Re: Upgrade Vista 32-bit to 64-bit
- From: "Colin Barnhorst" <c.barnhorst@xxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:26:56 -0600
I do not think you can use the OEM pk with retail Vista. Since an OEM x86 edition does not entitle you to anything but the x86 version of the media as you say, I think the OEM pk will only work with the software supplied.
The retail EULA does specify that you may recieve both the x86 and x64 media and may use either with the retail pk, as long as you are only using one. No such provision is made in the consumer_oem EULA at C:\windows\system32\license.
What is supported is migration from x86 OEM to x64 retail using an upgrade edition product key (or of course, a standard pk). When you purchase a retail upgrade edition you get the x86 dvd in Vista Home Basic, VH Premium, and Business. There are instructions in those boxes for getting the x64 dvd for $10 shipping and handling. It takes about a week. You get both dvds in Ultimate. I take it that you are upgrading from x86 Ultimate to x64 Ultimate so the box would contain both regardless of whether you buy an upgrade or standard license.
There is no upgrade media for Vista, only upgrade product keys. All retail 32bit dvds are alike and all retail 64bit dvds are alike. Not so with OEM media.
When you upgrade to x64 you have to boot the computer with the x64 dvd, enter the upgrade product key, and then Setup determines that you have Windows on the computer that is eligible for the upgrade license and lets you continue. The OEM product key should fail. I think it would tell you that 'the product key you entered cannot be used with this copy of Windows' (or something close). Nothing is preventing you from trying if you can find a retail dvd since the pk is entered long before any changes are made to your computer.
"richk" <nospam@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message news:eh1Up1X1IHA.528@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
I know that retail versions of Vista Ultimate come with media for both 32-bit and 64-bit installation and that the same product will work for either.
Machines that are purchased with Vista pre-installed come with either 32-bit or 64-bit versions, but there is no way to change from a 32-bit version to a 64-bit version, ever if you have 64-bit hardware. The COA on the bottom of the machine says Vista Ultimate, but does not say 32-bit or 64-bit.
I have been told that you can reinstall Vista onto machines that originally came with OEM versions of Vista using retail media and activate using the OEM-supplied product key. (This is different from XP, where retail disks will not activate using OEM product keys)
My question is whether I can install Vista Ultimate from a retail 64-bit DVD (that is licensed onto a different machine) and activate using the OEM key and whether or not Microsoft thinks this is a legal use of their product.
.
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- Upgrade Vista 32-bit to 64-bit
- From: richk
- Upgrade Vista 32-bit to 64-bit
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