switch from Windows XP 64 Bit Edition to anything else

[colore]

hello!

Windows XP 64 Bit Edition seems to be the worst OS ever, in terms of compatibility

drivers, software, and so on are not compatible at all

so, i definately need to switch to any other WinOS, but without losing my files, settings, apps

is it possible???

thanks!

[Kelsenellenelvian]

so, i definately need to switch to any other WinOS, but without losing my files, settings, apps

That is most likely the basis of your issues...

For a decent change to a whole new OS you would need to flush your system and reset all of the settings. (Yes you could keep file and MOST programs will still work) But having old settings will bite you is the @ss.

[colore]

isnt there supposed to be a "migration" method to move to Win7 or something that supposedly satisfies these needs?

or maybe a rollback to WinXP 32bit?

Edited November 8, 2012 by colore

[Kelsenellenelvian]

Roll back?? Hell no. Would never work.

Upgrade? Lets think.. XP x64 was released 7.5 years ago. Since then there has been 2 major OS releases and LOTS (Tons really) of changes and modifications. You will run into the same kind of issues especially if some of them are caused by settings.

[Tripredacus]

Have you thought of upgrading to Windows 7 x64? I had always found XP x64 to be used only as needed. I also remember some incompatibilities with it.

[tomasz86]

Actually it seems to be completely impossible to upgrade the system. You always need to do a clean installation. Even Vista x64 doesn't support upgrading from it:

http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/windows-vista/Upgrading-from-Windows-XP-to-Windows-Vista

[jaclaz]

I would have thought that the migration tool was designed for that:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc722032(v=ws.10).aspx

though I have NO idea about it's compatibility with the (IMHO) senseless 64 bit OS's, apparently at least up to Vista they are supported:

http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc721840(v=ws.10).aspx

jaclaz

[Jody Thornton]

I must be very lucky. I have an HP xw8200 (with two Xeon CPUs) that works flawlessly with Windows XP x64 Edition. Now I am not a gamer, and I don't run too much fringe software, but I have a GREAT user experience with this OS. I understand the compatibility and driver issues, but if you can get past them, I think Windows XP x64 Edition makes for a terrific and VERY stable OS.

Am I wrong folks?

[jaclaz]

Am I wrong folks?

Why should you be (or anyone else for that matters) be wrong, you are reporting your opinion, based on your experience.

I guess everyone is happy for your satisfying experience .

This doesn't in any way negates how colore's experience was seemingly dreadful , nor my personal opinion that in most cases using a 64 bit OS gives not any practical advantage, or if you prefer is/was UNneeded and - in times of Windows XP - it was actually very rare to find suitable hardware and thus a PITA.

My crystal ball - though foggy - tells me that soon someone will post something like:

Hah! But with a 32 OS you cannot access memory beyond 3Gb!

and some other of the usual 64 bit fanboyism, so - as a preventive measure - I will post a couple links:

http://reboot.pro/17568/

http://reboot.pro/16544/page__st__25#entry151030

jaclaz

[Kelsenellenelvian]

While undoubtedly it is marginally slower, I really use alot more ram when I am testing 2 or 3 VM's at a time. I have used up to 80% of the 16gigs I have in my system.

[colore]

My crystal ball - though foggy - tells me that soon someone will post something like:

Hah! But with a 32 OS you cannot access memory beyond 3Gb!

and some other of the usual 64 bit fanboyism, so - as a preventive measure - I will post a couple links:

http://reboot.pro/17568/

http://reboot.pro/16544/page__st__25#entry151030

jaclaz

you are saying that Win7 32bit can handle more physical RAM? how? what is the upper limit? there will be no problems at all?

[jaclaz]

you are saying that Win7 32bit can handle more physical RAM? how? what is the upper limit? there will be no problems at all?

I said READ the given links (AND links within them) then take your own decisions/conclusions/whatever, only please don't give me the usual "32 bit systems cannot access more than 4 Gb of RAM" or the usual generic "64 bit is better".

jaclaz

[tomasz86]

Unfortunately some applications are still single-threaded and require a lot of RAM too so sometimes a 32-bit Windows may be not enough.

[jaclaz]

Unfortunately some applications are still single-threaded and require a lot of RAM too so sometimes a 32-bit Windows may be not enough.

Good, another one having not read the given links.

I cannot post a direct link to the relevant info, because for *any* reason it is considered "hostile" by MSFN.

But I can point you to a related MS KB:

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888137/en-us

jaclaz

[tomasz86]

I haven't read the links carefully because I'm not interested in this topic that much

But I do know from my testing that a 32-bit browser (Opera, Firefox) will crash once it reaches ~1,7 GB of RAM usage (2,4 GB when /3GB enabled) and this is not the case when a 64-bit version is used, is it?