Vista 64bit from 32bit install question

lunarwolf

lunarwolf

lunarwolf

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Hi @ll

I have 2 PCs and 2 retail versions of Vista Home Premium.

My first comp is allready upgraded to 64bit when I built it 2 years agowhen Vista was launched (I installed the 32 bit ordered the DVD for 64bit and reinstalled)

Now I just built a second computer and installed a second retail Vista Home Premium SP1 32bit. I would like to upgrade this one to 64 bit as well.

My question is, can I use the 64bit DVD I had to mail order couple years ago and link it to my second 32bit product key or do I need to mail order a second 64bit DVD?

I am asking because I am not sure that if I use the same CD, I will defacto cancel the 64bit install on my original computer when I install it on the second one, in which case I have no alternative but ask for another 64bit disc and wait several weeks for them to send me the disc.

Cheers
 
i don't think that it would in theory; however I do not know if the 64bit DVD I was sent for the 1st PC is linked by default to the product key of the 32bit version on that PC.

I don't remember when I originally installed if the product key for the 64bit OS was the same as the 32bit, or was it a second product key specifically linked to the 32bit
 
i cant see the dvd being any different....would be much more costly and time consuming for them to tie every dvd to an individual serial.

that dvd should be the same as any other dvd what you or anyone else could order.....
 
You can use the same 64-bit DVD for both PCs, provided you have a unique licence key for each installation.

All 64-bit Vista DVDs contain exactly the same code, apart from the Enterprise version and certain customised (BIOS-locked) OEM discs from large suppliers such as Dell and HP. The same goes for 32-bit discs as well, and a valid key for x86 will work with x64 and vice versa. :)
 
ok thx

one last thing my 64bit DVD is pre-SP1 since I have had it since launch, but the second PC is a 32bit retail home premium SP1

would that screw anything up?
 
hehe just tried it and when I enter product key from second computer when the 64bit from comp1 install menu I get product key cannot be validated.

guess I need to order another 64bit CD, completely absurd IMO since both the 32 bit and 64bit CDs should be in the pack when you buy it from the start. If anything it should be the 32bit that needs to be ordered not the 64, pretty silly to want to instal 32bit vs 64bit vista
 
Last edited:
lunarwolf said:
one last thing my 64bit DVD is pre-SP1 since I have had it since launch, but the second PC is a 32bit retail home premium SP1

would that screw anything up?
Click to expand...
I suspect this may indeed be the problem: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/947190

Try using the "keyless installation method" under "Method 2" and see if you have any joy.

I wasn't actually aware of this issue... learn something new every day. :)
 
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