Windows XP Pro x64 & 4GB ram

[Class]

Hi,

This might be a pretty dumb question, but since I google very different answers I prefer to make it sure and ask the "pro" guys here. :)

Recently I upgraded my notebook to 4GB of ram, and since x86 version of windows does not support it, max 3GB, i need to reinstall it. Windows 7 is not completely 100% recognize my hardware (sound), so I can only install WinXP or Vista. Vista is horrible, I really dont like it, so I'm left behind with WinXP x64, but does that support 4GB of ram or not?

Thanks

[Phemo]

Yes, XP x64 will be fine with 4GB of RAM.

[darth_vader]

Yes, up to 128 GB of RAM.

[Mulrian]

Yeah but XP x86 is just as horrible as Vista depending on who you talk to. It never really was that stable.

[bjoswald]

It is best practice to use a 64-bit OS (OS X, Ubuntu, Windows, etc) on a system with 4GB or more because it will recognize and utilize all of your memory properly.

[threesixtyflip]

What model is your notebook, there must be a way of getting hold of drivers for W7, because like everyone says, XP64 was not that great.

[Class]

What model is your notebook, there must be a way of getting hold of drivers for W7, because like everyone says, XP64 was not that great.

It's an MSI S262 laptop, with core duo. It's still runs smoothly. But since MSI only released drivers for XP/Vista. I really tried everything the get the audio working, but no matter where I try to get the drivers are not working, or just S/PDIF is recognize by it also with the default win7 driver = resulting no sound what so ever, I can't live a with a silent PC. :(

Yeah but XP x86 is just as horrible as Vista depending on who you talk to. It never really was that stable.

Well, XP is doing the job since more then 10 years, so it's alternative deal more then Vista, obv Microsoft discontinued the support for it, while XP is still supported, for all the low profile PC-s out there.

Yes, up to 128 GB of RAM.

Thanks. Then I will install it.

Btw, wasn't the 64bit version of XP a long time beta staged operation system? Is there a final/stable version of it?

[Dot Matrix]

It's not beta, but XP x64 never ran well. My only concern is where are you going to get x64 drivers from if they only have x86? I see nothing but x86 listed on the site.

If you need more from the notebook, it might be time for a new machine.

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

Driver's are going to be the big potential issue. Not many hardware manufactures wanted to make XP 64bit drivers.

They did with Vista, but some still never did XP 64bit.

Note: Service Pack 2 for XP 64 bit is the equivalent of Service Pack 3 for XP (32bit).

When XP 64bit launched, it already included SP1 code in it. It came out after XP 32 bit.

(Edit) Grammer

[Class]

It's not beta, but XP x64 never ran well. My only concern is where are you going to get x64 drivers from if they only have x86? I see nothing but x86 listed on the site.

If you need more from the notebook, it might be time for a new machine.

Driver's are going to be the big potential issue. Not many wanted hardware manufactures wanted to make XP 64bit drivers.

They did with Vista, but some still never did XP 64bit.

Note: Service Pack 2 for XP 64 bit is the equivalent of Service Pack 3 for XP (32bit).

When XP 64bit launched, it already included SP1 code in it. It came out after XP 32 bit.

Seriously, no idea. I don't know, but I was hoping that the 32bit XP drivers would do the job even if the OS is actually 64bit. Or is this a total bad idea?

If so, then my only really working choose is Vista, since it works almost out-of-the-box perfectly for the notebook, which would make me sad to have to go back to vista.

[ArialBlue]

32-bit drivers only work on.. 32-bit OS.

Make sure you have 64-bit XP drivers.

Also make sure that you are up to date - all the updates and stuff, IE8 (even if you don't use it, update it!!!), and so forth.

[Class]

32-bit drivers only work on.. 32-bit OS.

Make sure you have 64-bit XP drivers.

Also make sure that you are up to date - all the updates and stuff, IE8 (even if you don't use it, update it!!!), and so forth.

Well, then I just hope that XP recognizes all the hardware properly. Usually a never had to install for XP drivers, but ofc I did, due to they offer advanced customization, etc.

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

Seriously, no idea. I don't know, but I was hoping that the 32bit XP drivers would do the job even if the OS is actually 64bit. Or is this a total bad idea?

If so, then my only really working choose is Vista, since it works almost out-of-the-box perfectly for the notebook, which would make me sad to have to go back to vista.

Check manufacture web site and see if they have the XP64 bit drivers.

And if not on your OEM'ss site, for example it's an intel motherboard, check intel's web site for your motherboard chipset xp 64 bit drivers.

You might get lucky and it detects hardware correctly,

[Class]

Check manufacture web site and see if they have the XP64 bit drivers.

And if not on your OEM'ss site, for example it's an intel motherboard, check intel's web site for your motherboard chipset xp 64 bit drivers.

You might get lucky and it detects hardware correctly,

Maybe then audio will be a problem also (in XP), but a really hope not.

[Tikimotel]

If audio HD is the only thing that isn't working, try the drivers from the audio chip, ALC888 website (http://www.realtek.com.tw)

Hi,

This might be a pretty dumb question, but since I google very different answers I prefer to make it sure and ask the "pro" guys here. :)

Recently I upgraded my notebook to 4GB of ram, and since x86 version of windows does not support it, max 3GB, i need to reinstall it. Windows 7 is not completely 100% recognize my hardware (sound), so I can only install WinXP or Vista. Vista is horrible, I really dont like it, so I'm left behind with WinXP x64, but does that support 4GB of ram or not?

Thanks

[Astra.Xtreme]

I'd recommend that you stray away from x64 Windows XP. It's truly an unstable mess and you'll almost certainly have a drivers nightmare. If you absolutely can't get 7 to work, Vista is actually fine now with the service packs available. I'd recommend it over XP at this point.

[Spyder Veteran]

i'm surprised the vista audio drivers don't work with win7. the drivers should be similar.

/edit .. see my post below

[deactivated_]

If your choices are XP 64-bit with 4 GB of usable RAM or XP 32-bit with ~3.5 GB of usable RAM.... go with XP 32-bit and live with the ~3.5 GB of RAM vs 4 GB.

As others have said, XP 64-bit is a disaster.

[webdev511]

Windows 7 is not completely 100% recognize my hardware (sound), so I can only install WinXP or Vista. Vista is horrible, I really dont like it, so I'm left behind with WinXP x64, but does that support 4GB of ram or not? Thanks

Don't do WinXP x64, just go with Vista x64, turn off Aero Glass and think of it as Win7 x64 pre-release. Vista x64 is way more stable and has far better WoW64 support than Xp x64.

[Spyder Veteran]

It's an MSI S262 laptop,

You might be in luck then. According to the MSI site download page here - http://www.msi.com/product/nb/S262.html#/?div=Driver&os=Vista%2032

your audio is the Realtek ALC888

Well.. I went to the Realtek website and they offer Windows 7 64 bit drivers for it. Heres the link to get them - http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

(if that link doesnt go to the download directly, you want the 64bits Vista, Windows7, Windows8 Driver only (Executable file)

I verified in the readme that your chip is supported

--------

History:

--------

Driver Package R2.69

Realtek HD Audio Driver support all of Realtek HD Audio Codec .

1. Vista, Windows 7, Windows 8 WHQL Supporting:

ALC882, ALC883, ALC885, ALC886, ALC887, ALC888, ALC889, ALC892, ALC899, ALC861VD, ALC660,

ALC662, ALC663, ALC665, ALC670, ALC671, ALC672, ALC676, ALC680, ALC221, ALC231, ALC260, ALC262,

ALC267, ALC268, ALC269, ALC270, ALC272, ALC273, ALC275, ALC276, ALC280, ALC282, ALC283, ALC290

[REM2000]

i don't why so many people say that XP64 was so unstable, it basically is Windows 2003 X64 and is rock solid, i ran it for years on 8GB of RAM. It has the WOW32 on it so it will run your 32bit apps no problem at all. I used to develop software (Delphi which was 32bit and SQL Server) and edit images with illustrator and photoshop. It was lean and must more stable / faster than XP

The drawbacks with XP64 was that you basically needed XP64 or Win2k3 X64 drivers for your hardware and most antivirus wouldn't run on it because it thought it was the server edition.

Like i said i found it really good and missed Vista x64 as i found that a lot more unstable and sluggish and waited for Win7 x64 which is the best client x64 yet.

I would work on your sound card and see if you can find the drivers, either that or buy a cheap sound card, WinXP x64 is also a little bit of a pain to find as well.

PS if you use MS Office stick to the x86 version the x64 inc Office 2010 is a pain

[abysal]

If you know what you're doing driver wise, there is nothing wrong with Win XP x64 vs 32bit XP. I ran it for several years and it was a stable gaming and media system, I did everything on it.

The issue with this laptop is that there may not be 64bit drivers for the card reader, bluetooth, and/or the MSI WiFi. If you have the Intel card you are fine however.

For Win 7 64bit sound, try: http://www.realtek.com.tw/downloads/downloadsView.aspx?Langid=1&PNid=14&PFid=24&Level=4&Conn=3&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

If you can go Win7 x64 or even Vista x64 over XP x64.

[Boo Berry]

Avoid XP 64-bit. If you can really try Windows Vista or Windows 7 64-bit or just stick with 32-bit XP.

[Class]

Well, I will avoid multi quote for now, due to so many replies. Thank you all.

@Spyder: Well, thanks for the look up. I already tried that driver from realtek's website, and the result was the same, i just get the S/RDIF to be recognized, nothing else. So this might not be an issue with the driver, rather with Win7 itselt or I don't know. As sad, in vista audio works out of the box, just as with XP, I only install to get a better volume control. So I really don't know what's the issue with that. Is there any tool where I could provide data/screenshot to get this figured out, because it seems like I prematurely assumed this is a driver problem.

OMG....this is getting weird, some people say XP64 is crap, some say its rock solid, now I'm confused. So if that driver issue would be solved, then there would be no reason to go XP64, Win7 stand above all obv and would be my choose aswell.

*Btw, I tried a bunch of stuff to get the audio working, deleted hardware, installed just inf, every little trick that I've known so far, but really nothing helped. Audio is working, because I boot up XP and there it is, so there is nothing wrong with the chip hardware wise. Any trick how I could figure this out? Damn, should have made this post in the driver support section seem like. :D

[+Eternal Tempest MVC]

It's also possible, if hardware manufactures submitted the drivers' to Microsoft, they could also be installed from Windows update.