Microsoft Calls for 64-Bit Support

Microsoft executives are urging hardware makers to build drivers for the upcoming 64-bit releases of Windows, lest the adoption of 64-bit computing be held back by hardware incompatibilities.

The Redmond, Washington-based software maker announced at its annual Windows Hardware Engineering Conference (WinHEC) this week that it will deliver versions of Windows XP and Windows Server 2003 for 64-Bit Extended Systems in the fourth quarter. Previously, the company had only said it would ship the software in the second half of the year.

Makers of hardware such as network interface cards, modems, graphics cards, printers, and scanners have to develop 64-bit drivers for their products to work with the operating systems, Microsoft says.

A Call to Action

In separate speeches at WinHEC in Seattle, Microsoft Chairman and Chief Software Architect Bill Gates and Group Vice President Jim Allchin called on the audience of hardware makers to develop drivers for the 64-bit operating systems.

"There's a real call to action from us here. Let's make sure the device drivers are not a gating factor for people moving to 64-bit," Gates said.

"The app compatibility is good, the OS support is comprehensive. What's the one thing we need? 64-bit drivers. You guys have got to do the 64-bit drivers," Allchin said.

The 64-bit platform processes more data per clock cycle, allows greater access to memory, and speeds numeric calculations. Microsoft has worked with processor maker Advanced Micro Devices to develop the 64-bit operating systems for its Athlon and Opteron chips. Athlon is meant for use in desktop computers, and Opteron for server systems. 64-bit operating systems have been available on the competing Unix platform for years.

Microsoft expects significant adoption of 64-bit systems. By the end of 2005, all of the processors sold by AMD and the majority of processors sold by Intel will support 64-bit computing, Gates predicted. On the server, 64-bit will be common sense within the next couple of years and also on the desktop users will want to reap the benefits of the capabilities, he said. Intel earlier this year followed rival AMD in announcing a processor with 64-bit extensions technology.

Tim Wright, director of strategic marketing at AMD, agrees with Gates' prediction. "By the end of 2005, all we will be shipping is AMD 64," he says.

Hardware vs. Software

One key benefit of 64-bit extension technology and Microsoft's 64-bit operating systems is that applications written for 32-bit computers will still work with processors that can run 64-bit software. However, that is not true for device drivers, says Tom Phillips, general manager of Microsoft's hardware experience group. "Applications are generally running up in user land. In kernel land there is a far different development environment and we don't have the luxury of running software" that is actually not completely compatible with the hardware, he says.

Despite the work device driver makers still have to do, Microsoft does not foresee any major problems when its 64-bit operating systems are released. "It is really not any different than, for example, when we moved from a 16-bit DOS environment to a 32-bit Windows environment. It is not an industry showstopper, but it is definitely a monumental challenge," Phillips says.

Processor maker AMD is not worried about device driver trouble, although some peripherals initially may not work, says Wright. "There are a ton of device drivers that have already been written and the operating system has a bunch of built-in drivers," he says. Some of the companies that have already developed 64-bit drivers include Adaptec, Brother Industries, and Creative Labs, according to the AMD Web site.

WinHEC runs until Friday.