Dec Alpha : 64 bits RIP

[gvollant]

You probably known that there was a version of Windows NT on Dec Alpha (between 1993 and 1999).

There was a release candidate of Windows 2000 32 bits for Dec Alpha, but Microsoft and Dec stopped the project just before releasing Windows 2000.

And Dec (now HP/Compaq) recently stopped also Alpha on other platform.

But remember : 1993 : The Dec Alpha was one of the first (pehaps the first) 64 bits processor.
But Windows NT used only 32 bits address on Dec Alpha, because Windows NT itself was only a 32 bits operating system.

Read the PE (Windows executable) specification at
http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/system/pl ... ECOFF.mspx

there is a "IMAGE_FILE_MACHINE_ALPHA64" value for Windows 64 bits executable for Dec Alpha.

And, because Dec Alpha was an old platform in 1998/99 year (already supported on 32 bits mode) and Itanium just a new platform, we can imagine that first 64 bits Windows developpement were more on Alpha than on Itanium.
After Microsoft cancels Windows Alpha 64 project, there were only Itanium developpement.

And after AMD64 (now x64) was added.

two news about Windows 64 bits for Dec Alpha:
http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/Art ... 19345.html

http://www.windowsitpro.com/Article/Art ... 18849.html