VISTA 32BIT OR 64BIT?

swedman

swedman

swedman

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7 Nov 2006
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Just got Windows Vista Home Premium and looking though Quick start Guide booklet have realised its the 32bit edition only.

Now I have a AMD Athlon 64 x2 Dual-Core Processor running on a ASUS A8N
-SLI DELUX MOBO with 2GB Memory. So I think yes I need to get onto MS and obtain the 64bit Edition which you can obtain from them for a small delivery charge.

But on carry out their procedure (my Computer -View System Infor - Advance - Environment Variables - PROCESSOR-A..) to check if my system is a 64bit PC, I found that my system gave a reading of X86 instead of X64.

CAN ANYONE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY!!!

By the way, I got onto Micosoft and they wanted to charge me £40 for the ANSWER!! They must be taking taking the P...

SWEDMAN
 
As above really, only one version is on the disc for the OEM versions, either 32bit or 64bit. If you buy the retail version of vista then you just get the 32bit version, you have to send off for a 64bit DVD. It costs you around £7.89 if I remember correctly.
 
Yup I can confirm I just ordered one myself. £7.89 but you have to wait up to 28 days for delivery. I have an OEM version of Vista Premium on one PC and an Upgrade 32 bit versio of the same on the other. But I have only been able to use the Upgrade version of the Premium to order the 64 bit DVD.

You have to type in your Product Key to get verified in order to qualify for the 64 bit DVD. At least this seemed evident to me on the DVD Application screen and license agreement.
I cannot comment on other's experience with the OEM versions. I will keep the DVD handy for when more software supports 64 bit memory addressing.

It also says on the same site that Ultimate is the only version which comes with both versions on the same DVD and you are given a choice on instalation startup as to which version you would like to install.
 
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The only problem buy OEM is that you are tied to one Motherboard barring Hardware failures. The System builders whom installed your O/S then has to have your license key replaced or re-keyed by Microsoft. So if you are your own system builder I hope you are registered with Microsoft and have the suitable MSCE qualification to back up your OEM qualification. I know some have slipped through the loop so far but don't be fooled into a state of ease because the strangest things do happen.
Don't forget if you buy the Ultimate version you get both 64 and 32 bit versions in one go and also you get to upgrade your PC as many times as you like without having to change your product.
 
jeffa123 said:
Don't forget if you buy the Ultimate version you get both 64 and 32 bit versions in one go and also you get to upgrade your PC as many times as you like without having to change your product.
Click to expand...

Providing of course its the retail version ;)
 
bikes said:
Providing of course its the retail version ;)
Click to expand...


Of Course. If you buy the Upgrade Ultimate you still get both versions and when you change your setup I.E. MB, Processor and Bios setup you should have no problem re-activating. Also by buying the upgrade you are getting 64 bit and 32 bit versions of the same O/S and a full backup Image program to boot. Saving you the penalty of having to go out and purchase programs like Acronis and Ghost.
If you buy the Premium Upgrade like I said in my previous message you have to spend another £7.89 on the shipping of the 64 bit DVD and you only get a file backup version of MS Backup. Not much good if like me you are using MS One Care 1.5 and it prompts you to backup your comuter every 4 weeks. or after a system scan. I end up doing the backup and deleting it and having to use Acronis to do an incremental backup aftrwards.
The good thing about the upgrade version is that you can still do a clean install from it, get all your settings how you like and then type in your product key then upgrade it and Activate it, without losing a single file or setting. A full install from an OEM or full install retail, overwrites your old vista settings and renames the previous install Windows.old . So an upgrade is not always a bad way to go.
Let's see the price of OEM Ultimate 32 bit plus the price of an OEM 64 bit Ultimate works out dearer than the price of one Upgrade Ultimate.
 
jeffa123 said:
Let's see the price of OEM Ultimate 32 bit plus the price of an OEM 64 bit Ultimate works out dearer than the price of one Upgrade Ultimate.
Click to expand...
Of course it does. One gets you 2 separate licenses to use the software, the other gets you only 1.
 
64 bit?

No one has answered my question yet!

As I said my system is telling me I dont have a 64bit Processor fitted, as it is
telling me I have X86 not x64 (see my first posting) Yes I know all about obtaining the 64bit version for £7.95, which I have ordered - how long does it take to come?
 
swedman said:
No one has answered my question yet!

As I said my system is telling me I dont have a 64bit Processor fitted, as it is
telling me I have X86 not x64 (see my first posting)
Click to expand...
It most likely isn't - it's telling you you've got an x86 operating system installed and as a consequence the processor is running in x86 mode.

I can assure you the Athlon64's are 64-bit.
 
csmager said:
Of course it does. One gets you 2 separate licenses to use the software, the other gets you only 1.
Click to expand...

One license that is transportable unlike the OEM which is a headache. I don't want to phone Microsoft everytime I change my setup and having to justify it to some creep on the other end of the phone whom has all the suspicions under the sun and voices them. This is why I installed my OEM Premium onto a machine they are no longer doing Bios updates for but is barely a year old. Since an Update to the Bios would mean my Backups become invalid and my system would need to be re-activated. I am not doing to much Imaging of disks at present due to the fact that I may have to update my Bios under my new MB but at least I shouldn't have any trouble with that one because it is a transportable O/S (Retail) and should have no problems re-activating it.

As to the main question of the thread Yes you do have a Processor with the EMT64 Instruction set. synonymous with all 64 bit processors. The AMD switches Modes though and will only answer a 64bit question if it is asked properly. Unfortunately the older AMD 64 chips don't jump very quickly and have to be put in operand mode to launch 64 bit processes. If it was installed with a 64 bit O/S from the start, it would be ready to answer. Programs like Sandra ask a simple question like What is your Processor ID: and subsequently answers its own question by filling out the results for that ID Table results. The real questions come when it benchmarks in 64 bit mode.
 
jeffa123 said:
One license that is transportable unlike the OEM which is a headache. I don't want to phone Microsoft everytime I change my setup and having to justify it to some creep on the other end of the phone whom has all the suspicions under the sun and voices them. This is why I installed my OEM Premium onto a machine they are no longer doing Bios updates for but is barely a year old. Since an Update to the Bios would mean my Backups become invalid and my system would need to be re-activated. I am not doing to much Imaging of disks at present due to the fact that I may have to update my Bios under my new MB but at least I shouldn't have any trouble with that one because it is a transportable O/S (Retail) and should have no problems re-activating it.

As to the main question of the thread Yes you do have a Processor with the EMT64 Instruction set. synonymous with all 64 bit processors. The AMD switches Modes though and will only answer a 64bit question if it is asked properly. Unfortunately the older AMD 64 chips don't jump very quickly and have to be put in operand mode to launch 64 bit processes. If it was installed with a 64 bit O/S from the start, it would be ready to answer. Programs like Sandra ask a simple question like What is your Processor ID: and subsequently answers its own question by filling out the results for that ID Table results. The real questions come when it benchmarks in 64 bit mode.
Click to expand...

even with retail u till need phone MS if u change your hardware...
 
X86 / X64

csmager said:
It most likely isn't - it's telling you you've got an x86 operating system installed and as a consequence the processor is running in x86 mode.

I can assure you the Athlon64's are 64-bit.
Click to expand...

OK, I understand that running in XP will only show X86 but once I load in Vista
32bit ( just waiting for new HD to arrive) then it will show X64..right or have I got that wrong?



By the way, if I build up my NEW HD using the 32bit version of Vista,(REM: DO NOT INSERT PRODUCT KEY) what do I do once I have the 64bit! (up to 28 days waiting time from MS) What I want to know is do I format the HD and load up the 64bit onto a clean drive, or can I just do an upgrade over the 32bit version?

cheers
swedman
 
swedman said:
OK, I understand that running in XP will only show X86 but once I load in Vista
32bit ( just waiting for new HD to arrive) then it will show X64..right or have I got that wrong?



By the way, if I build up my NEW HD using the 32bit version of Vista,(REM: DO NOT INSERT PRODUCT KEY) what do I do once I have the 64bit! (up to 28 days waiting time from MS) What I want to know is do I format the HD and load up the 64bit onto a clean drive, or can I just do an upgrade over the 32bit version?

cheers
swedman
Click to expand...

if your running 32bit version it will show x86 and if your running 64bit version it will show x64...

u will need to format your hdd and install the 64bit version.. u can't upgrade from 32bit to 64bit
 
gareth170 said:
if your running 32bit version it will show x86 and if your running 64bit version it will show x64...

u will need to format your hdd and install the 64bit version.. u can't upgrade from 32bit to 64bit
Click to expand...

Thanks for that!
Hopefully should get my new 500Gb HDD today! will Install Vista 32bit version to see if I have any Driver conflicts with my hardware as listed below.

I am assuming that I will be able to Install to blank HDD with bios set to DVD?



ASUSTek A8N-SLI Delux
AMD Athon 64 x2 4600+
Radeon X800 XL PCI Express
2Gb TwinX Corsair Memory
Dell 24 inch Monitor 1920X1200[/COLOR]
 
yes you will (be able to install)

shouldn't get much driver trouble

just go to the manufacturer's websites and get latest ones
 
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