Anyone using XP x64?

[Zenoth]

If so, generally speaking, how is it for gaming and general usage? Is it as "secure" (big word for Windows I'd presume) as the latest updated x86 SP3 version? If I'm not mistaken Microsoft has never supported XP x64 beyond SP2 when it comes to service packs, right? I'm thinking of switching from my current 32-Bit partition of XP to a 64-Bit one at the moment, I called Microsoft and they could send me a 64-Bit version since I own a retail 32-Bit version.

And outside of potential security holes that x86 may not have anymore, is it a good OS? I've looked for x64 drivers for my current hardware and I've found all the drivers I need, so as soon as it comes to drivers I guess I won't have any problems. Any of you out there ever tried it? What do you think of XP x64? Also, relatively important to me, how are 16-Bit applications running? Or applications with a 16-Bit installer?

Thanks.

 

[Topweasel]

Been using it for almost 4 years. Love it. Outside the Zune software I haven't had one issue that most people who have Vista 64 hasn't had. It runs ridiculously smooth and quick.

Edit: Haven't installed anything with a 16bit installer.

 

[Billb2]

Stop the presses!

Wait for Windows 7.

 

[KB]

I have liked it a lot so far. All of my devices are working and have drivers for them. From what I know there isn't any 16-bit support, but I have never installed anything 16-bit. My biggest complaint is there is not a working Itunes version for it. Itunes has a XP 32-bit and Vista 64-bit client, but not XP 64-bit.

 

[wwswimming]

yeah, i use it with 64 bit versions of Max and Maya.

it works great, BUT i suggest going easy on what else you load on the machine.

i wanted to become more comfortable with the .NET programming environment &
loaded Visual Studio 2005 on the XP64 computer. big mistake. ended up re-loading
the OS and having to beg Autodesk for more auth-codes for the re-install.

also, i haven't been able to find a working version of Quicktime for XP64.

i was signed up as a "premium" member at Lynda.com, they have video tutorials
on almost everything, including some very good tutorials for Max and Maya.

but their tutorials are encoded with a "streaming media server" version of
Quicktime (to use the Flash term. it means that no temp files are left on
your computer that you can use to re-watch the tutorial.)

anyway, so i have to watch the tutorials on an older XP32 system.

 

[MegaVovaN]

You can download free 120 day trial from MS (of xp64) and see for yourself.

I used it and didn't like. xp64 is worst 64 bit system MS has, IMO - since there is very limited support.

Go vista 64 or windows 7 beta x64.

 

[Madwand1]

XP-64 was based on the 2003 code base, and shares much of the same maintenance stream and some of the internal performance enhancements. While it might be ignored by third-party software and hardware developers for consumer products, Microsoft cannot afford to kill it off as much as it might like everyone to buy newer OS's, as it's tied to Server 2003.

 

[Modelworks]

Used it for years. It's still the OS that the majority of animation studios use. It's stable and can run with very little overhead. I don't know that I would bother installing it just for games though, it is really intended as a workstation type OS and doesn't have much to offer gamers other than extra memory. I beta test for Autodesk on Windows 7 and maybe it will be the future OS, but right now it has problems too with Autodesk products. I use XP x64 with Max, Maya, Avid and there is no way I'll change anytime soon.

 

[Zenoth]

Ok guys I made the switch, I'm currently using the 120 days trial, and I will receive my retail CD-Rom by mail next week. I re-installed my Vista x64 on a separate HDD, and now the Windows XP x64 on another one (I got three HDD total, only two at a time used in the system). I've installed everything so far without a single problem since I had all the required drivers, and to my surprise lots of old 32-Bit programs are installing just fine (I say to my surprise because those same programs including one game just refused to install on my Vista x64 partition).

The only problem I have so far is that sometimes when I boot up right after the Windows loading bar finishes then the screen remains black, but my monitor stays open (green light), it stays like that, idle, doing nothing (no HDD activity) for around two minutes, and then suddenly it resumes the loading process up to the "Welcome" screen, and then again stays there, idle at the Welcome screen doing nothing for another two minutes or so, and then it suddenly resumes to the Desktop. Then when the Desktop finally loads then I notice that many programs and Windows maintenance tools (Management tools like the Disk Management for example) are taking FOREVER to respond (like two minutes each or so)...

BUT... sometimes it just doesn't do it at all, and I actually know in advance when it's going to do it or not, simply because if the Windows loading bar loads for too long (like when it does for example 10+ "passes") then it means that it will have problems to respond. However if the loading bar does around 6 or 7 passes and I see my keyboard F-Locks light flash immediately then I know it will work properly and the Desktop will be reached in a matter of seconds, as usual. That problem I'm describing is also occurring with my Vista x64 installation. I've NEVER ever experienced such a problem before on my x86 partition of XP, so it's probably something to do with x64... or some of my hardware, but then if hardware is the cause then why as I said my XP x86 installation never did that ever, I don't really get it.

But really other than that I have no issues at least not so far. I've only installed my Steam and all the games I have on it (Orange Box and many others, around 35 in total) and they all worked (well, "worked" I'm still not 100% sure but they all launched without problems, which means they should be working right). So, as of now I'm quite happy with it. I'm just trying to leave the 32-Bit architecture behind and move to 64-Bit permanently, but I love XP, and I didn't feel comfortable to just abandon it for Vista since I'm still not quite used to Vista for now (the GUI and the very annoying - although practical - UAC prompts). As long as I can switch between XP x64 and Vista x64 (usually I go with Vista x64 with DX10 gaming and nothing else really) then I'm alright with that, I just didn't want to get "rid of" XP forever, it's quite simply the best OS I've ever used to date (I've had Linux for some time, along with previous Windows versions, and XP is definitely my favorite for its simplicity even if it's "full of security holes").

Vive Windows XP!

 

[Topweasel]

I am Glad I picked it up I got an early start on the 64bit movement and it allowed me to sit through the teething of Vista in fact I purchased a Vista 64bit Ultimate but am waiting till I build a machine to install in on instead of upgrading this one. Its been to stable and to quick for me to lose forever.