I'm running W7 64bit under WXP 32bit...

[ozzu]

Hi all!

I recently downloaded Windows 7 64bit RC to give it a try. Only later I thought of installing it under VMware (if this was my initial idea I would have downloaded the 32bit version).

Even though my OS is Windows XP 32bit, I decided to install the 64bit windows 7 to see what would happen.

To my surprise it works fine!

What the hell? I cant run 64bit apps on a 32bit OS, but I can run a 64bit OS under a 32bit OS?!
I'm confused...

 

[dbwillis]

your CPU most likely is newer and has the virtualization stuff.
Ive run XP64 under XP32 on my T61 laptop

 

[ozzu]

Funny thing is that under the motherboard tab, the model is detected as a 440BX

 

[Monkey God]

To my surprise it works fine!

What the hell? I cant run 64bit apps on a 32bit OS, but I can run a 64bit OS under a 32bit OS?!
I'm confused...

Because they are different models?

Really?

 

[SpaceHonkey]

Intel VT gives the VM direct access to the hardware, so since the proc is 64bit, the VM can run 64bit.

VMware presents the motherboard as a 440BX, I suppose because it's so widely supported. Same for the LSI scsi board, etc.

 

[movax]

Funny thing is that under the motherboard tab, the model is detected as a 440BX

Intel VT gives the VM direct access to the hardware, so since the proc is 64bit, the VM can run 64bit.

VMware presents the motherboard as a 440BX, I suppose because it's so widely supported. Same for the LSI scsi board, etc.

The 440BX is a f'ing legendary chipset. They couldn't have a chosen a better baseline

 

[sabregen]

legendary because it's so damned old! you're right though, this is the case with nearly all OS's under Workstation, all of the CPU/Chipset/Controllers are fully virtualized, and if you're going to go that route, you might as well shoot for something that's the best baseline for the modern technologies, and that chipset is really where things started to move along for Intel, in the chipset space.

The others are correct, as well on running the x64 OS inside of workstation on a 32bit host OS, it's due to your machine's support of the newer hardware (CPU) virtualization features. without those you would not be able to do this, and would be stuck running 32bit host OS, and a 32bit guest. Your machine has to support execution instruction modes for both OS types in order to pull this off.