Help! get my girlfriend off my PC! (a.k.a my WinXP64-bit nightmare)

[recboy]

Hi there.
I have recently bought a nice shiny new desktop PC. It came highly recommended in a magazine, so I thought it should be great.

The kit came with Win XP 64-bit preloaded. Now I'm not very tech-advanced, but I realise that I might have some problems with drivers not being available because XP64 is brand new. So, I ordered 2Mb broadband, so that I could get on the net and download what I needed (I previously only had dial up internet, which was pants for downloading stuff).

My fears of driver problems were realised when none of my existing external hardware would work. My digicam software, printer and USB TV-tuner all do not recognise XP64-bit.

Next, my broadband software wouldnt play with XP64, so I cant even get the thing connected to the net to download updates. I do have a dial up connection, but as my Norton Antivirus is not compatible yet with XP64-bit, I am reluctant to go online with it (my last PC was wiped out by viruses because I didnt have adequate security).

To add insult to injury, I cant even get my games to play on the new PC. Doom3 (half the reason why I bought the new PC in the first place) will not recognise the OS and fails during the installation.
So far, the only thing that I can actually get to work is my girlfriend's copy of The Sims 2, so now she has taken up residence on the thing. If I hear her giggle one more time as she buys some new wallpaper or something for her 6th generation virtual-Barbie, I'm gonna go nuts!!!!

Is anyone else out there experiencing a problems with Windows XP Professional 64-bit edition?
Main thing I need is an antivirus software that will allow me to go online and start getting updates. Can anyone point me in the right direction?

I'll point out that I blew most of my budget on the PC, so I'm not keen on forking out for a copy of standard Windows XP to dual boot. I think I'll have to persevere with 64-bit. But please, someone, save me my nightmare - surely my new PC is not only fit for playing virtual dolls houses!?!?

For info, the kit I bought is as follows:
JAL Jacinda (www.jal.co.uk) Intel 2.8Ghz P4 820-D Dual Core, 1Gb 533Mhz DDR-2 Memory, 200Gb SATA Hard Drive, GeForce FX 6600GT PCI-X 128Mb DDR

 

[dyserq]

There are definately some programs which are only compatible with 32 bit systems and not 64 bits one ... hmm ... i think that Microsoft Antispyware is compatible with your system, but i think that Windows XP Professional with SP2 is good enough to protect you while you download the updates, you might also want to check a list of software compatible with your 64 bit system at http://www.3dvelocity.com/articles/win64compatibility/win64softlist.htm

 

[mammikoura]

Next, my broadband software wouldnt play with XP64, so I cant even get the thing connected to the net to download updates. I do have a dial up connection, but as my Norton Antivirus is not compatible yet with XP64-bit, I am reluctant to go online with it (my last PC was wiped out by viruses because I didnt have adequate security).

Have u contacted ur internet provider about this? They should help u.

And for anti-virus try AntiVir personal or AVG free, both are free and better than norton, though I don't know if they will work with the 64-bit OS.

 

[Kage]

Yeah, the 64bit Windows might have a few bugs with older 32bit software, though, it should be compatable since 64bit is supposed to be able to support the older 32bit programs too.

 

[Feircepc]

i thought that os only runs 64 bit apps and if your having that many problems just return it and build one lol or you can just buy a different one or request for a different os.

 

[setishock]

To get your girlfriend off your system put a password on it.

 

[Wombät]

Avast 4.6 is a 64 bit compatible AV: http://www.avast.com/eng/avast_4_home.html

Tiny Firewall has released a 64 bit firewall: http://www.tinysoftware.com/home/tiny2?s=5375286922905600126A0&&pg=content05&an=news_tf64sp1

AMD has this listing for drivers: http://developer.amd.com/drivers.aspx

The latest 64 bit nVidia 78.01 driver: http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp64_78.01.html

If you have a Soundblaster Live 24 bit soundcard 64 driver, just click on agree. I cannot link you directly to the download page:

http://www.au.creative.com/support/...it&OSName=Windows+XP+Professional+x64+Edition