Hi,

I have just built a new small form factor PC with a Core 2 Duo E6850, 8 GB RAM, ATI 3850/512MB, 2x 500GB Hard Disks and a 24" monitor.

I am now installing Win XP Pro x64 bit edition but the usual support software that I like to have, e.g. to do internet security/virus scanning AND registry repairs/cleaning, seem to be mostly only for 32 bit windows.

Does anyone have any advice for support software that will also work well under XP Pro x64?

My initial wish list includes:
AV = Kaspersky Internet Security 7.0 with freebie AV backup from AVAST
Data Archival = 7Zip (great and free and zip compatible)

but I have not got a clue how to get most of the things I take for granted with Norton System Works, such as registry check, clean and repair.
Does anyone think that 3DConnexions Space Navigator (personal USB version) is a good buy for Poser?
Does software such as Paint Shop Pro XI, Hexagon 2, Carrara 5/6 and Vue 5/6 all work under XP Pro x64.

Wish you all a very Happy New Year, and thanks for any advice you can offer.

Jovial.

I'd assume that those applications (Carrara, Vue, PSP and Hexagon) will all run under XP Pro 64, but won't all benefit from the 64-bit environment.   The ones that are designed to run 32-bit should continue to do so.   Vue 6 will definitely exploit 64 bits.   It's why you can never have too much memory to run Vue.   I don't think Carrara can use 64-bit yet, though, and I don't imagine Hexagon can, or PSP.   I can't think that there is any feature of PSP that needs a particularly large amount of memory, so I'd expect that to be 32-bit (I don't use it, though, so I'm guessing).  

How much did the new PC cost?

I'll just repeat here (copy 'n paste) what I've said in the other XP 64 thread:

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2724169

BTW - so far, in my limited time between travel and other holiday / work activities, I've migrated Poser 7 (which did not require a re-install), Vue 6 Infinite, and Photoshop CS3 Extended over to the 64 bit side.  Based upon what I've seen with the arrangement under XP 64 thus far: I am beginning to ask myself why I didn't do this a long time ago.  I can have all three applications open at the same time, with Poser 7 rendering something; a large scene loaded into Vue; and Photoshop open with multiple images -- all while browsing the internet with no noticeable slowdown.  I have, however, noted a definite improvement in the smoothness, speed, and overall stability of all three of those software applications.  The graphics look better, too.

Most likely, the only frequently-used program which I have that will remain on the 32 bit side for now will be AutoCAD.  I am planning to attempt to install AutoCAD 2008 under XP 64, but I've heard that I might have some issues with AutoCAD under 64 bit.  We'll see.  When I get the time, I am also planning on adding Lightwave and Modo (along with other apps like Carrara 6 Pro) to the 64 bit side, too.

Why didn't I do this a long time ago....................?????  (mixed emotions)

I found out that my antivirus / internet security program (Panda 2008 - www.pandasoftware.com) works fine under XP 64.  I've installed it , also.  I've heard that a lot of the popular antivirus programs won't run under 64 bit.  I'm glad that mine does.  IMO, it's an excellent security suite.  The first thing that Panda did upon installion under XP 64 was to eradicate all of the tracking cookies that I'd accumulated through using IE7 for a couple of days.  I left it doing a full deep system scan while I'm at work today.  It scans the registry and everything else.  I'd recommend Panda if anyone is looking for a security suite.  But I can't say how it might or might not do under Vista.

I am planning on purchasing the Space Navigator.

@Morgano and Xenophonz
Thanks for replying. I only saw the previous posting after I posted this thread. It is good to know that all the "important" software will continue to work. I guess I will try the large address aware tweak for the most memory hungry 32 bit applications (since XP pro x64 is already large address aware).

@flibbits
I built the PC from individually purchased components (see below) because I do not trust the clone PC manufacturers to always use "the best" or even "good" components. In the past, I have purchased several PCs that I found to have some really poor and/or inappropriately underspecced components inside.
So far I have spent £860 (about $1720) on all the PC bits and the 24" monitor. I already had 2 x 2GB of memory and a spare laser mouse. The Win XP Pro x64 license was £85 ($170).
So, I estimate that the total cost would be £1039 ($2078).
I am sure that I could find a cheaper PC with similar specs, but I really wanted a fairly small case and good performance without using too much power.

X-Qpack II Micro ATX Gaming Case with 500W ATX2.0 PSU
Intel Core 2 Duo E6850 "LGA775 Conroe" 3.00GHz (1333FSB)
2 x Samsung SpinPoint T 500GB SATA-II 16MB Cache (HD501LJ)
Gigabyte GA-G33M-DS2R Micro ATX (Socket 775) PCI-Express DDR2 Motherboard
Samsung SH-S203NBEBN 20x DVD±RW SATA Dual Layer Lightscribe ReWriter (Black)
OcUK 4GB (2x2GB) PC2-6400C5 800MHz DDR2 Dual Channel Kit
OcUK Value (Digimate) L2442W 24" Widescreen LCD Monitor - Glossy Black
Cherry Black CyMotion Expert (USB/PS2) Keyboard
HIS ATI Radeon HD 3850 Pro Turbo X 512MB GDDR3 TV-Out/Dual DVI/HDMI (PCI-e)
Arctic Cooling MX-2 Thermal Compound
Zalman CNPS8000 CPU Cooler (Socket 754/939/940/AM2/LGA775)
OCZ gold 4GB (2x2GB) dual channel DDR2 memory kit (pc6400, cl=5)
Microsoft laser mouse

This PC seems to have some overclocking potential since the CPU is operating at about 35 degrees C. The power draw from the socket (excluding the monitor) is 145 Watts under moderate processing load (i.e. one core at 100%).

Hi Jovial,
Guess you can Portuguese or Spanish..just guessing..
Well I'm in a kind of painfull stage concerning my 64 bits WinXPPro. First I can't configurated the VGA to it's best and same time Poser 7 Sr2.  Below a better /details:http://renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2725066

But one thing I know. Avast has a antivirus for 64 bits WinXPPro. as well Avir.
First one I'm using about 3 years since I got the WinXPPro. Latelly I think is not so good anymore..I got some problems for it to scan and when scan is done it can't exexcute the order...

Now I'm going to try the Avir, but I haver not installed yet. Both are FREEWARE.
Avast: http://www.avast.com/
Avir: http://www.free-av.com/

@softcris.

Sorry softcris, I am English.

With reference to the problems you have been having with ATI and XP Pro x64:

I don't have much experience with ATI as graphics cards, because this recent one is the first that I have purchased. However, we had some serious problems with ATI video cards and multiple displays at my workplace. It turned out that the (ATI) video card had too much "hardware acceleration" (see the troubleshoot panel on the advanced display settings) and that was causing things to display incorrectly on secondary monitors or for certain software.

It is also important to install the drivers for all of your monitors and do not use the default Windows drivers for anything - unless there is no alternative. The default drivers are often months or even years out of date.

The other problem that you mentioned about re-formatting drives and Poser going slow reminds me of a common problem I have with Microsoft Visual Studio - which stores known path info in the project files and makes projects hard to use on different PCs. If your drive letters (or paths) were changed or re-ordered, then you can find that software (either via the registry or from its set-up files) is remembering that there was a drive or path that has now changed. When the software searches that path, the invalid disk access takes a little while to time-out. Sometimes this can be fixed by re-assigning drive letters or paths as they were before whatever changed or creating a small partition to give the OS a valid path to access.
I hope I don't run into any difficulties with my new ATI card, because I do not really want to have to get an Nvidia 8800 GT because they use quite a bit more power than the ATI 3850.

Good luck with your troubleshooting.

One tip when using the SpaceNavigator in question: get a pack of pills against flight-disease  from your local drugstore, take two before you start - cause once you started with SpaceNavigator, you won't be able to stop until you do not longer know where's your upper and where's your lower side.
It's especially FUN if you use it on a BIG two-screen setup.
And  an important two word info is missing on the SpaceNav original package, though...
HIGHLY ADDICTIVE
(And the tweaking/posing is faster by a factor of 8 or so, comparing SpaceNav/Keyboard against tablet/keyboard, with SpaceNav clearly on the winner side)