Free upgrade to XP Pro 64 bit
 

Microsoft All it costs is postage. It does cancel the licence for your present XP Pro 32 bit and needs a complete installation - no upgrade path. But if you have an AMD 64 bit PC and want to have a play.....

Caution
 

having just read the web site that this is discussed on, I will only make one comment.

There is a very fine line between the

LEADING edge of technology, and the BLEEDING edge of technology.:}

"Investigate whether or not 64-bit device drivers are available for the components in your PC and the peripherals that you use (scanners, cameras, and so on). Since your 32-bit drivers will not work on this version of Windows, it is important that you make sure your devices are supported.

:E

You also loose your 32 bit XP Pro license so there is no going back if it doesn't work.

Yer all softies, where's your sense of adventure!

(The fact I have a couple of spare licences for XP Pro and a spare PC being a side issue....) :E :}

Create a new partition on your PC and install it in that.

If you don't know how to that, I would suggest thats a hint you might not know enough to want to try playing with the 64-bit version since, as mentioned previously, most of the drivers for your machine might not exist.
And not just the easy ones like printer drivers or sound cards, I'm talking system ones like memory bus drivers, etc. etc.
I had a go.
Most of the aforesaid drivers were missing. :uhoh:
I gave up, and deleted the partition and went back to 32bit XP on the original partition...

RH

RotorHorn,

Your suggestion works fine when using the Release Candidates or have multiple XP Pro licenses. If you swap your 32 bit XP Pro license for the 64 bit version, you lose the 32 bit license permanently. Meaning you can't go back if it doesn't work.

I do have the second release candidate (I just haven't gotten round to installing it yet), but am going to wait until I know my TV tuner card, webcam, Bluetooth keyboard/mouse etc. work before going for the final version.

goates