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Microsoft to Support 64-bit AMD Processors

by Arie Slob

Hello Windows users,

This week, Microsoft announced it is developing native 64-bit versions of its Windows® XP and Windows Server™ 2003 operating systems designed to support the upcoming AMD Opteron™ and AMD Athlon™ 64 processors. Microsoft is extending 64-bit support in Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 to run natively on the upcoming AMD Opteron processor for servers and workstations and the upcoming AMD Athlon 64 processor for desktops and notebooks. Desktop and server beta releases are expected in the middle of 2003.

"We are pleased to help usher in a new era of business value by extending our ongoing investment in 64-bit computing to the AMD platform," said Brian Valentine, senior vice president of Microsoft's Windows Division. "Microsoft's 64-bit Windows operating systems represent an inflection point leading to higher performance and greater efficiency for businesses and consumers."

This announcement is seen as the culmination of years of work by Microsoft's David Cutler, a system architect, who is reported to be one of the biggest fans of the AMD chip. Cutler prefers the AMD Opteron, which provides 100 percent compatibility with the Intel x86 line, to the Intel Itanium, which provides a slower, emulated x86 environment for backward compatibility.

The 64-bit versions of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 for the upcoming AMD Athlon 64 and AMD Opteron processors are designed for use on servers and high-end desktops and workstations. They are expected to increase the efficiency of many operations, including engineering and scientific projects, financial services, online transaction processing, data warehousing, digital content creation, video editing, advanced gaming, and computer-aided design.

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Microsoft Security

Flaw in Microsoft VM Could Enable System Compromise

Microsoft has posted a patch for all Microsoft versions. A flaw exists in the Microsoft VM, a virtual machine for the Win32® operating environment. This vulnerability results because a verifier function in the VM does not correctly check for the presence of certain malicious code when a Java applet is being loaded.

Severity Rating: Critical

Affected Software Versions

• Microsoft Windows 95
• Microsoft Windows 98 and 98SE
• Microsoft Windows Millennium
• Microsoft Windows NT 4.0, beginning with Service Pack 1
• Microsoft Windows 2000
• Microsoft Windows XP

The Microsoft VM also shipped as part of several versions of Internet Explorer and other products.

More...

Recent Support BBS Postings

Can't remove a printer? - Windows XP
Where are the forms AutoComplete enteries stored? - IE
How to access Compaq Bios?? - Hardware
Must login to receive mail in Outlook - Other Internet Software
Internet Explorer Script Error??? - Security / Virus

Web Site Updates

These pages were added/updated in the past week. Information on previously updated/added pages is available on the What's New? page for 1 month.

InfiniSource.com

Added: MS PocketPC 2002 Phone Edition -- Part 4

RoseCitySoftware.com

Updated: Registry First Aid - ver 3.0 build 222

Windows-Help.NET

Added: Microsoft to Support AMD Opteron and AMD Athlon 64 Processors
Added: Microsoft Security: Flaw in Microsoft VM Could Enable System Compromise

Windows XP

Updated: Windows XP, Installing and Setup

  Highlights

MS PocketPC 2002 Phone Edition

Part 4: Connected to the world with your PocketPC.

Read Full Article
New Naming Schema for Microsoft Windows Hotfix Packages

Microsoft has adopted a standardized naming schema for all hotfix packages (patches or updates) for Windows that are created and distributed by Microsoft. The new naming schema goes in effect in April 2003 for all update packages.

Microsoft Knowledge Base
Windows XP Tip: Using & Tuning ClearType Font Smoothing

ClearType triples the horizontal resolution available for rendering text through software so that the result is clearer display of text on a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen with digital interface. But don't let that lead you to believe it's only good on an LCD display! If you have a good quality CRT display, you may also benefit from ClearType. For CRT users it seems a matter of taste, but why don't you try it?

Read Full Article
Windows key leak threatens mass piracy

A key code for installing Microsoft's Windows Server 2003 has leaked onto the Internet, a loss that could lead to widespread piracy of the software.

Read CNet Article
FREE Software: Belarc Advisor

A handy utility which shows all the hardware and software installed on your PC right in your Web browser. You will see personalized advice on how well software and hardware products will work with your computer, along with a detailed description of your computer profile.

Download [611 KB]
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