installing win2k3(i386) on 64-bit cpu machine

[Maaz]

Dear Experts
how to check either cpu is 32 or 64 bit ?
and is it possible to install a 32 bit Windows Server 2003, on 64 bit hardware ?

Regards
Maaz

[Georg Tresselt]

No, there a dedicated version of Win2k3 for 64bit HW.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsserver2003/64bit/ipf/default.mspx

[Igor Karasik]

Maaz,
For Intel CPU you can use
"Intel® Processor Identification Utility"
http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/index.htm
in order to see if CPU is 64-bit.
I think similar utility exists for AMD CPU.

>>is it possible to install a 32 bit Windows Server 2003, on 64 bit hardware

Definitely YES !

Reverse will not work: you cannot install 64-bit windows 2003 on 32-bit computer

[Igor Karasik]

Georg Tresselt link is for Itanium-based CPU - special 64-bit hardware. On Itanium you cannot install regular windows edition.
But I don't think you have Itanium based servers, Proliant servers don't have Itanium-based CPU.

[Antoniov.]

You can install Windows 2003 Server 64 bit standard edition for x64 architecture and Windows 2003 Server Enterprise edition for x64 and Itanium processor.

HTH

Antonio Vigliotti

[Ian Posner]

Note, that unless you are going to be using 64 bit apps (e.g. SQL Server x64), you are better off installing 32 bit Windows as the performance of 32 bit apps under the 32 bit emulator on Win64 is very poor.