Windows XP x64 SP2

Just when I thought I had this thing stabilized, Microsoft comes out with Service Pack 2 (for x64). Now I'm crashing in SL again, using both the SL production client and First Look.

A quick check of the nVidia user's forum reveals that I'm not the only one to be experiencing crashes with SP2. That I look right away at the nVidia forum when I'm having trouble should tell you something, too.

I'll try rolling back to pre-SP2 and see what happens. Sorry, Microsoft-- no choice. By the way, Vista+nVidia seems as bad as ever.

Thanks for the heads up. I too use windows XP Pro X64 and am quite happy with the performance. I'll try to keep SP2 from downloading.

Kam

I was considering buying 64, which now comes with SP2, and was wondering how stable SL was with it. Thanks for the heads up.

Just curious, why did you folks make the decision to use 64-bit Windows? (XP or Vista) Aside from >4GB physical RAM and 64bit numbers (neither of which are useful for general PC/gaming at this time), are there certain advantages to 64bit vs 32bit Windows?

I found that my Geforce 7600 GS is having problems with 64 bit XP and Vista anyway. I bought a cheap 6600 nvidia card which works well.

i'm using windows xp x64 with sp2 and an nvidia 7800gt. no crashing. using driver 93.71
i've been using x64 for over a year, and i would never go back to a 32bit OS.
i always use the most recent firstlook viewer.

I'm using nVidia driver 93.71 as well.

Let me clarify for those who are holding off on XP x64 SP2, or Vista. These hard crashes only seem to affect systems with nVidia graphics cards. You may be safer with AMD/ATI (look for names like Radeon describing the board). Certainly, you don't have to take my word for it:

http://forums.nvidia.com/index.php?showtopic=30879

But they have their problems, too. Nothing like nVidia, though. Or so I am told.

There seems to be a lot of hope pinned on the newly announced ATI "R600 ATI chipset" based cards that are not out yet. Expect them to be costly. Here's an article:

http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5524

So I'll wait until the new boards based on ATI R600 are out and I'm hearing good things about it. I'll definately not buy another nVidia product for this go around, but that's just a personal thing.

All I know is I paid $250 for a Vista "upgrade" and I can't use it.

The good news is that I was able to roll back XP x64 SP2, and I haven't crashed, so far. But only a few hours on this so far.