Reviews

  • Bojan Komazec. 32-bit and 64-bit versions of Windows C++ application

    06.10.2011
    The author uses a sample code to show how to set compiler and linker options to build a C++ application for 64-bit Windows. Each step is commented upon.

  • Eli Bendersky. Stack frame layout on x86-64

    06.09.2011
    This post describes the stack frame layout of the x64 architecture focusing mainly on Linux and other operating systems that follow the official System V AMD64 ABI. The author gives diagrams and code samples to show the specifics of stack frame layout on the x64 platform.

  • ESET Team. TDSS (part 1: The x64 Dollar Question)

    19.04.2011
    The article presents a large research on the TDSS family of malware programs and consists of three parts each of which describes certain aspects of the TDSS rootkits and bootkits, including internals of the malware, mechanisms of rootkit distribution, specifics of bootkit installation on various systems (x86 and x64) and embedding into the bootsector. The processes of infecting the system are described in detail and illustrated by plenty of tables, schemes and figures.

  • Microsoft Corporation. Best Practices for WOW64

    17.06.2010
    Since 32-bit applications are still popular and are actively used on 64-bit systems, it is good to know some typical issues of the Windows 32-bit on Windows 64-bit layer (WOW64). The paper concerns issues related to limitations of WOW64, mechanisms of registry redirection and registry reflection, file system redirection mechanism, references to files and variables, binding to 32-bit and 64-bit DLLs, application installation and startup and kernel-mode drivers. In the related sections, the author tells how to avoid these problems. The paper also demonstrates some techniques of handling 32-bit and 64-bit applications on WOW64. At the end you will find a brief list of best practices to stick to when working with 32-bit programs on WOW64.

  • Shih Kuo. Intel® 64 Architecture Processor Topology Enumeration

    21.12.2009
    Processor and cache topology information is important to manage various processor practices such as task scheduling, performance optimization, licensing policy enforcement and so on. The paper discusses the principle of processor topology enumeration algorithm and specifics of its implementation in the Intel® 64 architecture processor. The author also touches upon cache topology enumeration. The paper has some illustrative schemes and an appendix for the examples.

  • Microsoft Corporation. 64-bit System Design

    08.10.2009
    This large section on Microsoft Corporation site provides programmers with many papers and notes on various topics related to using 64-bit versions of Microsoft Windows, 64-bit programming, 64-bit platforms and other related subjects. You will find many useful tips and guidelines on how to work on a 64-bit system with a 64-bit version of Windows.

  • Kang Su Gatlin. Windows Data Alignment on IPF, x86, and x64

    01.10.2009
    The paper focuses on the issues of data alignment applying to IPF, x86 and x64 and covers all basic alignment faults. The author explains how data alignment is organized, how to avoid alignment issues and what to do when it is impossible. In the end of the article, he gives a brief list of tips on how to deal with alignment issues as a summary of the article's content. The text is accompanied with graphs and code samples.

  • 64-Bit Programming Models: Why LP64

    05.09.2009
    In the world of rapidly developing programming technologies it is important for all software developers to decide what standard and programming model to choose as universal to save time and money. The Open Group argues that LP64 programming model be the best solution for 64-bit programming. This conclusion is drawn from the results of analysis and comparison of ILP64 and LP64 models against several evaluation criteria, each being thoroughly commented and explained. Among these the authors list portability, interoperability with 32-bit environments, standards conformance, performance effects and transition costs.

  • Daniel Pistelli, Moving to Windows Vista x64

    03.08.2009
    A very large and solid article devoted to two topics: x64 architecture and Windows Vista. According to these topics the paper is divided into two main sections. The first section is devoted to x64 and explains the basic principles of the architecture's assembly, C/C++ programming for it, WOW64 operation, interprocess communication and many other aspects relating to this topic. The second section devoted to Windows Vista deals with operation principles of and improvements in this operating system, as well as various tools and security mechanisms, some issues relating to using Visual Studio environments etc. There is also one more section describing .NET Framework 3.0 technology and interfaces that supply it.Although this article is far from being exhaustive, it can serve a very cool source for those programmers who are mastering x64 architecture and Windows Vista. Its pluses are in its accessible and lively manner and a great number of code samples and illustrative screenshots.

  • Mike Wall. Porting Applications to Windows for AMD64 Technology

    26.07.2009
    This paper is a presentation covering most aspects of porting 32-bit code to Windows running on AMD64 platform and includes several sections: AMD64 technology concerning some features of this architecture, 64-bit Windows for AMD64, porting issues, maximizing multiprocessor performance and recommendations on tools and additional resources. Each section includes schemes illustrating this or that feature and theses to be considered. The main plus of this paper is a concise character of description allowing coverage of many really important things.