A description of the x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003 and of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition (888733)

INTRODUCTION

This article lists and briefly describes the x64-based versions of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and of Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

These versions are the following:

Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Enterprise x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Standard x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Datacenter x64 Edition
Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition

The x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003 and of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition support Advanced Micro Devices (AMD) AMD64 processors and Intel Extended Memory 64 Technology (EM64T) processors. The underlying architecture of these operating systems is based on 64-bit extensions to the standard x86 instruction set. Therefore, you can run 32-bit and 64-bit programs on x64-processor-based computers that are running an x64-based version of Windows Server 2003 or of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition.

MORE INFORMATION

The x64-based versions are based on the Windows Server 2003 code tree. Service and support activities for these versions use the Windows Server 2003 tree and do not use the Windows XP client tree. The x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003 and of Windows XP Professional x64 Edition are available through the following sources:

Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs)
Microsoft Software Assurance
Microsoft Developer Network (MSDN)

All fixes built into Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 2 (SP2) are included in Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 1 (SP1). Additionally, Windows Server 2003 SP1 is the code tree segment that all Windows x64 editions are based on. Therefore, Windows XP Professional x64 Edition does not require Windows XP SP2. Because Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and the x64 editions of Windows Server 2003 have different product names but receive the same updates, some customer confusion may occur. Before you decide how to advise a customer, always make sure that you ask the customer to run the Winver.exe command-line tool to determine which product the customer is running.

Customers who purchased 64-bit hardware in a package that includes a 32-bit version of Windows Server 2003 or of Windows XP can upgrade their 32-bit licenses to 64-bit licenses.

For more information about the x64-based versions of Windows Server 2003, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/64bit/default.mspx

For more information about Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx

The third-party products that this article discusses are manufactured by companies that are independent of Microsoft. Microsoft makes no warranty, implied or otherwise, regarding the performance or reliability of these products.

Technical support for Windows x64 editions

Your hardware manufacturer provides technical support and assistance for Microsoft Windows x64 editions. Your hardware manufacturer provides support because a Windows x64 edition was included with your hardware. Your hardware manufacturer might have customized the Windows x64 edition installation with unique components. Unique components might include specific device drivers or might include optional settings to maximize the performance of the hardware. Microsoft will provide reasonable-effort assistance if you need technical help with your Windows x64 edition. However, you might have to contact your manufacturer directly. Your manufacturer is best qualified to support the software that your manufacturer installed on the hardware.

For product information about Microsoft Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/default.mspx

For product information about Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 editions, visit the following Microsoft Web site:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/64bit/x64/default.mspx