Microsoft Corp., in an effort to promote the movement to 64-bit desktop computing, is offering customers of their 32-bit Windows XP Professional the option to receive the 64-bit version for free.

In order to be eligible to receive Windows XP Professional x64 Edition, your computer must have been ordered or built between March 31, 2003 and July 31, 2005 and must contain an x64 processor. You must also have a Retail (Full Packaged Product), System Builder, or OEM version of Microsoft Windows® XP Pro (32-bit) to exchange.

For those wanting to jump into this deal for "free" software, keep in mind that unless your hardware and drivers are 64-bit capable, you've hit a dead end. By participating in this program, your 32-bit version of Windows XP Professional will no longer be licensed. If any piece of hardware does not have an associated 64-bit driver, it will not work - this includes scanners, cameras, printers, and other devices requiring the installation of drivers to support it.

Once the x64 version of Windows XP Professional is received, you must perform a "clean installation," meaning the hard drive must be formatted, or wiped clean. Don't want until then to determine if 64-bit is what you need, as you can visit http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/64bit/evaluation/trial.mspx to download a trial version CD image file (approximately 550MB).

To participate in the upgrade program, visit https://microsoft.productorder.com/clientx64.