Upgrading from Media Center to XP 64-bit version?

Hello!

I recently ran "System Optimizer" and its "System Advisor" in TuneUp Utilities 2007. It gave me the following message:

Your computer has a 64 bit
processor, but your current
Windows version only uses 32 of
the available 64 bits. You should
consider upgrading to a 64 bit
version of your operating
system to benefit from improved
security and better system
performance.

I currently have Windows XP Media Center Edition version 2002 with SP2, it was included with the computer. Now I wonder if I can upgrade to the 64 bit version without formatting and doing a clean install without any issues? I have before tried to upgrade between OS:s through the upgrade feature that's available from the CD but ran into troubles (from XP Home to XP Professional).

I also wonder how much I will notice that the 64 bits version cannot run 16 bit software. And of course if the upgrade would give a good performance boost and thus being worth it.

Current system specs:

Fujitsu Siemens Amilo Pi 1536
INTEL Core 2 Duo T5600 (1.83GHz), 120 GB SATA (5400rpm),
2048 MB RAM, 128MB/512MB* - PCIe MXM2, ATI RADEON X1400

I already have a legal XP 64 bits CD, I just want to know if it's a good idea. Thanks!

Hello dacascos

I'm not too familiar with this type of upgrade, but here are a few resources you can read up on (including a tool to determine if your current system setup can handle 64-bits:
What You Need To Know About The Shift to 64-Bit Computing
64bit - x64 - Upgrade a 32-bit computer into a 64-bit one
List of limitations in 64-Bit Windows

As you'll find in the last link, 16-bit code cannot run on an x64 system.

Let me know if you need any more information.

Ax

Thanks Ax! I found some useful information there that I had not found before. If anyone has any experience of running XP x64 or even better have upgrade to x64 from usual 32 bit version I'd be very happy to hear about the experience. Is it faster? What kind of problems have you experienced with drivers and software? I've looked into the most crucial applications which has to be compatible with x64 to work like Anti-Virus, Anti-Spyware, daemon tools etc and found good solutions for x64 systems. But I don't want any nasty surprises if I upgrade that I havent looked at. Also, does anyone know around what year developers stopped making 16-bit software? I read that it was common to have 16-bit installers for 32-bit software also, when did that stop? Last, can I keep all data when upgrading through booting from the CD?

Most of the posts I've seen in various forums are very negative about XP 64. Very little performance gain Almost no apps written to take advantage of the architecture Many stability problems If you decide to give it a try I would strongly recommend that you buy a external HD and do a full backup first. Then if you decide you don't like it, recovery is only 30 minutes to an hour away.

Thanks Ztruker. Guess I will pass on upgrading then for now, I'm too lazy to try if there's little reasons to believe that it will make a positive difference.

If I had a computer capable of it I would try it, just to see for myself. I would also have the backup handy!