64-bit OS not recognized

[Guest JGundrey]

I can't download music from Walmart.com because they say my OS is "not

compatible". I think it thinks I'm running NT. Even on the Microsoft web

site, I occasionally see a message saying "you aren't running Windows XP and

cannot upgrade to SP2". I guess there's something in the OS that says it's

Wndows 2003, or Windows NT or something that's non-XP. Any way around this?

These little surprises are fouling me on 64-bit.

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

The SP2 that you are trying to download is for XP x86 (32-bit), not x64

(64-bit). It is not for your version of XP.

 

XP 32-bit is NT 5.1. XP 64-bit is NT 5.2. Since Windows Server 2003 is

also NT 5.2 that is why you are seeing references to Windows 2003. They in

fact share the same codebase and therefore the same service packs.

 

The SP2 that you want is for Windows 2003/XP Pro x64.

 

Apparently Walmart does not support XP Pro x64. You need to ask them.

 

"JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:4AE53777-D7A5-4797-A05A-898ED53F39BC@microsoft.com...

>I can't download music from Walmart.com because they say my OS is "not

> compatible". I think it thinks I'm running NT. Even on the Microsoft web

> site, I occasionally see a message saying "you aren't running Windows XP

> and

> cannot upgrade to SP2". I guess there's something in the OS that says

> it's

> Wndows 2003, or Windows NT or something that's non-XP. Any way around

> this?

> These little surprises are fouling me on 64-bit.

[Guest JGundrey]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

Thanks for the reply. I am aware that the downloads from Microsoft are

intended for the 32-bit version. I got SP2 for XP64 using Windows Update

some time ago. I merely used the Microsoft anecdote to illustrate that even

Microsoft's OS "sniffer" doesn't see an XP flavor, but rather some NT flavor.

 

This sucks. I can't imagine why a music download site would care what the

OS is as long as the web browser and media player respect licensing issues.

Also, I'm sure that Walmart would work fine with WinXP 64-bit, but their OS

sniffer just stops the process when it doesn't detect any of its "valid" OS's.

 

My question was if there was any wisdom out there about "spoofing" the OS as

XP to the outside world so I could use their stuff.

 

I've asked Walmart about it. No reply. I don't think a sales agent who

responds to customer inquiries can help me. They don't know or care about

the technical issues at that level. Thanks anyway.

 

James

 

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> The SP2 that you are trying to download is for XP x86 (32-bit), not x64

> (64-bit). It is not for your version of XP.

>

> XP 32-bit is NT 5.1. XP 64-bit is NT 5.2. Since Windows Server 2003 is

> also NT 5.2 that is why you are seeing references to Windows 2003. They in

> fact share the same codebase and therefore the same service packs.

>

> The SP2 that you want is for Windows 2003/XP Pro x64.

>

> Apparently Walmart does not support XP Pro x64. You need to ask them.

>

> "JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:4AE53777-D7A5-4797-A05A-898ED53F39BC@microsoft.com...

> >I can't download music from Walmart.com because they say my OS is "not

> > compatible". I think it thinks I'm running NT. Even on the Microsoft web

> > site, I occasionally see a message saying "you aren't running Windows XP

> > and

> > cannot upgrade to SP2". I guess there's something in the OS that says

> > it's

> > Wndows 2003, or Windows NT or something that's non-XP. Any way around

> > this?

> > These little surprises are fouling me on 64-bit.

>

[Guest Theo]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

Probably because of the OS version number, NT 5.2. 32-bit

XP is version NT 5.1. When an OS check is performed and the

program is specifically recognizing NT 5.1 as being XP

Pro/Home, then anything else is not XP.

 

 

JGundrey wrote:

> Thanks for the reply. I am aware that the downloads from Microsoft are

> intended for the 32-bit version. I got SP2 for XP64 using Windows Update

> some time ago. I merely used the Microsoft anecdote to illustrate that even

> Microsoft's OS "sniffer" doesn't see an XP flavor, but rather some NT flavor.

>

> This sucks. I can't imagine why a music download site would care what the

> OS is as long as the web browser and media player respect licensing issues.

> Also, I'm sure that Walmart would work fine with WinXP 64-bit, but their OS

> sniffer just stops the process when it doesn't detect any of its "valid" OS's.

>

> My question was if there was any wisdom out there about "spoofing" the OS as

> XP to the outside world so I could use their stuff.

>

> I've asked Walmart about it. No reply. I don't think a sales agent who

> responds to customer inquiries can help me. They don't know or care about

> the technical issues at that level. Thanks anyway.

>

> James

>

> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

>

>> The SP2 that you are trying to download is for XP x86 (32-bit), not x64

>> (64-bit). It is not for your version of XP.

>>

>> XP 32-bit is NT 5.1. XP 64-bit is NT 5.2. Since Windows Server 2003 is

>> also NT 5.2 that is why you are seeing references to Windows 2003. They in

>> fact share the same codebase and therefore the same service packs.

>>

>> The SP2 that you want is for Windows 2003/XP Pro x64.

>>

>> Apparently Walmart does not support XP Pro x64. You need to ask them.

>>

>> "JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:4AE53777-D7A5-4797-A05A-898ED53F39BC@microsoft.com...

>>> I can't download music from Walmart.com because they say my OS is "not

>>> compatible". I think it thinks I'm running NT. Even on the Microsoft web

>>> site, I occasionally see a message saying "you aren't running Windows XP

>>> and

>>> cannot upgrade to SP2". I guess there's something in the OS that says

>>> it's

>>> Wndows 2003, or Windows NT or something that's non-XP. Any way around

>>> this?

>>> These little surprises are fouling me on 64-bit.

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

But XP IS an NT flavor. It is in the same branch as NT4 and Windows 2000.

The other branch was DOS (win95/98/SE/ME) and that branch is now dead.

 

It depends on how the site does version checking to assure compatibility,

but it sounds like they are not yet compatible with anything 64-bit.

 

How have you determined that Walmart's stuff works with x64? How do you

know this?

 

If it doesn't, all the spoofing in the world just gets you software that

won't work or, worse, kinda works but messes up your settings (or worse).

 

"JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:6F6EE566-3232-4E05-B153-D1B6E24C3AD1@microsoft.com...

> Thanks for the reply. I am aware that the downloads from Microsoft are

> intended for the 32-bit version. I got SP2 for XP64 using Windows Update

> some time ago. I merely used the Microsoft anecdote to illustrate that

> even

> Microsoft's OS "sniffer" doesn't see an XP flavor, but rather some NT

> flavor.

>

> This sucks. I can't imagine why a music download site would care what the

> OS is as long as the web browser and media player respect licensing

> issues.

> Also, I'm sure that Walmart would work fine with WinXP 64-bit, but their

> OS

> sniffer just stops the process when it doesn't detect any of its "valid"

> OS's.

>

> My question was if there was any wisdom out there about "spoofing" the OS

> as

> XP to the outside world so I could use their stuff.

>

> I've asked Walmart about it. No reply. I don't think a sales agent who

> responds to customer inquiries can help me. They don't know or care about

> the technical issues at that level. Thanks anyway.

>

> James

>

> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

>

>> The SP2 that you are trying to download is for XP x86 (32-bit), not x64

>> (64-bit). It is not for your version of XP.

>>

>> XP 32-bit is NT 5.1. XP 64-bit is NT 5.2. Since Windows Server 2003 is

>> also NT 5.2 that is why you are seeing references to Windows 2003. They

>> in

>> fact share the same codebase and therefore the same service packs.

>>

>> The SP2 that you want is for Windows 2003/XP Pro x64.

>>

>> Apparently Walmart does not support XP Pro x64. You need to ask them.

>>

>> "JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:4AE53777-D7A5-4797-A05A-898ED53F39BC@microsoft.com...

>> >I can't download music from Walmart.com because they say my OS is "not

>> > compatible". I think it thinks I'm running NT. Even on the Microsoft

>> > web

>> > site, I occasionally see a message saying "you aren't running Windows

>> > XP

>> > and

>> > cannot upgrade to SP2". I guess there's something in the OS that says

>> > it's

>> > Wndows 2003, or Windows NT or something that's non-XP. Any way around

>> > this?

>> > These little surprises are fouling me on 64-bit.

>>

[Guest Tont Sperling]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

It may 'suck', but 'OS sniffing', as you say, is an essential part of any

site's functionality that has any kind of on-line system level integration

with your machine. This is not a display of curiousity or looking over your

shoulder - and this is probably why things are not working as well, since

the Flash and the Java Browser Plug-Ins don't work in a 64bit environment -

fire up your 32bit browser (both are installed!) and then some of the things

may start working (I am not familiar with Wallmart!) or, like so many

others, they have decided to give up on our system.

 

It really is an important feature that everything in an OS is working, but

MS really is depending on the outside world to do some of the work that

enables the functionality on the bits that are not a property of MS's. I

don't think MS have any financial interest in either Sun or MacroMedia so

they cannot provide any solutions or work-arounds. With XP x64

particularily, there are extremely few issues where the OS is to blame but

an almost endles list of third-party people who simply don't care if their

gear works or not. They have their money safely in the bank!

 

If you think this isn't working for you, you'll not be the first, but this

one is not Microsoft's fault.

 

 

Tony. . .

 

 

"JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:6F6EE566-3232-4E05-B153-D1B6E24C3AD1@microsoft.com...

> Thanks for the reply. I am aware that the downloads from Microsoft are

> intended for the 32-bit version. I got SP2 for XP64 using Windows Update

> some time ago. I merely used the Microsoft anecdote to illustrate that

> even

> Microsoft's OS "sniffer" doesn't see an XP flavor, but rather some NT

> flavor.

>

> This sucks. I can't imagine why a music download site would care what the

> OS is as long as the web browser and media player respect licensing

> issues.

> Also, I'm sure that Walmart would work fine with WinXP 64-bit, but their

> OS

> sniffer just stops the process when it doesn't detect any of its "valid"

> OS's.

>

> My question was if there was any wisdom out there about "spoofing" the OS

> as

> XP to the outside world so I could use their stuff.

>

> I've asked Walmart about it. No reply. I don't think a sales agent who

> responds to customer inquiries can help me. They don't know or care about

> the technical issues at that level. Thanks anyway.

>

> James

>

> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

>

>> The SP2 that you are trying to download is for XP x86 (32-bit), not x64

>> (64-bit). It is not for your version of XP.

>>

>> XP 32-bit is NT 5.1. XP 64-bit is NT 5.2. Since Windows Server 2003 is

>> also NT 5.2 that is why you are seeing references to Windows 2003. They

>> in

>> fact share the same codebase and therefore the same service packs.

>>

>> The SP2 that you want is for Windows 2003/XP Pro x64.

>>

>> Apparently Walmart does not support XP Pro x64. You need to ask them.

>>

>> "JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:4AE53777-D7A5-4797-A05A-898ED53F39BC@microsoft.com...

>> >I can't download music from Walmart.com because they say my OS is "not

>> > compatible". I think it thinks I'm running NT. Even on the Microsoft

>> > web

>> > site, I occasionally see a message saying "you aren't running Windows

>> > XP

>> > and

>> > cannot upgrade to SP2". I guess there's something in the OS that says

>> > it's

>> > Wndows 2003, or Windows NT or something that's non-XP. Any way around

>> > this?

>> > These little surprises are fouling me on 64-bit.

>>

[Guest JGundrey]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

Tony:

 

Wait a minute - there's a 32-bit version of IE in my 64-bit XP? In all my

ignoramusness, I didn't really know that. How do I launch one versus the

other? Are there different icons, or start menu locations?

 

Please enlighten me!!

 

Jim

 

"Tont Sperling" wrote:

> It may 'suck', but 'OS sniffing', as you say, is an essential part of any

> site's functionality that has any kind of on-line system level integration

> with your machine. This is not a display of curiousity or looking over your

> shoulder - and this is probably why things are not working as well, since

> the Flash and the Java Browser Plug-Ins don't work in a 64bit environment -

> fire up your 32bit browser (both are installed!) and then some of the things

> may start working (I am not familiar with Wallmart!) or, like so many

> others, they have decided to give up on our system.

>

> It really is an important feature that everything in an OS is working, but

> MS really is depending on the outside world to do some of the work that

> enables the functionality on the bits that are not a property of MS's. I

> don't think MS have any financial interest in either Sun or MacroMedia so

> they cannot provide any solutions or work-arounds. With XP x64

> particularily, there are extremely few issues where the OS is to blame but

> an almost endles list of third-party people who simply don't care if their

> gear works or not. They have their money safely in the bank!

>

> If you think this isn't working for you, you'll not be the first, but this

> one is not Microsoft's fault.

>

>

> Tony. . .

>

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

The default is the x86 version. If you haven't changed anything that is

what you will get when you click on the IE icon in your quick launch bar or

on the desktop.

 

"JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:E8FD3154-46E7-4565-9D94-F2E7057FC25A@microsoft.com...

> Tony:

>

> Wait a minute - there's a 32-bit version of IE in my 64-bit XP? In all my

> ignoramusness, I didn't really know that. How do I launch one versus the

> other? Are there different icons, or start menu locations?

>

> Please enlighten me!!

>

> Jim

>

> "Tont Sperling" wrote:

>

>> It may 'suck', but 'OS sniffing', as you say, is an essential part of any

>> site's functionality that has any kind of on-line system level

>> integration

>> with your machine. This is not a display of curiousity or looking over

>> your

>> shoulder - and this is probably why things are not working as well, since

>> the Flash and the Java Browser Plug-Ins don't work in a 64bit

>> environment -

>> fire up your 32bit browser (both are installed!) and then some of the

>> things

>> may start working (I am not familiar with Wallmart!) or, like so many

>> others, they have decided to give up on our system.

>>

>> It really is an important feature that everything in an OS is working,

>> but

>> MS really is depending on the outside world to do some of the work that

>> enables the functionality on the bits that are not a property of MS's. I

>> don't think MS have any financial interest in either Sun or MacroMedia so

>> they cannot provide any solutions or work-arounds. With XP x64

>> particularily, there are extremely few issues where the OS is to blame

>> but

>> an almost endles list of third-party people who simply don't care if

>> their

>> gear works or not. They have their money safely in the bank!

>>

>> If you think this isn't working for you, you'll not be the first, but

>> this

>> one is not Microsoft's fault.

>>

>>

>> Tony. . .

>>

[Guest JGundrey]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

How would one launch the 64-bit version,then? I'd like to do this just for

fun.

 

Thanks, Jim

 

"Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

> The default is the x86 version. If you haven't changed anything that is

> what you will get when you click on the IE icon in your quick launch bar or

> on the desktop.

>

> "JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:E8FD3154-46E7-4565-9D94-F2E7057FC25A@microsoft.com...

> > Tony:

> >

> > Wait a minute - there's a 32-bit version of IE in my 64-bit XP? In all my

> > ignoramusness, I didn't really know that. How do I launch one versus the

> > other? Are there different icons, or start menu locations?

> >

> > Please enlighten me!!

> >

> > Jim

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

Click the Start Orb, All Programs, and choose the "Internet Explorer

(64-bit)" icon. It should be third from the top on the list.

 

"JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

news:055C1A02-3CBD-42D6-829F-E99A9A0427C4@microsoft.com...

> How would one launch the 64-bit version,then? I'd like to do this just

> for

> fun.

>

> Thanks, Jim

>

> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

>

>> The default is the x86 version. If you haven't changed anything that is

>> what you will get when you click on the IE icon in your quick launch bar

>> or

>> on the desktop.

>>

>> "JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:E8FD3154-46E7-4565-9D94-F2E7057FC25A@microsoft.com...

>> > Tony:

>> >

>> > Wait a minute - there's a 32-bit version of IE in my 64-bit XP? In all

>> > my

>> > ignoramusness, I didn't really know that. How do I launch one versus

>> > the

>> > other? Are there different icons, or start menu locations?

>> >

>> > Please enlighten me!!

>> >

>> > Jim

>

[Guest Netman]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

Must say, I got all excited over the 64-bit IE (I'm a new 64bit Vista user).

That is UNTIL darn near every website wants to install Flash and there isn't

a 64-bit version. Oh well....

 

 

"Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst@msn.com> wrote in message

news:8B92E66A-20F1-412A-906B-15DE2796CFA8@microsoft.com...

> Click the Start Orb, All Programs, and choose the "Internet Explorer

> (64-bit)" icon. It should be third from the top on the list.

>

> "JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

> news:055C1A02-3CBD-42D6-829F-E99A9A0427C4@microsoft.com...

>> How would one launch the 64-bit version,then? I'd like to do this just

>> for

>> fun.

>>

>> Thanks, Jim

>>

>> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

>>

>>> The default is the x86 version. If you haven't changed anything that is

>>> what you will get when you click on the IE icon in your quick launch bar

>>> or

>>> on the desktop.

>>>

>>> "JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>>> news:E8FD3154-46E7-4565-9D94-F2E7057FC25A@microsoft.com...

>>> > Tony:

>>> >

>>> > Wait a minute - there's a 32-bit version of IE in my 64-bit XP? In

>>> > all my

>>> > ignoramusness, I didn't really know that. How do I launch one versus

>>> > the

>>> > other? Are there different icons, or start menu locations?

>>> >

>>> > Please enlighten me!!

>>> >

>>> > Jim

>>

>

[Guest Colin Barnhorst]

Re: 64-bit OS not recognized

 

That's why the 32-bit version is the default, of course. The 64-bit version

is there so that developers can test against it as they begin adapting their

websites for 64-bit and for the future when 64-bits becomes the standard.

 

"Netman" <netman@newsgroup.nospam> wrote in message

news:%23gCi8ziSIHA.5128@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...

> Must say, I got all excited over the 64-bit IE (I'm a new 64bit Vista

> user). That is UNTIL darn near every website wants to install Flash and

> there isn't a 64-bit version. Oh well....

>

>

> "Colin Barnhorst" <colinbarharst@msn.com> wrote in message

> news:8B92E66A-20F1-412A-906B-15DE2796CFA8@microsoft.com...

>> Click the Start Orb, All Programs, and choose the "Internet Explorer

>> (64-bit)" icon. It should be third from the top on the list.

>>

>> "JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>> news:055C1A02-3CBD-42D6-829F-E99A9A0427C4@microsoft.com...

>>> How would one launch the 64-bit version,then? I'd like to do this just

>>> for

>>> fun.

>>>

>>> Thanks, Jim

>>>

>>> "Colin Barnhorst" wrote:

>>>

>>>> The default is the x86 version. If you haven't changed anything that

>>>> is

>>>> what you will get when you click on the IE icon in your quick launch

>>>> bar or

>>>> on the desktop.

>>>>

>>>> "JGundrey" <JGundrey@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message

>>>> news:E8FD3154-46E7-4565-9D94-F2E7057FC25A@microsoft.com...

>>>> > Tony:

>>>> >

>>>> > Wait a minute - there's a 32-bit version of IE in my 64-bit XP? In

>>>> > all my

>>>> > ignoramusness, I didn't really know that. How do I launch one versus

>>>> > the

>>>> > other? Are there different icons, or start menu locations?

>>>> >

>>>> > Please enlighten me!!

>>>> >

>>>> > Jim

>>>

>>

>