PC Fundamentals > Hardware Design for Windows

64-bit System Design

Microsoft provides 64-bit versions of the Microsoft Windows operating system for both workstation and server computers. A 64-bit system requires special design considerations that differ from 32-bit platform design, including considerations for firmware, hard disk partitions, and device drivers.

General 64-bit Windows
White PaperBest Practices for WoW64  
White PaperDesigning for 64-bit Windows
White PaperIA-64 Systems and ACPI 2.0 64-bit Tables
Microsoft.comGearing up for 64-bit Computing on Windows Server
Microsoft.comWOW64 Implementation Details

GUID Partition Table (GPT) and Master Boot Record (MBR)
White PaperCustom Bootstrap Actions in Windows Vista
White PaperMBR System Disk Conversion for Itanium-Based Systems
White PaperModifications to Microsoft Boot Components: Update
White PaperUsing GPT Drives
White PaperWindows and GPT FAQ

Unified Extensible Firmware Interface - EFI
White PaperInstalling Windows Server 2008 and Windows Vista SP1 on UEFI Systems
White PaperMicrosoft Extensible Firmware Initiative FAT32 File System Specification, V. 1.03
White PaperMicrosoft Portable Executable and Common Object File Format Specification
White PaperUEFI and Windows  
White PaperUEFI Support and Requirements for Windows Operating Systems  
White PaperWindows Authenticode Portable Executable Signature Format
Microsoft Powerpoint (.ppt)Unified EFI Update [WinHEC 2005; 493 KB]
This link leaves the Microsoft.com siteExtensible Firmware Interface Specification
This link leaves the Microsoft.com siteImplementing the Unified Extensible Firmware Interface with Intel's Framework

Machine Check Architecture (MCA)
White PaperMCA Implementation Guide for 64-bit Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
White PaperMCA Support in 64-bit Windows XP and Windows Server 2003
Microsoft.comMachine Check Exception Reporting

Developer Resources for 64-bit Computing
Microsoft.comCalling Convention for x64 64-Bit Environments
Microsoft.comSearch on MSDN for "Itanium"
Microsoft.comSearch on MSDN for "x64"
Microsoft.comWindows Installer on 64-bit Operating Systems
Microsoft.comWindows SDK for Windows 7 and .NET Framework 3.5 SP1  

64-bit Platform Specifications
Windows LogoIndustry Specification References for Windows Logo Program
This link leaves the Microsoft.com siteIntel IA-64 Architecture Software Developer's Manual
This link leaves the Microsoft.com siteIntel Itanium Processor Family System Abstraction Layer Specification (SAL 3.0)

See Also
WHDC Portal/Nodal64-bit Driver Guidelines
Microsoft.comGetting Ready for 64-bit Windows