Why not XP 32bit + 7 64bit?

Will give you best compatibility range IMO. That way you can use RAM >4GB out of the box for the 7 64bit, and then you can also setup RAMDISK for the XP 32bit (might have to buy the software though) to make use of the extra RAM.

Also pay special attention to the motherboard's XP drivers (for example, Intel doesn't support USB 3.0 on XP, but Renesas does).

I like this project. More and more it looks like W7 will be a pivotal point in the arc of future retro gaming. You have quite a few ways to approach it - for myself I ganged XP 32-bit with W98se on a souped-up single-core based rig [using the RLOWE memory patch to get W98se to play along], and plan to preserve *intact* my current 64-bit W7 system [AMD 8350/HD 7870] for the late XP/W7 era.

I'll cross the W9+ bridge when I reach it...

archsan wrote:

Why not XP 32bit + 7 64bit?

Will give you best compatibility range IMO. That way you can use RAM >4GB out of the box for the 7 64bit, and then you can also setup RAMDISK for the XP 32bit (might have to buy the software though) to make use of the extra RAM.

Also pay special attention to the motherboard's XP drivers (for example, Intel doesn't support USB 3.0 on XP, but Renesas does).

Yes i was also thinking of using windows xp 32-bit. But iam really not sure if this would be save? (because of those bugs they cant solve anymore)
Few months ago i bought a retail windows 7 professional SP1 version from ebay.. But these double disk versions 32&64 bit versions can only activated by once.. So i had planned to use it as 32-bit.)

At this moment iam running windows 7 ultimate 64-bit on my main system.. But for this system iam think to leave the windows section for good (i really cant get use to work with the newer windows versions. And also cant go with microsofts new ideas about those windows 8 and 9 versions.) So i was planning to change to linux instead and hope the best.

Iam already checked if the used motherboard had drivers for windows xp till windows 7.. Yes it does, also windows xp having drivers for this motherboard:
http://www.asrock.nl/mb/Intel/Z77%20Extreme6/ … =Download&os=XP

I wasnt really afraid that there wasnt USB 3.0 drivers for windows xp.. Because in that period this motherboard was released, the manufacturers did mostly used USB 3.0 controller chips on this boards.
Not only Renesas do support windows xp usb3.0 also Etron will do..

tincup wrote:

I like this project. More and more it looks like W7 will be a pivotal point in the arc of future retro gaming. You have quite a few ways to approach it - for myself I ganged XP 32-bit with W98se on a souped-up single-core based rig [using the RLOWE memory patch to get W98se to play along], and plan to preserve *intact* my current 64-bit W7 system [AMD 8350/HD 7870] for the late XP/W7 era.

I'll cross the W9+ bridge when I reach it...

Iam not sure if iam going to windows 9, it would more be a phone like OS so it would also been compatible with desktop pcs.. I really dont like the idea of still buying every 5 years of time a new windows OS..
When iam already 'm used to it, then i can already change to a new windows version. OSx is for not an option for now, because you need to use hackintosch iam really dont know how it works. Its just to complicated for me.
Why i like windows 7? It doesnt use that ugly modern UI style, it dont use those `tiles` i really dont like. And also i dont like that `app` idea too.

My intentions was also to support windows 7 games too.. So i have one system for a big range of games.. And what kind of hardware iam using it for, i really dont care. It just need to be compatible with the older windows xp stuff too. And the graphics cards needs to have to right speed to handle everything..

Robin4 wrote:

Yes i was also thinking of using windows xp 32-bit. But iam really not sure if this would be save? (because of those bugs they cant solve anymore)
Few months ago i bought a retail windows 7 professional SP1 version from ebay.. But these double disk versions 32&64 bit versions can only activated by once.. So i had planned to use it as 32-bit.)

At this moment iam running windows 7 ultimate 64-bit on my main system.. But for this system iam think to leave the windows section for good (i really cant get use to work with the newer windows versions. And also cant go with microsofts new ideas about those windows 8 and 9 versions.) So i was planning to change to linux instead and hope the best.

Yeah, I'm sticking with 7 myself, though there's a chance it will be capped to DX11 when DX12 goes out. 😒

As for win7 activation, I'm sure you'll still be able to re-activate the retail license when changing from 32-bit to 64-bit. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fo … 29-bfe221218c0e

As for XP (or any OS no longer current really) being safe/secure -- actually I'd keep it strictly offline (once installed, firewalled, *activated*, and updated). For programs activations/updates etc, usually there are offline methods/options as well.

archsan wrote:

As for win7 activation, I'm sure you'll still be able to re-activate the retail license when changing from 32-bit to 64-bit. http://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/fo … 29-bfe221218c0e

Or you could backup the activation and restore it in a separate installation on the same hardware. I did this to install Windows 7 32bit on a notebook that came with Windows 7 64bit, and I didn't have to enter the (OEM) license key using this method. I think I used this tool for that purpose. (The "Beta with Windows 7 Support" remark sounds funny but I couldn't find anything better at the time, and it worked.)