Vista 64bit or XP 32bit

I've bought a new laptop and obviously it came with vista installed.
I've used it for a couple of weeks with Vista, however can't get on with
it. The main reason is that when using Adobe CS4 it seems to keep
crashing on vista, however when I install it on my brothers pc which has
XP it doesn't ever crash.

I'm thinking of taking vista off my new laptop and replacing it with
XP, it's not a question of cost (I already have a xp disc and key from
my old laptop, which is broken). Would you recommend not to do this?

I've been reading some posts about 4gb not working in 32bit OS however
would I notice a massive performance decrease? And will I have trouble
with XP and playing games on it, my brother mentioned something about
direct x 10?

Thanks for your help/views in advanced!


--
Nixeon

I converted from a Mac to a PC :sarc:

Yout main problem is seeing if the Laptop Manufacturer has any XP drivers
written for your Model.
A lot of new laptops only had vista drivers written for them.

And Ken Blake's explanation for the RAM:
"> Hi All!
>
> I installed 4GB of ram in my XP 32 bit machine w/SP2. Windows is only
> showing 2.75 GB under system properties, general.
>
> I thought the more common amount to be shown was 3.75 GB.
>
> Does this make sense?


The amount varies, depending on your hardware. It's usually *around*
3.1GB, but can be even less that what you show.

Here's my standard post on this subject:

All 32-bit client versions of Windows (not just Vista/XP) have a 4GB
address space. That's the theoretical upper limit beyond which you can
not go.

But you can't use the entire 4GB of address space. Even though you
have a 4GB address space, you can only use *around* 3.1GB of RAM.
That's because some of that space is used by hardware and is not
available to the operating system and applications. The amount you can
use varies, depending on what hardware you have installed, but can
range from as little as 2GB to as much as 3.5GB. It's usually around
3.1GB.

Note that the hardware is using the address *space*, not the actual
RAM itself. The rest of the RAM goes unused because there is no
address space to map it too.

Why did you install that much RAM? Unless you run particularly
memory-hungry applications, even 2.75GB is *way* more than you can
make effective use of running XP.

--
Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP - Windows Desktop Experience
Please Reply to the Newsgroup "

--
Mad Mike


"Nixeon" wrote:

>
> I've bought a new laptop and obviously it came with vista installed.
> I've used it for a couple of weeks with Vista, however can't get on with
> it. The main reason is that when using Adobe CS4 it seems to keep
> crashing on vista, however when I install it on my brothers pc which has
> XP it doesn't ever crash.
>
> I'm thinking of taking vista off my new laptop and replacing it with
> XP, it's not a question of cost (I already have a xp disc and key from
> my old laptop, which is broken). Would you recommend not to do this?
>
> I've been reading some posts about 4gb not working in 32bit OS however
> would I notice a massive performance decrease? And will I have trouble
> with XP and playing games on it, my brother mentioned something about
> direct x 10?
>
> Thanks for your help/views in advanced!
>
>
> --
> Nixeon
>
> I converted from a Mac to a PC :sarc:
>

And, if XP came pre-installed on your old, broken laptop, it is OEM, and the
licence is not transferable.
If it was Retail, you could transfer it.
--
Mad Mike


"Nixeon" wrote:

>
> I've bought a new laptop and obviously it came with vista installed.
> I've used it for a couple of weeks with Vista, however can't get on with
> it. The main reason is that when using Adobe CS4 it seems to keep
> crashing on vista, however when I install it on my brothers pc which has
> XP it doesn't ever crash.
>
> I'm thinking of taking vista off my new laptop and replacing it with
> XP, it's not a question of cost (I already have a xp disc and key from
> my old laptop, which is broken). Would you recommend not to do this?
>
> I've been reading some posts about 4gb not working in 32bit OS however
> would I notice a massive performance decrease? And will I have trouble
> with XP and playing games on it, my brother mentioned something about
> direct x 10?
>
> Thanks for your help/views in advanced!
>
>
> --
> Nixeon
>
> I converted from a Mac to a PC :sarc:
>

"Nixeon" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> I've bought a new laptop and obviously it came with vista installed.
> I've used it for a couple of weeks with Vista, however can't get on with
> it. The main reason is that when using Adobe CS4 it seems to keep
> crashing on vista, however when I install it on my brothers pc which has
> XP it doesn't ever crash.

I dont know how well Adobe CS4 works with Vista or if theres a known
compatibility issuse there, but i doubt it. Almost all software that works
on
XP works on Vista just fine nowdays. Have updated to the latest version?

Are you doing something special to make it crash?

You could end up installing XP and then having the application crashing
there aswell. For instance if your computer has a faulty/defective component
that could cause instability in both Vista and applications. That would most
likely continue to plague you even if you switch OS.

> I'm thinking of taking vista off my new laptop and replacing it with
> XP, it's not a question of cost (I already have a xp disc and key from
> my old laptop, which is broken). Would you recommend not to do this?

If you dont have any performance or otherwise major issues with Vista i
suggest
keeping it.

> I've been reading some posts about 4gb not working in 32bit OS however
> would I notice a massive performance decrease? And will I have trouble

If you have 4gb (or more) ram you will need a 64bit OS to be able to access
all of it. There is no real reason not to install a 64bit OS today if your
hardware
supports it. Only problem is if you own a really old device like a printer
or scanner
that doesnt have a 64bit driver.

Note that XP has a 64bit version aswell. If you run out of free usable ram
you
would most likely run into a massive performance decrease but otherwise you
should not.

> with XP and playing games on it, my brother mentioned something about
> direct x 10?

DX10 only comes into play when talking about 3D applications (games) or
possibly demos or benchmarking software. If the software and graphics card
in your computer supports DX10 you get nicer looking graphics. You can
google
DX9 vs. DX10 or some such to get a side by side picture comparison.

> Thanks for your help/views in advanced!
>
>
> --
> Nixeon
>
> I converted from a Mac to a PC :sarc:

It just randomly crashes for no reason, even if I'm not doing anything
like the other day it crashed when I tried to create a new file, an
then later on while i was talking to my mum and on pc it randoml
crashed while i was in dreamweaver. It only happens in Adobe CS4 suite
Perhaps I'll just ring Adobe and see what they say

Would XP 64bit use all 4GB of Ram and is it better or worse than Vist
x64

Although I will probably stick with Vista if you believe I might hav
the same problem on XP

--
Nixeo

I converted from a Mac to a PC :sarc:

A problem you might get going to XP some features of your laptop may not
work I tried on my laptop once before and the graphics card didn't work
correctly with XP it was only designed to work with Vista.


--
BlueGriff88

I don't think it will have too much of a problem. The drivers disc tha
came with the laptop has to 4 sets of drivers on it . XP (32bit an
64bit) and Vista (32bit and 64bit) I also got two copies of Vista Hom
Premium (32bit and 64bit)

However I haven't tried the XP drivers so wouldn't know 100% if the
work without problems

--
Nixeo

I converted from a Mac to a PC :sarc:

When you reply here, leave in the post that you are replying to.
Otherwise, everyone loses track of where you are up to in the thread!
--
Mad Mike


"Nixeon" wrote:

>
> I don't think it will have too much of a problem. The drivers disc that
> came with the laptop has to 4 sets of drivers on it . XP (32bit and
> 64bit) and Vista (32bit and 64bit) I also got two copies of Vista Home
> Premium (32bit and 64bit).
>
> However I haven't tried the XP drivers so wouldn't know 100% if they
> work without problems.
>
>
> --
> Nixeon
>
> I converted from a Mac to a PC :sarc:
>

"Nixeon" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> It just randomly crashes for no reason, even if I'm not doing anything,
> like the other day it crashed when I tried to create a new file, and
> then later on while i was talking to my mum and on pc it randomly
> crashed while i was in dreamweaver. It only happens in Adobe CS4 suite.
> Perhaps I'll just ring Adobe and see what they say.

You can check with Adobe but you may also want to try the following to make
sure its not your computer that is the problem:

1. Run latest memtest86+ (free, small) overnight to make sure your ram is
functioning as it should.
2. Run latest prime95 (free, small) blend torture test for 24 hours (can run
in background while you do other stuff, even play games).

If those dont report any failures.

3. Update all your drivers, go directly to the manufacturer instead of
store's webpage
4. Update the application to the latest version, check adobes webpage.

> Would XP 64bit use all 4GB of Ram and is it better or worse than Vista
> x64?

Any 64bit OS can access 4gb or more ram provided the application you run is
64bit aswell. New games are more and more frequently supporting it and as
they will require more resources it will probably be even more common.

As a comparison i have 8gb of ram and both XP x64 and Vista x64 work just
fine for me. Both are completely stable and do what they are supposed to.
Vista is better in the way that it has more features and also supports DX10
rather then DX9 you get with XP.

Downside with Vista is that its a bit more memory hungry and has not been
quite as 'refined' as XP yet. It will come with time.

> Although I will probably stick with Vista if you believe I might have
> the same problem on XP.

Hard to say, check the above hardware tests before trying XP, could save you
alot of trouble.

>
> --
> Nixeon
>
> I converted from a Mac to a PC :sarc:

Nixeon wrote:
> I've bought a new laptop and obviously it came with vista installed.
> I've used it for a couple of weeks with Vista, however can't get on with
> it. The main reason is that when using Adobe CS4 it seems to keep
> crashing on vista, however when I install it on my brothers pc which has
> XP it doesn't ever crash.
>


Is Adobe CS4 certified by its manufacturer as being Vista-compatible?
What has Adobe's technical support had to offer for solutions?


> I'm thinking of taking vista off my new laptop and replacing it with
> XP, it's not a question of cost (I already have a xp disc and key from
> my old laptop, which is broken).


Ah, but it will be. By your own admission, you have an OEM licenses
for WinXP. An OEM version must be sold with a piece of hardware
(normally a motherboard or hard rive, if not an entire PC) and is
_permanently_ bound to the first PC on which it's installed. An OEM
license, once installed, is not legally transferable to another computer
under _any_ circumstances.


> Would you recommend not to do this?
>

There could be a couple possible adverse repercussions of which you
should be aware. First and foremost, if the specific computer model in
question was designed specifically for Vista, there may well be no
WinXP-specific device drivers available to make the computer's diverse
components work properly. Consult the computer's manufacturer about the
availability of device drivers. Secondly, removing an OEM-installed
operating system and replacing it with another will almost invariably
void any and all support agreements and, sometimes, even the warranty.
You would, at the very least, have to re-install Vista before getting
any support from the manufacturer. Again, consult the computer's
manufacturer for specifics. Thirdly, there may be the additional cost
involved in purchasing a WinXP license for this new computer.

After backing up any data you wish to transfer to the new OS
installation, simply boot from the WinXP installation CD. You'll be
offered the opportunity to delete, create, and format partitions as part
of the installation process. (You may need to re-arrange the order of
boot devices in the PC's BIOS to boot from the CD.)

HOW TO Install Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default...B;en-us;316941

http://www.michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

http://www.webtree.ca/windowsxp/clean_install.htm

Then, assuming you were successful in obtaining WinXP-specific
device drivers so that the computer can be made to work with WinXP, the
backed up data can be restored and applications (those that are
WinXP-compatible, that is) re-installed.


> I've been reading some posts about 4gb not working in 32bit OS however
> would I notice a massive performance decrease?


Massive? No, but it might be noticeable.


> And will I have trouble
> with XP and playing games on it, my brother mentioned something about
> direct x 10?
>

No way of knowing, as you failed to mention any specific games.


--

Bruce Chambers

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