directly

with more memory. A 32-bit processor can directly address a maximum of 4

gigabytes (GB) of memory. This seemed like a lot when the first 32-bit mainstream

CPU, the Intel 80386, was introduced in 1986 but has now become a seriouslimitation for some users and applications.

A 64-bit processor running Windows XP x64 supports 128 GB of physical memory,

and 16 terabytes (TB) of virtual memory. This enables scenarios and applications thatwould be difficult or even impossible in 32-bit Windows. Table 1 shows the overall

differences in memory between 32-bit and 64-bit Windows XP. This table includes

several kinds of memory that only the operating system actually has to worry about,

but Ive included them for completeness. Most of us can happily ignore them andfocus on two types: physical memory and total virtual address space (virtual memory).

Table 1: Memory and Address Comparison of 32-Bit and 64-Bit

Windows XP Pro

General memory limits 32-bit 64-bit

Physical memory (RAM) 4 GB 128 GB

Total virtual address space (based on a single

process)4 GB 16 TB

Virtual address space per 32-bit process2 GB (3 GB if system is

booted with /3GB switch)

4 GB if compiled with/LARGEADDRESSAWARE (2 GBotherwise)

Virtual address space per 64-bit process Not applicable 8 TB

Paged pool 47 megabytes (MB) 128 GB

Non-paged pool 256 MB 128 GB

System page table entry (PTE) 660 MB to 900 MB 128 GB

There are, of course, other differences between 64-bit processors and 32-bit

processors, and some of those differences, such as having twice as many registers

available, can give a well-written application a definite speed improvement. But thereality is that most current applications will not run much faster in Windows XP Pro


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x64 than they run in 32-bit Windows XP Pro, even if they are rewritten as native 64-

bit applications. What they will have is the ability to do things that just havent been

possible in 32-bit Windows.

Where we will see an immediate impact are on those applications that are alreadypushing up against the limits of 32-bit Windows. Digital media applications,

Computer-Aided Design (CAD) applications, and games are areas where theincreased efficiency and memory space of 64 bits will be felt first and most strongly.A classic early example is Cakewalks SONAR professional digital-audio workstation

application. When Cakewalk ported its application to Windows XP Pro x64, it didnt

really expect a major speed improvement since it knew the application wasn'tparticularly memory constrained. As Ron Kuper, chief technical officer for Cakewalk

explained, When we got the initial benchmarking results, we thought there was

something wrong. We hadnt expected to see a significant difference in performance,but we saw from 20 to 30 percent performance improvement. Kuper attributed the

improvement to the greater efficiency of the x64 processor, and especially to the

increase in the number of registers, which allow many of SONARs calculations to

happen directly in the register.

Weve been here before: 16-bit to 32-bit transition

The transition from 32-bit to 64-bit is a major leap, but its something that computerusers have been through before. When the original version of Windows NT was

released, it was a 32-bit operating system introduced into a 16-bit processing world.

As such, Windows NT faced many of the same challenges that x64 editions ofWindows face today:

Compatibility with existing applications

Drivers

New applications that take advantage of the new architecture

See What Do I Need to Consider? for details about these issues, but bear in mind that

just as the move from 32 bits to 64 bits today, that earlier transition wasnt without

pain and difficulties, mostly in the same areas.

Windows NT and its descendents, including Windows XP, overcame these initial

challenges to adoption to become the most widely used operating systems on

computers of today. And the result is a level of security, stability and reliability that

was unheard of before. Ive been around long enough to remember all too well howoften I had to reboot my computers when Windows 3.1 would run out of resources, or

just plain crash. The move to 32-bit Windows made a huge difference, and enabled a

whole new range of applications that werent even considered with 16-bit Windows.

What are the benefits?

So, what are the benefits to 64-bit computing that will make the near-term pain and

difficulty worthwhile? The benefits are in five basic areas:

Compatibility

Performance


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Security

Reliability

Potential

Lets take a brief look at each.

Compatibility

Windows XP Pro x64 is a natural progression from existing 32-bit Windows XP Pro,

and the vast majority of programs written for Windows XP Pro will run in WindowsXP Pro x64 without any change or modification. The mechanism that Windows XP

Pro x64 uses to run 32-bit applications is called Windows on Windows 64-bit, better

known as WOW64.

WOW64 provides each 32-bit application with its own protected environment thatfully supports 32-bit applications. The application runs at full speed because of the

underlying hardware compatibility.

Performance

The first and most obvious benefit to 64-bit computing is performance. With the

support for vastly more memory than existing 32-bit computing, 64-bit software has

the ability to do many things that simply arent practical today.

The ability to have 128 GB of RAM in Windows XP Pro x64 opens up whole new

scenarios in the CAD world. Before, having the ability to do real-time, three-

dimensional modeling was simply not possible on a desktop PC. Loading a fully

shaded three-dimensional drawing of an engine took more than an hour, and makingchanges to it was impossible. But with Windows XP Pro x64, the drawing can be

worked on in real time, letting the designer see changes as theyre made.

The improved performance of Windows XP Pro x64 isnt limited to memory. The

underlying architecture of the 64-bit processors has substantial improvements overexisting 32-bit processors doubling the registers and improving I/O efficiency.

These architectural improvements translate directly into overall performance

improvements, especially when paired with the new generation of I/O hardware that

supports PCI-X and PCI Express.

Even 32-bit applications can benefit from these I/O improvements, especially those

large applications that needed to use the /3GB switch because of memory constraints.

Windows XP Pro x64 is able to provide a full 4 GB of memory space to these

applications without any constraint on the operating system itself, providing a realboost for the applications that need it the most.

Security

An important new feature in the x64 processor architecture is the Data Execution

Prevention (DEP) bit that controls which areas of memory can be used to execute

code. Though AMD and Intel have different names for and slightly differentimplementations of this feature, the result is an enhanced layer of hardware protection

against some of the most destructive worms and exploits.


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Buffer overflow exploits have been the single biggest source of security problems and

updates to Windows in the past several years. A buffer overflow happens when an

area of memory (a buffer) expects to have a maximum amount of data but is givenmore and doesnt handle it correctly. For example, if your e-mail client is designed to

handle attachments that have, at a maximum, 255-character filenames and you receive

a message that has a 256-character filename, a buffer overflow can occur. When thishappens, adjacent memory space is overwritten and malicious code can end up being

executed. The infamous MSBlaster worm was this type of exploit.

Windows XP Pro x64 works with DEP to protect computers against buffer overflow

attacks, stopping this type of nasty exploit in its tracks. While DEP is by no means asubstitute for a well-designed and well-implemented antivirus and anti-malware

deployment, it is an important additional layer of protection that could have prevented

the spread of the MSBlaster worm had it been widely implemented at the time.

The 64-bit versions of Windows also support Microsoft Kernel Patch Protectiontechnology, which prevents unauthorized programs from patching the Windows

kernel. This greatly improves the overall security and reliability of Windows and

provides another important layer of defense against malware. Patch Protection worksby preventing kernel-mode drivers from extending or replacing other kernel services

while third-party software is prevented from patching any part of the kernel.

Reliability

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is the most reliable version of Windows that

Microsoft has ever released. Building on the proven reliability of Windows Server

2003, and incorporating the improvements to security and reliability that were addedto Windows XP with Service Pack 2 (SP2), the initial release of Windows for x64

processors is a highly reliable and secure operating system.

PotentialFinally, an important consideration in moving to 64-bit Windows is that 64-bit is the

future of Windows computing. By selecting hardware now that supports 64-bitWindows, youre preparing yourself for the future. As we move forward with the

Windows Vista operating system, well see 64-bit versions fully integrated and

supported for both businesses and consumers. Applications and hardware that meetthe Windows Vista logo requirements must run and support 64-bit versions of

Windows Vista.

The rich new graphics capabilities of Windows Vista, when combined with the vastly

larger memory capabilities of 64-bit computing, will enable a whole new layer ofapplications and programs.


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Who Is It Right For?

So, with all the benefits of Windows XP Pro x64, is it right for everyone? The simpleanswer is no, not yet. Some key users are already adopting 64-bit Windows, and more

should be in the near future, but not everyone should jump into 64-bit computing quiteyet. As youll see in the next section,What Do I Need to Consider?, there are someimportant issues to take into consideration as you make a decision, but some users

should actively consider 64-bit computing now or in the near future.

Immediately

There are really only two classes of users who should be moving to 64-bit computingnow the traditional workstation user and the enthusiast or early adopter. Lets take

a quick look at each type of user.

The traditional workstation user is one whose computing needs are constantly pushing

the envelope of what computers can do. These include CAD and Computer-AidedManufacturing (CAM) users, whose everyday work demands large amounts of

memory and processing power to render large and complex three-dimensional

designs. Another big workstation market is in the area of professional digital-contentcreation, whether it be animation or digital-media creation and manipulation. The

support for additional memory and the improved register and I/O efficiency of 64-bit

applications can make a significant improvement in the efficiency and productivity of

the digital professional.

There are also always consumers who push the limits of what their computers will do,

who simply have to have the very latest and best. I should know: Im one of them.

This group includes gamers and consumers who are doing serious digital-media work,

as well as those who are essentially self-supporting, who are used to working aroundproblems on their own, and who want to investigate and work with the newest

technology.

Both of these groups should be actively looking to adopt Windows XP Pro x64. You

still should certainly work through the points presented in What Do I Need toConsider? to make sure you dont have any blocking issues.

Soon

The next wave of the move to 64-bit computing will be users who move to 64-bit in

the next 12 to 18 months. Many of these users will choose Windows Vista as thevehicle to make the transition; others will still be on Windows XP. This wave of users

will be the mainstream of 64-bit adoption, including consumers and business users

who are looking for the security and performance benefits of 64-bit Windows but whodemand that early-adopter issues such as driver and software compatibilities be

mostly resolved.

Businesses and consumers who demand the highest levels of security will have an

additional reason to choose 64-bit editions of Windows Vista:Allkernel-mode drivers


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running in 64-bit Windows Vista must be signed by the vendor. While a signed driver

is not a guarantee of safety, it will certainly help identify and prevent many malicious

attacks, while giving Microsoft the ability to help developers improve the overallquality of drivers and reduce the number of driver related crashes. Combined with the

built in hardware support for DEP, this will help make 64-bit Windows Vista the most

secure and reliable Windows ever, and will make it an attractive choice for security-conscious businesses and consumers.


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What Do I Need to Consider?

What are the factors you need to consider before you decide whether to adopt 64-bitWindows? In this section Ill cover the system requirements, including how to tell

whether your existing computer is x64 capable. Ill go over which applications are andare not supported, and Ill cover devices and device drivers (whats required andwhats currently happening).

System requirements

The basic requirement for running Windows XP Pro x64 is an x64-compatible

processor. This requirement seems obvious but has caused a lot of confusion, if my e-mail box and the public newsgroups are any indication. Knowing whether your

system meets this requirement should be easy, but unfortunately, it hasnt been as

easy as we might hope.

No processor or computer bought before mid-2003, when AMD first released itsOpteron processor, is x64 compatible. Nor are Intel Itanium (IA-64) processors; even

though the Itanium processor is 64-bit, it uses a completely different architecture and

is not supported by Windows XP Pro x64.

Beyond this basic requirement, how do you tell whether your current or plannedprocessor is x64 compatible? For details about how to tell whether your processor is

compatible with Windows XP Pro x64, see

http://msmvps.com/blogs/xperts64/archive/2006/01/19/81462.aspx.

Applications

Windows XP Pro x64 supports native 64-bit applications and most 32-bit applications.

The catch is the word most, of course. To understand the potential issues, lets look

at how 32-bit applications run in a 64-bit operating system. Figure 2 illustrates thisdiscussion.

Running 32-bit applications on a 64-bit operating system

In order to run a 32-bit application in a 64-bit operating system, there needs to be a

methodology to translate the 32-bit instructions so that the 64-bit operating system can

understand them. As we saw earlier inCompatibility, that mechanism is WOW64.

32-bit application performance

Most 32-bit applications will run at full speed in 64-bit editions of Windows. Ivebeen running a wide variety of 32-bit applications since I moved over to Windows XP

Pro x64 last year, and in general, I havent found a significant difference. Someapplications seem slightly faster, but none of them seem slower.

Ive also noticed that a few 32-bit applications can take advantage of larger datasets

when running in WOW64 and processing large amounts of data. Adobe Photoshop

CS2, a 32-bit application used by professionals and enthusiasts alike, shows a marked
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Looking ahead

When will more applications be native 64-bit applications? And what capabilities can

we expect to become possible as x64 becomes mainstream? Ah, crystal ball time,always a chance to make a fool of oneself.

My opinion is that with the release of Windows Vista this year we will start to see

applications being written to run natively in 64-bit Windows. The first wave of theseapplications will, in many cases, be what I think of asparallel applications: When anew version is released, it will be available in both 32-bit versions and 64-bit versions,

at essentially the same point in time. This change wont happen overnight when

Windows Vista is released but will follow the normal release cycle of any new

operating system and the applications written to take advantage of it. Going forward, Iexpect the release cycle after the parallel release to include some applications

available in 64-bit only, and 64-bit only will be the norm in most cases during the

release after that one. New applications will follow similar paths, but those thatprocess really large amounts of data might be released in 64-bit versions only.

Another key factor in the move to 64-bit will be the price of RAM and the

motherboards that support more than 2 GB to 4 GB of RAM.

Devices

Another major factor you need to consider as you plan your move to 64-bit computing

is the availability of drivers for your hardware. New computers and motherboards that

are compatible with x64 will generally have solid driver support for their components,

but other peripherals, especially older ones, can be a problem.

64-bit driver requirement

As I explained earlier, all hardware needs a 64-bit driver to work in 64-bit editions of

Windows. Because drivers run in kernel mode, they cant run in the WOW64subsystem, meaning that all drivers need to be rewritten for x64.

The responsibility for writing drivers is, ultimately, with the manufacturer of thedevice. This has been an uneven process at best so far, but the situation is improving

and should improve more substantially with the release of Windows Vista.

Problem device classes

Many device classes havent seen a big issue with drivers, but there have been

exceptions. The device classes that have been a particular concern include thefollowing:

Scanners:The situation for scanners and the all-in-one printers that depend on them isimproving, but slowly. The reality is that these products have a relatively short lifespan in

the marketplace and many existing models might never have 64-bit drivers, especially

single-function, standalone, consumer-grade scanners.

USB and wireless network devices: Most recent regular network cards are well

supported, as are most built-in network interfaces, including built-in wireless networking

devices. But USB network devices, including cable and DSL modems, are still a major

area of missing drivers, as are add-in wireless devices, especially PCI wireless devices

and PC-Card wireless devices that support 802.11a/b/g. There have been some beta-


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quality, unsupported, wireless device drivers for the most common three-protocol chipsets

that are available, but Ive seen no indication when a final driver version will be made

public.

Bluetooth: Some Bluetooth devices are currently supported; others are not. In general,

Bluetooth keyboards and mice, printers, and cell phones (for synchronization) are

supported, as well as file transfers and dial-up networking. In Vista, support for Bluetooth

headsets is planned as well. But before buying a Bluetooth device, ask about 64-bitsupport.

Printers: Older and low-end printers have been an issue for many early x64 adopters.

Printer manufacturers, in an effort to keep costs to an absolute minimum, have focused

on host-based printing at the lower end of the price spectrum. These consumer-class

printers have only the most basic functions included in the hardware of the printer,

whereas most of the functionality and intelligence require proprietary software running on

the host computer. Unfortunately, this means that these printers wont be supported on

Windows XP Pro x64 until the proprietary software is rewritten. The good news is that

most mainline, business-class printers use either Printer Control Language (PCL) or

PostScript (PS) and are supported or have reasonable workarounds. For details on

alternate print drivers in Windows XP x64 Edition, see the Microsoft white paper at

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/x64printdriver.mspx.

Older devices: The reality is that all independent hardware vendors (IHVs) face the same

issue when trying to decide whether to write drivers for older hardware resources. If the

vendor has to choose whether to write a driver for an existing older device or for a brand-

new device of the same class, the decision is going to be pretty easy to make. The better

IHVs have taken advantage of the lessons learned in creating device drivers for their

newest models to create drivers for older models with relatively fewer resources required,

but its still a tradeoff and one that wont change.

Windows Vista and device drivers

The good news on the device-driver front is that its getting better every month, and

the problem areas will be much better in Vista. Because the Windows Vista logo

requirements mandate that a device work under 64-bit Windows Vista to get theDesigned for Windows Vista logo, manufacturers and IHVs have a strong incentive to

provide 64-bit drivers, and end-users will be able to easily identify hardware that is

64-bit capable.

Another important criterion for Windows Vista is that all 64-bit kernel drivers must besigned. This requirement will help improve the security and reliability of the operating

system and will make 64-bit Windows Vista the operating system of choice.

Evaluation

For some users, especially those building or buying a new computer, evaluation willhappen the hard way, with a new machine that has only Windows XP Pro x64 on it.

But if you have any control over this, I strongly suggest a staged evaluation. Order

your new computer with 32-bit Windows XP and run a dual boot configuration withthe trial version of Windows XP Pro x64, available for order or download from

Microsoft at http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/trial.mspx.

The trial version is the full product, with no limitations or differences, except that it is

time-limited to 120 days from the initial installation. This version is an excellent way
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/x64printdriver.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/trial.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/x64printdriver.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/trial.mspx


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to test out the waters and evaluate whether youre ready to move to 64-bit computing

full time.

Dual boot

The best way to set up an evaluation system is to set up a dual-boot configuration. In

this configuration, you install both 32-bit Windows XP Pro and Windows XP Pro x64on separate hard disks or partitions. My Acer Ferrari 4005 laptop, for example, came

with Windows XP Pro pre-installed on drive C; drive D was a second partition on the

100 GB hard disk. (If the system hadnt already had two partitions, I would have hadto use a third-party program, such as Acronis Disk Director, to create the second

partition without losing my existing 32-bit installation.)

Once you have your partitions or hard disks set up as you want them and youve

downloaded the trial version of Windows XP Pro x64, you need to create a bootableCD with the trial version on it. The trial is provided as a .ISO file an exact image

of the CD you will be creating. For excellent instructions on how to write a .ISO file

to a CD correctly, I recommend How can I write ISO files to CD? at

http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htm.You will need to boot from the CD you have created and installed Windows XP Pro

x64. For details on how to perform this step, see Dual or Multi-Booting including

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition athttp://msmvps.com/xperts64/archive/2005/11/21/76180.aspx and Upgrading an

AMD64 Turion Laptop to Windows XP x64 Edition at

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/64bit/bowman_05nov07.mspx.

Once you have your system set up for dual booting, you can easily evaluate WindowsXP Pro x64 at your own pace. If you have a problem with a driver or program that

doesnt work, you can simply reboot and run 32-bit Windows.

If your evaluation goes well, you should move to running almost exclusively inWindows XP Pro x64. For me, this took about a month from the time I first installedWindows XP Pro x64 on my Ferrari. At that point, Id found all the drivers that were

available for my peripherals, and Id reached a confidence level that I had everything

working well.

Upgrading from the trial to full copy

Once your evaluation of the trial version has reached the point that youre ready tomove to the full version, youll need to obtain a copy of Windows XP Pro x64 (if you

dont already have one). Because there is no retail version of Windows XP Pro x64,

this requires you to obtain an OEM or system-builder version. These are available

only with new computers or non-peripheral hardware purchases. If youre doing thisevaluation process on a new computer either one you built yourself or bought from

an OEM you should purchase the 64-bit edition from your original OEM or the

vendor that sold you the parts to build the new computer.

Once youre ready to perform the upgrade, and assuming your trial copy hasntexpired, simply insert the Windows XP Pro x64 CD into your CD/DVD drive and do

an upgrade from the trial version to the full version.
http://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htmhttp://msmvps.com/xperts64/archive/2005/11/21/76180.aspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/64bit/bowman_05nov07.mspxhttp://www.petri.co.il/how_to_write_iso_files_to_cd.htmhttp://msmvps.com/xperts64/archive/2005/11/21/76180.aspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/using/64bit/bowman_05nov07.mspx


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If your trial version has expired, youll need to do what is known as a repair install.

Boot from the Windows XP Pro x64 CD and repair your existing installation with the

full copy. For excellent instructions about how to do a repair install, I suggest Howto Perform a Windows XP Repair Install at

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/XPrepairinstall.htm.

Windows Vista readiness

As I mentioned earlier, 32-bit and 64-bit editions of all versions of Windows Vista

will be available. By installing and using Windows XP Pro x64 now, youre not only

getting ready for Windows Vista but also making your transition easier because there

will notbe support for cross-platform upgrades from Windows XP to Windows Vista.

64-bit readiness checklist

Checklists are always useful ways to decide whether youre ready to make the

transition to a new operating system or environment. These lists serve to remind youof all the areas that you need to check and provide a running scorecard on your

readiness. Your checklist will, of course, include different applications and devicesthan mine would, so add yours to the list that Table 2 shows, and check them off asyou find drivers or alternatives.
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Table 2: Windows XP Pro x64 Readiness Checklist

System Ready

Processor x64 capable RAM 256 MB minimum, 512 MB recommended

Hard disk separate 20 GB minimum partition or drive free

Hard disk controller driver

Applications Ready

Productivity applications (Microsoft Office 2003)

Antivirus

Devices Ready

Printer

Scanner

Hard disk separate 20 GB minimum partition or drive free

Sound Card


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Conclusion

Selecting Windows XP Professional x64 Edition is not the right choice for everyonetoday, but for those users who are pushing the limits of 32-bit Windows XP, it is the

smart choice as long as they understand the current state of application and devicesupport. As we move forward to Windows Vista, I expect to see 64-bit computingmove to the mainstream, especially for those users who demand the highest levels of

security, reliability, and functionality.


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Glossary

Some of the terms that get tossed around when we start talking about 64-bits can be abit daunting if youre not used to them. This mini-glossary might be useful.

Memory Terms

Cache. Fast memory that is (usually) part of the actual CPU. This memory can be read

faster than RAM. When the processor needs to read the contents of a memory

location, the data can be read faster if it resides in cache instead of in RAM or virtual

memory.

Memory address space. The total, directly addressable combination of physical and

virtual memory that a processor can use. For a 32-bit processor, RAM is limited

to 4 GB. For current x64 processors, RAM is limited to 16 TB (4,000 times that

of a 32-bit processor).

Non-paged pool. System memory that must stay resident in RAM.

Page file (swap file). An area of the hard disk that is used to provide secondary

memory storage. Often referred to as virtual memory, inreality these two things

are related but not the same.

Page table. A table of mapping information that maps the location of virtual pages in

a process address space.

Page table entry (PTE). The entry in a process page table that maps a virtual address

to the actual address.

Paged pool. System memory that can be temporarily paged to disk when not needed.

Physical address extension (PAE). A processor-based mechanism that allows 32-bit

processors to address more than 4 GB of memory.

Physical memory (see also RAM). The actual memory installed in the computer.

Physical memory address lines. The total physical memory that a processor can

address. For 32-bit processors, this is limited to 4 GB. For current x64

processors this is limited to 1 TB.

Random access memory (RAM). The actual physical memory that is available for

programs and the operating system to use. Windows XP Pro x64 supports 128

GB of RAM. Most single processor motherboards are currently limited to 4 GB

of RAM.

Registers. A small area of extremely fast storage that can be read directly by the

processor. The number of registers in x64 processors is twice that of x86

processors.

Virtual memory. A mechanism to allow processors to utilize a larger memory-address

space than the physical memory (RAM) in the computer. Each process


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addresses a contiguous memory address space that is separate from other

processes.

Processor Terms

AMD64.The name that AMD uses to describe its extensions to the x86 processorarchitecture.

Central processing unit (CPU). The main brain of a computer.

Complex instruction set computer (CISC). A type of processor that has a rich set of

built-in instructions. The x64 processors are CISC processors.

Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T). The name Intel uses to describe their x64

processors.

Itanium.An Intel-designed 64-bit RISC processor that is not compatible with the x86

or x64 architectures. Also referred to asIA64.

Reduced instruction set computer (RISC). A type of processor that has relativelyfewer built-in instructions than CISC processors do. The Itanium processors are

RISC processors.

x64.The Microsoft name for processors that support the AMD64 extensions to the

original x86 architecture

x86.The architecture on which the original IBM PC was built. Initially 8-bit, it was

extended to 16-bit and then to 32-bit.


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Related Links

This list is not intended to be comprehensive, but to give you an entry point into thecommunities supporting and working with Windows XP Pro x64.

Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition home pagehttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit

x(perts)64: The unofficial x64 FAQ

http://msmvps.com/xperts64/

Microsoft Expert Zone: Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Community

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/communities/x64.mspx

Windows XP Professional x64 Edition trial software

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/trial.mspx

Microsoft public Windows 64-bit newsgroup

news://msnews.microsoft.com/microsoft.public.windows.64bit.generalPlanet AMD64 (community site)

http://www.planetamd64.com

Extended 64: The 64-bit Windows Community (community site)

http://www.extended64.com

64-bit Computing Advantage (developer resources for 64-bit coding and migration)

http://www.64advantage.com/

VolkerWs WebLog (64-bit developer-oriented blog)

http://blogs.msdn.com/volkerw

Comparison of 32-bit and 64-bit memory architecture for 64-bit editions of WindowsXP and Windows Server 2003

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;294418

MSDN Library for 64-bit Windows (programmer resources)

http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnanchor/html/64bitwindows.asp

Using a Substitute Print Driver on x64 Systems

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/x64printdriver.msp

x.

Wikipedia entry: AMD64

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amd64
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bithttp://msmvps.com/xperts64/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/communities/x64.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/trial.mspxhttp://www.planetamd64.com/http://www.planetamd64.com/http://www.extended64.com/http://www.64advantage.com/http://www.64advantage.com/http://blogs.msdn.com/volkerwhttp://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;294418http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnanchor/html/64bitwindows.asphttp://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnanchor/html/64bitwindows.asphttp://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnanchor/html/64bitwindows.asphttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/x64printdriver.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/x64printdriver.mspxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amd64http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amd64http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bithttp://msmvps.com/xperts64/http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/expertzone/communities/x64.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/trial.mspxhttp://www.planetamd64.com/http://www.extended64.com/http://www.64advantage.com/http://blogs.msdn.com/volkerwhttp://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;294418http://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnanchor/html/64bitwindows.asphttp://msdn.microsoft.com/library/default.asp?url=/library/en-us/dnanchor/html/64bitwindows.asphttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/x64printdriver.mspxhttp://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/techinfo/overview/x64printdriver.mspxhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amd64

Documents

Is Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Right for Me