Can i use a OEM vista32 key to install OEM Vista64?

goreblast said:
Completely incorrect mate. I have done it 40 or 50 times with Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro, Windows XP Pro x64, Windows Server 2003 RC1, Windows 2003 RC1 64-bit. I have 7 PCs here at the moment and at a time there where an additional 7 running FAH under windows.
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How very good for you. You've installed 6 different versions of windows on 7 pcs nearly 50 times.

I would point out that none of them are Vista, and the install process has been completely replaced with a new one.

Gareth is quite correct - you choose your language, you type in your CD key.

Don't believe me? See here:

http://www.pcper.com/article.php?aid=352
 
goreblast said:
Completely incorrect mate. I have done it 40 or 50 times with Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro, Windows XP Pro x64, Windows Server 2003 RC1, Windows 2003 RC1 64-bit. I have 7 PCs here at the moment and at a time there where an additional 7 running FAH under windows.

If you don't believe me look here -->Elder Geek
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Vista is different. You select which version of Vista you wish to install and enter your key before you do any partitioning.
 
goreblast said:
Completely incorrect mate. I have done it 40 or 50 times with Windows 2000, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Pro, Windows XP Pro x64, Windows Server 2003 RC1, Windows 2003 RC1 64-bit. I have 7 PCs here at the moment and at a time there where an additional 7 running FAH under windows.

If you don't believe me look here -->Elder Geek
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i thought u was talking about vista

because vista is different..

so i wasn't wrong.. :)
 
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Robotica said:
it be very interested in the outcome of this :)
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It will work, there's nearly no question of it. The products are not meant to be 'separate' like Windows XP and Windows XP x64 - they are entirely interchangeable, compiled from the same code. Keys for retail work for both, and you can install either one or the other.

And, gleaned from another site:

Hah! Well yesterday evening I ordered both the 32 and 64-bit OEM editions so I could see for my self whether they require separate keys. The package arrived while I was at lunch today, and I tried booting from both DVDs to see if they would work with the other key.

I found that they will accept keys from both versions. In fact, the OEM label with the product key does not even say whether it is 32 or 64-bit.
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lins tried to post are not showing up... i guess ocuk dont get on with that place i linked too :o

woops


it suggested it would work tho

edit / csmager beat me too it :D


edit 2 / i was talking about OEM not Retail :)
 
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As far as I understood the install the process of Vista I thought you could enter any key at the install stage providing it's valid and Vista would then determine which version it was going to install based upon the key you entered. You could however not enter a key and it would then present a list of installations it can perform based upon the contents of the DVD so could choose what you want it to install but would then obviously require a valid key at a later stage.
 
burnsy2023 said:
I'm here, and yes you won't be licensed. Whether it'll work I haven't tried, so I don't know.

Burnsy
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I know that a 32 bit key for ultimate retail works on the 64 bit version. That was the version that i won a copy from MS in the dev launch.
 
IAmATeaf said:
As far as I understood the install the process of Vista I thought you could enter any key at the install stage providing it's valid and Vista would then determine which version it was going to install based upon the key you entered. You could however not enter a key and it would then present a list of installations it can perform based upon the contents of the DVD so could choose what you want it to install but would then obviously require a valid key at a later stage.
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Yip you can install a trial version of any version of Vista by not entering a key.

Those who purchased the Upgrade version can use that exact same method to preform a clean install.
 
leaskovski said:
I know that a 32 bit key for ultimate retail works on the 64 bit version. That was the version that i won a copy from MS in the dev launch.
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I thought that with Retail you could chop and change and still remain within the license so long as you only have one installed? (So you can actually have dual boot 32/64 from one retail license?) <- hence the price compared to OEM.
 
cavemanoc said:
I thought that with Retail you could chop and change and still remain within the license so long as you only have one installed? (So you can actually have dual boot 32/64 from one retail license?) <- hence the price compared to OEM.
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Yes, on retail you are licensed for both x86 and x64, on OEM it's either one or the other.

Burnsy
 
Ok thought i would come back now i've found out 100%......

In short, YES it works. And heres the way i done it:

Installed Vista32 oem, registered and let it install all updates. Got miffed with several issues with my hardware and Vista32 and wanted to try & wished i'd got Vista64 instead.

Borrowed a Vista64 oem CD off a mate, popped CD in, let it load up on boot, put my Vista32 cdkey in, selected the C drive and formatted it (bloody quick format! lol takes seconds) then let it run its course. Finally it booted into windows, i let it do all the updates and checked my system info.. Yup 64 bit operating system alright and the full 4096 meg of ram available. But the icing on the cake was unlike Vista32 it installed with no issues, yay!

For the 8800 GTS i found problems installing the latest 64 bit vid drivers. I found that the 158.18's installed and work fine.

So i'm really pleased with microsoft in this respect. I'm glad i was able to install Vista64 with my Vista32 key. When you think of it, (from the shop i got it from) they cost exactly the same anyway and i'm only running one install of my cdkey so i've done nothing wrong have i? I suppose for Microsoft Its better than me taking Vista32 back to the shop for a refund.


Your views?
 
XysteR said:
I suppose for Microsoft Its better than me taking Vista32 back to the shop for a refund.
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You wouldn'tve got one. By breaking the seal, you accept the license and can't return it.

OcUK said:
You do not have the right to cancel the contract under the Distance Selling Act if you have collected goods or if the order is for computer software which has been unsealed
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http://www.overclockers.co.uk/support.php
 
Thats fair enough to an extent, but i was in the understanding that if your not happy with anything you perchace, for any reason, you have a right as a consumer to a full refund. You break the seal on a computer game and you still have a right to take it back?

The 2 seals on the CD Box (top & bottom and easy to peel off) for Vista have this written on:

"WARNING: By opening this package you agree that you have read and understood the Microsoft OEM System Builder License affixed to this package and agree to its terms and conditions"

Nothing was attached or near the package. The guy at the shop where i got it from would have gave me a refund. Simple as.

In all honesty whether i replace the stickers to the top & bottom of the box or not i can get a full refund either way.

Anyways this is totally off topic. You can install either 32 or 64 bit OEM versions with either key
 
XysteR said:
When you think of it, (from the shop i got it from) they cost exactly the same anyway and i'm only running one install of my cdkey so i've done nothing wrong have i?
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You're not licensed even if the key does work. Th best idea is to carefully think about the version you want before you buy so you don't need to change.

Burnsy
 
Yeah i did think very seriously about which version i wanted, afterall i was spending a decent amount of my cash on it. I never knew it'd feel like using beta software when installed, as i stood there with it in my hand (oooer) :P And with no way of trying it? Like everyone else if i've got the hardware then i'll expect it to work.

If Vista32 had installed without any problems i would have no quibble. The hardware i bought is 'so-called' Vista compatible hardware. The problems i had lay with the operating system core and had nothing to do with my hardware.

Technically speaking i understand what your saying, its black & white! but even in this case i'm sure microsoft would flex a tiny bit. lol

Infact i will contact them tomorrow. I'll put my full & valid position to them and see what they say.

They should put something in place where you install the product with a 'trial / compatibility key' say. Then when your happy with your perchace and after a small period of time you click the 'Happy' button then they send you a full key via email and at this time the bol^&*ks written on the box comes into legal effect. This would save us and them so much trouble.

Also, before perchacing, i clicked the 'Vista Compatibility checker' and it said YES!!! f&*K YES!! its mint this man, you can buy it, go get it now we want your money-cash-pence, ta very muchly indeedily. Then when i go along with the unthusiasm i buy it, install it and it doesn't work as it should *coughs*
 
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It seems this Vista thing has all been the least of my worries.................

I've just opened a well known twin/quadrouple chocolate coated, wafer biscuit only to find there is no chocolate on it at all?

Where do i stand here as i've broken the seal? lol
 
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99.9% it's impossible to reenter software..

it isn't microsoft fault that you've choosed the wrong version or it doesn't work on your system...

u should have done more research...
 
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