windows64 & avast

[mantra]

Support for 64-bit Windows
The new avast! 4.5 Home/Professional now fully supports the new Windows 64-bit Windows platform (avast! Server Edition has been supporting Win64 (both AMD64 and IA64) platforms since version 4.1). ALWIL Software is anticipating massive start of this platform as Windows XP 64-Bit Edition will support up to 32 GB of RAM and 16 TB of virtual memory, enabling applications to run faster when working with large data sets. Applications can preload substantially more data into virtual memory, allowing rapid access by the 64-bit extensions of the processor. This reduces the time for loading data into virtual memory or seeking, reading, and writing to data storage devices, making applications run faster and more efficiently.

Regular (32-bit) antivirus applications are unable to operate correctly on the 64-bit Windows platform because they rely on 32-bit kernel-mode drivers. The new avast! uses native 64-bit drivers, delivering the same level of protection as in the 32-bit Windows environments. The installation package is the same for 32-bit and 64-bit versions - the setup program automatically detects the operating system it is running on and installs all necessary files.

yes but where can i find a windows64bit version?
bu is a beta windows version?

[Vlk]

It's still a beta, right.
It's possible to download it from the Microsoft site. Of course, you need a 64-bit processor to run it (at the moment, Athlon64, Opteron or the new Intel Xeon).

[Manahatta]

I installed Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Evaluation copy Build 3790 (Version 2003, Service Pack 1,v.1289) on my PC with AMD Athlon(tm) 64 Processor 3200+, 2.20 GHz, 1.00 GB of RAM, ASUS motherboard A7V, SATA RAID 0, 373GB, as a secondary trial OS. My opinion is that a 64 system should run with a 64 OS. Anyway, it seems like I have to wait longer. Since I run the Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Evaluation copy Build 3790 my PC is recognized as a server. You can see, a user with a home PC need to wait even longer for a suitable 64 Bit OS. I also tried Mandrake 10, Linux a time ago fist I had trouble with the nVidia graphic card and later with an other version with the system clock. I never tried Linux SuSe 9.x. Does anyone is using Linux SuSe as 64 Bit OS and can recommend it? Back to the Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, I am running avest! version 4.5 Build: Nov2004 (4.5.345) on my System. The Security Center of XP 64 display for Virus Protection -> Not Found.
Do I have to corp with it or did I do something wrong? :'(

[Vlk]

1. you're using avast Server Edition - this is not necessary for XP 64-bit (but is necessary for Windows 2003 Server 64-bit).2
2. avast works fine but the Security Center doesn't recognize it, that's true. The new beta (introduced in the beta subcategory of this forum) solves this. It will leave the beta phase and will be offically released around Feb 15th.

Thanks
Vlk

[mantra]

i tried xp64 on a 64cpu pc and xp for a 32cpu
and i haven't seen differents

[bob3160]

mantra
The difference is in the compatibility of the software. Not in the program operation.

[Manahatta]

Thank you for your quick reply. I investigated a little bite on my site and went to another Forum http://www.planetamd64.com.
And found following information.

> Things to read about 64 bit windows before posting.
1. There are currently NO updates for windows 64 except for RC1 and later versions...
2. There is NO flash support for windows.
3. You should NOT use 32 bit firewalls and Antivirus software on 64 bit windows. Avast Antivirus 4.5 is recommended...
4. No 64 bit windows for AMD is not released yet. (Just the CPP beta versions, RTM will be in late March 2005)
Last updated on Jan, 11th 2005 by }SkOrPn--'<

OK, I am using avast Server Edition - this is not necessary for XP 64-bit (but is necessary for Windows 2003 Server 64-bit). Could you please let me know what would be the right Avast Antivirus 4.5 for me?

[DavidR]

You are on the right version for a server OS, avast 4.5 Home/Pro aren't server editions only desktop.

[mantra]

ummm
i thought w64 runs more more more fast then w32bit...

[Manahatta]

Hi Mantra,
As I reported my opinion is that a 64 system should run with a 64 OS. Anyway, it seems like we have to wait longer for this what we expect or even we will never get it. If you have a running and stable System you can follow the saying "never change a running system" . At least not at this moment. Actually I gave my old PC to my daughter with Windows 98 SE.  A lot of features are not supported anymore on my new system with XP applications. Multi media applications are very pore, for example recording of music and recording of videos seems like to be killed by the copywrite issues which get more severe for MS. Maybe Linux can provide an alternative because they might be still independent from this kind of business. Anyway I don't see any progress which would be possible with the technology ourdays. I guess all like to protect there income of $, € and ¥. Sorry that's life, that's stops progress of technology. Anyway it is carnival in Germany and in Brazil! Enjoy the moment!

[bob3160]

A lot of features are not supported anymore on my new system with XP applications. Multi media applications are very pore, for example recording of music and recording of videos seems like to be killed by the copywrite issues which get more severe for MS.

Manahatta
Anything available in Win98 is available under XP only, it's now better and easier. You just need the right programs.

[Manahatta]

Do you thing so? What's about VHS? My old Elsa Graphic card could handle VHS. ELSA or others Software or updates do no support VHS anymore. Please tell me which hard and software for example can sopport VHS in our days?

[Manahatta]

Few days ago I changed to Windows XP Professional x64 Edition Evaluation copy Build 3790 (Service Pack 1,v.1433) and on this occasion I installed avest! version 4.6 Home Edition. Today a got the update (4.6.603) and after rebooting the PC, the Security Center of XP 64 changed automatically to green "Virus Protection -> ON".


                   CONGRATULATION!!!

[jaxdahl]

I installed avast home edition 4.6, but when I looked in task manager, it appears that this is still 32bit -- not 64 bit?  Doesn't that make it a little slower than having it in native 64?  The processor has to switch between 32 and 64 bit modes when switching threads among different applications, right?  I'd like my computer to run as fast as possible, and I think this necessitates a native 64 bit version, right?

[igor]

I really don't think so - the performance penalty would probably be negligible.
In any case, I don't think we can expect a full 64bit version of avast! any soon - right now, it seems that the current version works pretty well.