XP mode: 32 or 64 bit

[New7user7]

I just installed XP mode. In the XP desktop, if I do click Start, right-click MyComputer, and select Properties, there is no indication in the General tab as to whether it is 32-bit XP or 64-bit XP. Is there a way to tell?

 

[Adrenal Tech]

I believe if you click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information, it should be listed as System Type and should tell you which it is.

 

[Darician]

In XP, unless it specifically says Windows XP Professional x64, then you're fine. Additionally, here are the screenshots of the boot screen as well as the system properties dialog box from Windows XP Professional x64. If your screen does not look like this, then you have XP 32-bit. Also, as a point of reference, XP mode uses Windows XP 32-bit.

 

[New7user7]

I believe if you click Start > All Programs > Accessories > System Tools > System Information, it should be listed as System Type and should tell you which it is.

It says x86-based PC. Wikipedia indicates that this can include 16 and 64 bit.

However, the System Directory is system32. I'm not sure if this is enough to indicate with certainty that the OS is 32-bit. Would an N-bit OS have systemN as the System Directory?

 

[New7user7]

In XP, unless it specifically says Windows XP Professional x64, then you're fine. Additionally, here are the screenshots of the boot screen as well as the system properties dialog box from Windows XP Professional x64. If your screen does not look like this, then you have XP 32-bit. Also, as a point of reference, XP mode uses Windows XP 32-bit.

You must be psychic. You said "then you're fine" as if I *wanted* 32-bit XP (and in fact I do).

I wonder why this little detail (that XP mode is 32-bit) is not in the XP Mode web pages, or in the How-To PDF file. Unless you've owned 64-bit XP before, one would not know what are the indicators from which one could discern the datapath width.

 

[ken9122]

The XP mode in win 7 is only 32bit.

Ken

 

[New7user7]

The XP mode in win 7 is only 32bit.

Ken

Thanks...wish this detail was better documented.

 

[KazeNoKoe23]

The XP mode in win 7 is only 32bit.

Ken

Thanks...wish this detail was better documented.

I agree, although if it were XP x64 that was also available, Microsoft might have to rename it "Server 2003 SP1 that looks like XP" Mode.

 

[Darician]

In XP, unless it specifically says Windows XP Professional x64, then you're fine. Additionally, here are the screenshots of the boot screen as well as the system properties dialog box from Windows XP Professional x64. If your screen does not look like this, then you have XP 32-bit. Also, as a point of reference, XP mode uses Windows XP 32-bit.

You must be psychic. You said "then you're fine" as if I *wanted* 32-bit XP (and in fact I do).

I wonder why this little detail (that XP mode is 32-bit) is not in the XP Mode web pages, or in the How-To PDF file. Unless you've owned 64-bit XP before, one would not know what are the indicators from which one could discern the datapath width.

I figured as most people want XP 32-bit. In regard to it not being that obvious, that is actually true. They put it in the FAQ about Windows XP Mode as the very last question I believe. I guess they didn't really mention it to avoid confusion from people and because if they want to achieive compatibility, for which XP Mode is designed for, then it must be 32-bit because a lot of older line of business apps require 32-bit for some reason or another.

 

[New7user7]

The XP mode in win 7 is only 32bit.

Ken

Thanks...wish this detail was better documented.

I agree, although if it were XP x64 that was also available, Microsoft might have to rename it "Server 2003 SP1 that looks like XP" Mode.

OK, that went over my head. I'm a mere end user, so I let the IT folks coddle me by caring for the server side of things.

 

[New7user7]

In XP, unless it specifically says Windows XP Professional x64, then you're fine. Additionally, here are the screenshots of the boot screen as well as the system properties dialog box from Windows XP Professional x64. If your screen does not look like this, then you have XP 32-bit. Also, as a point of reference, XP mode uses Windows XP 32-bit.

You must be psychic. You said "then you're fine" as if I *wanted* 32-bit XP (and in fact I do).

I wonder why this little detail (that XP mode is 32-bit) is not in the XP Mode web pages, or in the How-To PDF file. Unless you've owned 64-bit XP before, one would not know what are the indicators from which one could discern the datapath width.

I figured as most people want XP 32-bit. In regard to it not being that obvious, that is actually true. They put it in the FAQ about Windows XP Mode as the very last question I believe. I guess they didn't really mention it to avoid confusion from people and because if they want to achieive compatibility, for which XP Mode is designed for, then it must be 32-bit because a lot of older line of business apps require 32-bit for some reason or another.

Ah yes, I see that FAQ now. And yes, it makes sense that to support older apps, 32-bit would be the way to go. Without having seen the FAQ (or rather, I saw the FAQ, but that was before my 64-bit question), I wanted to rule out the possibility that the XP-mode install defaulted to the same bit-width as the host system.

Thanks for clearing it all up.

 

[eldinv]

Have you tried XP Mode on VMWare? It's much faster.
Run XP Mode on Windows 7 Machines Without Hardware Virtualization - How-To Geek