64-bit Windows Vista

The 64-bit edition of Windows Vista delivers not only support for larger quantities of system memory, with the high-end editions supporting as much as 128 GB of RAM, but also some extra horse power hidden under the hood. Essentially, in terms of performance, x64 Vista manages to best all the alternatives available under the Windows client umbrella.

This is the third post in my series about the Vista x64 vs. Vista x86 issue. In my first article, I claimed that CPU performance is not really a good reason jump on the 64-bit bandwagon at the moment. In my last article, I wrote that software compatibility is only a theoretical problem now, and today, I want to discuss hardware compatibility.

This morning I was getting ready to record a screencast about ReSharper 4 EAP. To make it easier for people to follow along, I launched Roy Osherove's excellent utility, Keyboard Jedi. Rather than the expected result, this friendly dialog box greeted me:

Microsoft did well bringing the 64-bit architecture to Windows Vista but somehow they screwed up. Apparently they forgot who their target audience was when they introduced a very restricted module of driver signature enforcement. In laymen’s terms, all drivers and system files must be digitally verified or they cannot run when using the 64-bit version of Vista. In the past it was possible to turn that feature off; but due to new kernel security updates it is impossible to turn it off without degrading security and stability of your operating system.

I already discussed the Vista x64 vs. Vista x86 question a year ago. Vista was just released and for the early adopters, the first decision to be made was which edition, i.e. 32-bit or 64-bit, would be the better choice. At this time, I was skeptical regarding Vista x64, mostly because the advantages didn’t outweigh the downsides. It is time now to reconsider this question since the main disadvantages of the 64-bit version (hardware and software compatibility) might not be such an issue anymore.

Memory is getting cheaper every day. This is one reason why more and more people are equipping their PCs with 4GB RAM or more. Modern desktops often support up to 8GB. So it happens quite often these days that a proud owner of a new a PC wonders why Vista only reports about 3GB RAM even though he bought 4GB.

Ever since we first made available the Windows Vista Recovery Disc for download back in January, we've been inundated with requests for an x64-compatible version. Flash-forward to three months later, and it's finally here!

Microsoft Windows Vista is more than 12 months old but still there are many Windows users who have not decided for upgrading yet. You are hearing every corner in internet about Windows Vista’s hardware and software incompatibility and especially Vista 64-bit edition. In this article I like to explain better the versions and features of Windows Vista and clear this question why you should upgrade from Windows XP to Windows Vista and if you have a CPU with a 64-bit extension then you should upgrade to Vista 64-bit.

Right now, I'm writing this on a system running 64-bit Windows Vista with 4GB of memory. So far, my experiment with 64-bit Vista has been mostly positive, though VPN is still lacking, and I'd love to have a 64-bit Nikon NEF (raw file) codec. However, I haven't really dived into the performance issue. My subjective opinion is that performance has generally been good, but it was time to get some hard data.

Microsoft says that Windows Vista Service Pack 1 needs to speak the same language as the RTM version of the latest Windows client. Otherwise there's no game. The Redmond company revealed from the get-go that Windows Vista SP1 would be delivered in two stages. The first wave of Vista SP1 releases was made available on March 18, 2008, after it was released to manufacturing on February 4, 2008.

If you just built or bought a new computer, upgraded your computer, or just for some reason need a new operating system, you have probably wondered if you should buy the 64 bit version or the 32 bit one. This will depend on two things - the hardware and software you use.

Windows Vista 64-bit - Service Pack 1 Tests - Performance

Microsoft Remote Server Administration Tools (RSAT) enables IT administrators to remotely manage roles and features in Windows Server 2008 from a computer running Windows Vista with SP1. It includes support for remote management of computers running either a Server Core installation or the full installation option of Windows Server 2008. It provides similar functionality to Windows Server 2003 Administration Tools Pack.

This will show you how to download or create a Recovery Disc for both the 32 bit and 64 bit Vista. The Recovery Disc created here does not install Vista. It is also not like the OEM Vista recovery DVD that comes with most store bought computers. Instead it is used to boot from to repair your already installed Vista. See the example below for the options available from the recovery disc when booted from.

Microsoft affirms that the Service Pack 1 for Windows Vista is not just a patch collection, but extended the operating system with new features, greater reliability and higher performance. In this article I would analyze the service pack 1 for Windows Vista to show you if you are ready for SP1 or you should wait till April when Microsoft the automated update for service pack 1 for Vista releases.