Vista 32bit - 64bit with a difference.

mctiny · 27 Mar 2008 at 14:56

I am running Vista Home premium 32bit, pre installed on an Acer laptop. I have product key and access to Vista 64bit disk (Portuguese) if I use this disk to install vista could I use my product key (English) and will it changethe language to English, or do I need to use English media?

.Griff. · 27 Mar 2008 at 15:06

If by access to a product key you're referring to the sticker/license key stuck on the bottom of the laptop then I doubt it will work with a "retail" copy of Vista.

mctiny · 27 Mar 2008 at 15:10

.Griff. said:
If by access to a product key you're referring to the sticker/license key stuck on the bottom of the laptop then I doubt it will work with a "retail" copy of Vista.

I have access to a Vista disk OEM

.Griff. · 27 Mar 2008 at 15:29

mctiny said:
I have access to a Vista disk OEM

The disc is irrelevant. It's the type of license key that you have access to that's important.

mctiny · 27 Mar 2008 at 15:42

.Griff. said:
The disc is irrelevant. It's the type of license key that you have access to that's important.

so if I use my English key with Portuguese media would it give me English Vista?

.Griff. · 27 Mar 2008 at 16:00

mctiny said:
so if I use my English key with Portuguese media would it give me English Vista?

<It's like pulling teeth>

You still haven't elaborated on "I've got access to a key"... Retail key? OEM key? A key off the bottom of the laptop? A technet key? Explain..

Without an answer it makes it difficult to answer your question.

mctiny · 27 Mar 2008 at 16:13

.Griff. said:
<It's like pulling teeth>

You still haven't elaborated on "I've got access to a key"... Retail key? OEM key? A key off the bottom of the laptop? A technet key? Explain..

Without an answer it makes it difficult to answer your question.

Re-read the original post, and quote correctly

as "I have a product Key" OEM from the Laptop, that is not the important part.

.Griff. · 27 Mar 2008 at 16:19

mctiny said:
Re-read the original post, and quote correctly as "I have a product Key" OEM from the Laptop, that is not the important part.

At no point did you state the key was from the laptop hence me asking for clarification.

Jeez.. Talk about urinating into the wind.

Snakedoctor · 27 Mar 2008 at 16:21

mctiny said:
Re-read the original post, and quote correctly as "I have a product Key" OEM from the Laptop, that is not the important part.

I think you will find it is. An OEM serial will not work with a retail version.

mctiny · 27 Mar 2008 at 16:24

.Griff. said:
At no point did you state the key was from the laptop hence me asking for clarification.

Jeez.. Talk about urinating into the wind.

I have and Acer laptop "Pre-installed"...

how else would I have a key?

mctiny · 27 Mar 2008 at 16:25

Turophobic said:
I think you will find it is. An OEM serial will not work with a retail version.

I never said it was a retail version of Vista 64bit

Caged · 27 Mar 2008 at 18:35

The language depends on the media. If you want an English UI you'll need an English CD. You'll be able to get an OEM Vista 64 disc from Acer (in theory, their support is appalling).

mctiny · 27 Mar 2008 at 19:19

Caged said:
The language depends on the media. If you want an English UI you'll need an English CD. You'll be able to get an OEM Vista 64 disc from Acer (in theory, their support is appalling).

OK, that could be an option as long as they ship to Brazil

, hence the problem of having a Portuguese version and not English to hand.

Smorgasbord · 27 Mar 2008 at 19:23

You can use retail licenses on OEM discs and vice versa, even though you couldn't do this with XP. I know, because a friend of mine has retail Vista Home Premium in the fancy box, and I have OEM HP, i borrowed the x64 disc he used which he ordered from Microsoft and mine installed and activated, the limitation only kicks into effect when Vista is fully activated with the product key.

I can 100% Guarantee you this!

About the language, can't you simply change it when you install it? - I don't know about that exactly?!

mctiny · 27 Mar 2008 at 19:45

Smorgasbord said:
You can use retail licenses on OEM discs and vice versa, even though you couldn't do this with XP. I know, because a friend of mine has retail Vista Home Premium in the fancy box, and I have OEM HP, i borrowed the x64 disc he used which he ordered from Microsoft and mine installed and activated, the limitation only kicks into effect when Vista is fully activated with the product key.

I can 100% Guarantee you this!

About the language, can't you simply change it when you install it? - I don't know about that exactly?!

I think I will need to get the Language pack to do that which is not much use as it doesn't change everything to English, I don't think...

Smorgasbord · 27 Mar 2008 at 19:47

Hmmm, You can only get language packs with ultimate can't you??

mctiny · 27 Mar 2008 at 19:49

I don't know but if that is that case then I'll be stuck with Portuguese Vista

mctiny · 27 Mar 2008 at 20:01

One reason for asking this question is that I have a copy of XP Home (Portuguese) and when the disk is put in my Vista Home Premium 32bit (English) it is in English and not as one would assume Portuguese but when booting from the disk it shows up in Portuguese.

Caged · 28 Mar 2008 at 08:37

If you want to change the UI language in Windows (as opposed to the input language) then you'll need the appropriate MUI pack for it. You can't get these legally unless you're a volume license holder / large OEM etc.