Xp is a pile of crap these days unless you have an ancient pc, Even using a SP3 iso still needs over 100 updates before becoming semi safe. Xp 64 is based on Server 2003 so has very limited app or games support and runs like crap being Microsofts 1st attempt at a 64 bit Os.
What is the specs of your pc that makes Win 7 run crap on it? Or why do you need 64 bit Xp unless using more than 4GB ram and a large number of multi GB apps running at same time?
Xp is completely out of date and from a time before wifi or multi core cpu in home computers had been invented, Sure it runs fast but thats because minimum requirements are a 233 mhz cpu and 64 mb ram. Only time Win 7 will run bad is when loaded with crap from the factory. Its better to jump to Win 7 now or be completely in dark on NT6 by the time Win 8 becomes the norm.
...You don't really know what you're talking about, do you? Both XP and 7 run perfectly fine on my computer. The absolute majority of games (I'm playing brand-new Hawken alpha right now here) work faultlessly on XP. I hate 7 because its design is a pile of shit. The last couple of things that actually made me snap and revert to XP were: refusal to install unsigned drivers (thus forcing me to waste like half a day trying to install drivers that I already have because obviously MS Update doesn't have them, thus locking me out of using MY OWN HARDWARE); inability to display thumbnails on images; inability to pin folders to taskbar; butchering start menu into an unusable state; and, most importantly, not remembering the view settings for music folders, resetting the 'name' fields to like five centimeters in width each time I open a new folder. So no, speed isn't the only thing that matters in an OS. Surprise.
Im sorry but i think its you that doesnt know what he's doing.
I have added many folder shortcuts onto my taskbar in Win 7 and every folder with majority pictures shows their thumbnail. The start menu does the exact same job as the one on Xp except the menu doesnt pop out and theres an instant search box at the bottom.
As was stated earlier, Xp 64 bit was never designed as a Home Os and thats whats causing all these issues. Things will only get worse in future using a 10 year Os. The thing isnt even getting full updates any more or modern Internet Explorer so is full of security holes.
Xp isnt going to last forever and sticking with it when its this ancient will only make things more difficult when Win 8-9-10 comes out and Xp wont run on modern pc anymore.
Win 7 IS the next Xp and will be around for ages since nobody will want to upgrade to the Xbox menu based Win 8 crap. Either jump onto Win 7 now or the only other step is going to Win 8 with its phone type interface, Which will be a much bigger shock than learning Win 7.
Also those brand new games you play will look poor and slow having to use DX9 from 10 years ago instead of DX10-11 that can use modern hardware properly.
I still use Xp on my old laptop but unless you have an ancient pc, Win 7 is the way to go. I held off for as long as possible too sticking with Xp but theres just too many issues and compromises these days that its just not worth the hassle... Takes hours to install and patch vs Win 7 20 min install and 10 mins updating.
Also how much ram u have in pc that you need 64 bit Windows and what hardware you having issues finding drivers for?