Getting 64-bit OS

hey guys i'm doing a class at pellessippi technical community college and they have this program called msdn academic alliance that's partnered with Microsoft, and allows students to download Microsoft products for free for their personal use. I need your feedback on this, because I currently have 32-bit XP Home Edition and I am probably going to download XP Pro 64-bit edition (They do have Windows 7 but my comp doesnt meet the RAM requirements for it). Is it true that 64-bit OS's manage memory and processing power better then 32-bit OS's?My computer is running pretty slow and my RAM gets used up easily (idk why, i don't use any programs that use a lot of RAM except HL2), and wanted to know if it would be a good idea to go ahead and get the 64-bit edition of XP Pro.

Don't get XP-64, if you plan to get 64 bit, get vista or 7 cuz not lot of programs run on XP-64.

Get Windows 7 if possible...My school has the same msdn academic alliance
I Got:
Windows 7 64bit Professional
Vista Business 64bit
Visual Studio 2008
Visio 2008
All For Free...Take advantage of this and get as many programs as you want
(Note: you can only install them once each for each cdkey (for programs that include cdkeys) So reformat you computer with a clean installation(if you upgrade OS) now or never.


Even though you computer doesnt support the OS, download Windows 7 anyway... The download file is an ISO disk image so you can burn to dvd and install whenever you want (You dont even have to be apart of the school then)

Also, if your still enrolled for next semester (Winter 2010 to Spring 2010, you would probably get access to Office 2010 as well, look out for it )

Don't get XP-64, if you plan to get 64 bit, get vista or 7 cuz not lot of programs run on XP-64.

Agreed. XP 64-bit just doesn't has the driver support to really get a smoothly operating computer up. It also massively lacks in software support, so I've heard. I would so go Vista as well, but do get the 7 download and put it on a disk, like Slevin suggested.

ok, well one issue. the download's only 2 gigs, but the downloader says unpacked it will be 16gb. how the heck am i gonna fit this on a dvd that can only hold 4.7gb?

*EDIT*

Nevermind, Slevin gave me my answer over Steam. Apparently it tells you it's going to be 16gb but in reality it's only like 2 or 3.

Get Windows 7 if possible...My school has the same msdn academic alliance
I Got:
Windows 7 64bit Professional
Vista Business 64bit
Visual Studio 2008
Visio 2008
All For Free...Take advantage of this and get as many programs as you want
(Note: you can only install them once each for each cdkey (for programs that include cdkeys) So reformat you computer with a clean installation(if you upgrade OS) now or never.


Even though you computer doesnt support the OS, download Windows 7 anyway... The download file is an ISO disk image so you can burn to dvd and install whenever you want (You dont even have to be apart of the school then)

Also, if your still enrolled for next semester (Winter 2010 to Spring 2010, you would probably get access to Office 2010 as well, look out for it )

Why did you download Vista if you got 7? Did you download Vista then 7 came out and you got it or something?

Ordere 7 yesterday hope I get it tomorrow...
IOm not sure If I ordered the right one I did the OEM

Ordere 7 yesterday hope I get it tomorrow...
IOm not sure If I ordered the right one I did the OEM

OEM is fine, but you won't be able to use it if you get a new computer. That's the only down fall.

When you buy a new computer, you should be given a backup OEM install CD for your OS anyway. I've reformatted by computer many times over the years with the same OEM cdkey and it still works, you sometimes just have to call Microsoft Tech Support to get a new cd key though, but its free.

Ordere 7 yesterday hope I get it tomorrow...
IOm not sure If I ordered the right one I did the OEM

OEM is fine, but you won't be able to use it if you get a new computer. That's the only down fall.

Don you know i built my computer... Does that mean that if I buy a different MoBo and CPU but keep all the old i cant reuse the OEM 7 disk???? Im running XP right not from a laptop gateway that that I still have in the house my Better Half uses everyday...

I have reformatted My HD on this system 3 times in the last 6mos and have had no trouble at all... HOPE im Not Busted
Its kinda like what slevin is saying in his comments.. but i still using 1 OS on two different systems.
So does the US Marshals show up or Bill himself with a warrent...
Please Mr.Juan let me know about the OEM... when I orderd it, it asked did you or are you building your own system and thats the page it took me to....
FYI fixed my A: drive got a hot fix from MS "BAMM" solved!!! Had a virus attached to a driver started by doing a Virus scan in safe mode... hope that made sence

Glad you got your problem sorted out Eyerock.

Yes you should be able to reuse your OEM Windows 7 disk...You just cant have multiple systems running with the same Cd key...so when you activate windows (again, after reformatting say) you may need to get a new license key. I think i had to do that once with XP, but it was FREE anyway...just a hassle to speak to the automated Microsoft phone system.
(If this occurs, the Windows Activation Window will tell you the phone number; you may even be able to sort it out using the online activation also)

Thanks Slevin and Don

I have a technical question..I currently have 4 gb's or ram with win XP but it's only reading 3 gb's, does it mean it is running slower than 4 gb's ? wasting that extra 1 gb of ram i have installed?

I know is only reading 3 gb's because is an XP 32 bit version
and i know it will read all 4 (or even more) with Win 7 64 bit version

SO will it run 1 gig slower if XP is currently not reading it? OR is it running fast already using all 4 gigs with win. XP, eventhough it shows 3 gigs ?

I don't mind how many gb's Win. XP shows, i just want to make sure is running all 4 gb's...

[(TKC)-o]T3[o]

No you are not gaining the benefit of all your memory until you move to a 64 bit OS.

No you are not gaining the benefit of all your memory until you move to a 64 bit OS.

omg, so i been running at 3 gb's or at least not at 4!... oh well, i guess i'll be force to move to 64 bit Win 7 now lol, in that case i might throw in some more ram too.

Thanks a lot T3!