Re: Install Ultimate 64bit with Dell OEM Key



"Mark H" wrote:

I think you are trying to:
1. Maintain the 32-bit VU OEM installation as one boot path on the new
laptop, and
2. Install the 64-bit VU Upgrade as your second boot path on the same
computer.

You stated that you installed VU 32-bit on your laptop with the upgrade
product key. This essentially "retired" your previous installation's product
key.

If you remove VU 32-bit from the first laptop, you could re-activate your
"retired" product key with the original product.
You could then re-use the upgrade product key on another machine for the
64-bit upgrade version, BUT what are you upgrading if you create a second
boot path with this upgrade edition?

Can it be done? Yes
Legally? Not unless you retire some other product key. Got an old copy of XP
or 2K sitting on the shelf?


"willat8" <guest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:b62aa5d6feac4903c74271f90c1fa41c@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Hi.
I've been reading a few posts on this process but some things still
seem up in the air; so I'd very much like some clarifaction specific to
my setup.
I purchased Vista Ultimate upgrade media retail edition 18 months ago
and installed Ultimate 32-bit on to my laptop using the supplied product
key.
I now have a new Dell laptop which came with Vista Ultimate 32-bit
installed. What I want to do is dual-boot Ultimate 64-bit on this
laptop. So, how should I go about installing Ultimate 64-bit using the
included 64-bit installation media included in the retail copy I bought
18 months ago? Will I be using the Dell OEM 32-bit key?
Thanks :).


--
willat8

Thank you very much for your help everyone.

To clarify: I have one spare copy of WinXP lying around. Also, I assume that
uninstalling both XP and Vista will de-register their product keys for
subsequent use on different machines?

So, the steps I need to take are:

1. Install WinXP on my NEW laptop in a dual-boot environment with the
current Vista Ultimate 32-bit OS.

2. Upgrade over the WinXP installation to Vista Ultimate 64-bit, but not
insert product key just yet. At this point, the WinXP key is not in use by
any OSs?

3. Downgrade from Vista Ultimate on my old laptop to WinXP. At this point,
the retail Vista Ultimate key is not in use by any OSs?

5. Activate Vista Ultimate 64-bit on my new laptop with the newly
de-registered product key.

Am I heading in the right direction now?

.

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