From: V@nguard.LH   
      
   pyotr filipivich wrote:   
      
   > Can it be done with just an upgrade, or will I need a clean install   
   > anyway?   
      
   Lots of problems when going to the 64-bit version of Windows XP.   
   That's because it is actually Windows Server 2003 64-bit skinned to   
   look like Windows XP along with some crippling of server   
   functionality.  The result is that many apps that won't run under a   
   server version of Windows will also not run under Win XP 64-bit.  Some   
   programs check if they are ran under a server version and refuse to   
   load or will deliberately misbehave (because you are violating the TOS   
   for that software).  Some expect a workstation version of Windows and   
   are coded thusly and don't function properly under a server version.   
      
   You better make sure ALL your software, including hardware drivers,   
   will run in a server version of Windows if you migrate to Win XP   
   32-bit to Win XP 64-bit.   
      
   > 	I need 64 bit OS for class work.   
      
   No, you don't.  The only need for 64-bit mode on a workstation is to   
   allow access to more memory.  Yet user-mode programs will still only   
   access up to 2GB unless specifically coded to access more memory.  If   
   your claim is that you need to use such 64-bit programs then you   
   should be going to a server version of Windows or a later workstation   
   version that itself supports 64-bit mode, not a bastardized Windows XP   
   64-bit version.   
      
   > If I can upgrade in place with   
   > XP, is good.  If I need to do a clean install - might as well look   
   > into upgrading hardware at the same time.   
      
   Oh, your "school" requires you to provide the platform on which to run   
   your homework?  This really isn't a school requirement, is it?   
      
   > Win 7 seems to be "viable"   
   > - Win8 seems to have achieved the functionality of AOL, becoming   
   > system for playing with, not working on.   
      
   Win Vista: no (avoid).   
   Win 7: perhaps depending on what are you real requirements   
   Win 8 (even 8.1): Give that to your enemies.   
      
   > tschus   
   > pyotr   
      
      
   A sigdash delimiter line (before the signature portion of your post)   
   is NOT a dash-dash-space-space-newline.  It's dash-dash-space-newling   
   (one less dash).  Configure your newreader to insert a proper sigdash   
   line.   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)