[RESOLVED] XP Pro SP3 32-bit or 64-bit?

Hello,

After a lot of research I have finally reached the conclusion that I will do a fresh installation of Windows XP on my laptop and will try our Win 7 using a virtual machine. Have not decided about which virtual machine because looking for something that is freeware but is good. So will appreciate kind recommendations in this regard.

Coming to the question:
My laptop is sony vaio VGN-FZ140E and i have 2 GB RAM. Will 64-bit give a significant performance boost as compared with 32-bit. I read a few posts where people have rated the 64-but version of XP Pro as terrible and thumbs down.

Can someone please help me decide whether I should go with 32-bit or 64-bit?

Thanks

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Will 64-bit give a significant performance boost as compared with 32-bit.

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No.

Unless you have 4GB+ ram, you have nothing to gain using 64-bit XP. In fact, you are asking for more headaches since drivers are harder to come by.

Note that if you do run a VM, you can only run a 32-bit VM on a 32-bit host OS. You only have 2GB of ram, so you won't be able to give much to the VM anyway.

Thanks Midknyte. Decision taken and XP 32-bit it is :)

In case you (or other members here) are aware of any, may i request which VM you would recommend? Can be freeware or shareware (though preference is freeware).

All virtualisation products have their strengths and weaknesses.

1) MS Virtual PC- freeware, works very well with Windows, but is basic and lacks USB support.

2) Virtual Box - freeware. Supposedly has USB support, though I hear it can be a bit flaky. I have no personal experience of this one.

3) VMware Workstation - $ware, and not that cheap. By far and away the best one I've ever used, excellent USB support and hardware integration in general.

4) VMware Server - freeware. Has many of the features of Workstation AFAIK, though I again have no personal experience of it.

Virtual PC 2007

Virtual Box

VM Ware

I have experience with VirtualBox and it works great!

I do run Ubuntu Linux and use an XP VM to sync my iPhone, so i'll vouch for the USB support. VirtualBox also has a feature called Guest Additions that allows you to interact with the VM without using some funky toogle to get in and out of the VM.

I hope this helps!!!

morland--Something else to consider
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-US/w...e-in-windows-7
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/vir.../download.aspx

That's not going to help here Jim, as the OP wants to run Win7 as the VM rather than the host.

I do agree that XP Mode is a wonderful thing though.

Hi everyone. I am really thankful for all the information you have shared. Since I have never ventured into the VM world therefore may I ask why the emphasis on USB support. For some reason this point appears to be an important feature.

Thanks in advance

SuperSpeed USB 3.0: More Details Emerge
http://www.pcworld.com/article/15649...ls_emerge.html

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"USB has been the most successful interface in history of personal computing," Ravencraft noted. "Over 6 billion products are in the market, and over 2 billion ship a year now."

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Wikipedia: USB
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usb

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USB can connect computer peripherals such as mice, keyboards, digital cameras, printers, personal media players, flash drives, and external hard drives. For many of those devices, USB has become the standard connection method. USB was designed for personal computers, but it has become commonplace on other devices such as smartphones, PDAs and video game consoles, and as a power cord between a device and an AC adapter plugged into a wall plug for charging.

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Having USB support doesn't matter if you have no USB peripherals that you need to use in the virtual machine. However, it can be very useful indeed to be able to use USB connected devices, and back when I started my journey into virtualisation, in 2004 or so, I used to find the lack of USB support very frustrating at times. But your mileage may vary, of course :)

Ideally you'd like your VM to run as if it were the host. Able to interface with all peripherals. This simply is not the case though. If your VM has USB support you can close a lot of gaps that you otherwise would not be able to. Hence the importance of USB support in VM.

SuperSparks--Thanks for spotting that morland wants to run Win7 as the VM.

A 64-bit Operating System is required to take full advantage of 4GB memory. A 32-bit Operating System only recognizes up to 3GB memory...

Now you can choose from 32bit or 64 bit....

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Originally Posted by Seymourr

A 64-bit Operating System is required to take full advantage of 4GB memory. A 32-bit Operating System only recognizes up to 3GB memory...

Now you can choose from 32bit or 64 bit....

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Do not post spam links in your posts or your stay will be very brief.

thanks all. i think that is much more (but useful information) that i expected/asked for. VERY thankful 2 all :)

You're very welcome :)