VISTA - You have a 64bit CPU - But do you get 32bit OS for compability?

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

Gimpymoo

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Dont know if this is just myself being very silly, but I am very confused as to where to spend my £135 on Vista OEM.

I have a 64bit CPU so logic tells me to get the 64bit VISTA OEM. Logic tells me any compatibility issues with apps will be worked out and the WOW feature should be pretty rock solid by now and as for drivers, manufacturers should be releasing Vista capable 32bit drivers as we speak.

HOWEVER, my brain then kicks in and says, wait.... What if compatibility issues are not resolved and manufacturers do not support fully support 64bit? What about that old but usefull wi-fi card... only £10 for a new one, but is not the point.

I then think, i'll get the 32bit VISTA OEM then think, hang on, isnt that a little silly spending £135 on a 32bit OS when 64bit will standard in a few years.. Or will it????

Also, if I replace my Motherboard in 2 years time, I presume I will need a new copy of Vista?

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

PLEASE HELP.

Muchos Grazias.
 
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if I replace my Motherboard in 2 years time
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there is no way I would buy another copy, it's criminal to even concider it!

If you bought any other software or a game, if you changed PC and they said you couldn't play the game unless you bought another copy , what would you say!
 
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Im sure in the past when ive changed a Mobo with an OEM copy of XP, I rang them and they did it manually over the phone and didnt bat an eye lid.
 
I heard companies will be forced to release both 32 and 64 bit drivers else Microsoft won't sign them? Not 100% sure though.
 
Vista 32-bit already breaks a lot of backward compatibility. So you may as well go that 10% further and get Vista x64.

Sinque said:
I heard companies will be forced to release both 32 and 64 bit drivers else Microsoft won't sign them? Not 100% sure though.
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Correct.
 
That is good news, but we all know driver signing doesnt mean anything... you just click the "I DONT CARE, CARRY ON" button.

Unless VISTA ONLY installs signed drivers?

NathanE said:
Vista 32-bit already breaks a lot of backward compatibility. So you may as well go that 10% further and get Vista x64.
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LOL

Doesn't VISTA have some funky XP driver emulation built in or something allowing you to use XP drivers? If this exists, can you use 32bit XP drivers on 64bit Vista?
 
Ok everyones saying about the OEM version that you cant move it between machines.

Let me get this straight if you install it on one machine then try and install it on another will the code be deactivated or are you guys saying it cant be moved between machines because its illegal but very much do able?
 
Gimpymoo said:
That is good news, but we all know driver signing doesnt mean anything... you just click the "I DONT CARE, CARRY ON" button.

Unless VISTA ONLY installs signed drivers?



LOL

Doesn't VISTA have some funky XP driver emulation built in or something allowing you to use XP drivers? If this exists, can you use 32bit XP drivers on 64bit Vista?
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XP drivers may or may not work. It is touch and go whether they will. It certainly isn't a supported practice by any company.

What's so funny? :p
 
stickroad said:
Ok everyones saying about the OEM version that you cant move it between machines.

Let me get this straight if you install it on one machine then try and install it on another will the code be deactivated or are you guys saying it cant be moved between machines because its illegal but very much do able?
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According to the license you can install one copy of it on one machine at a time. If you wipe machine A and install on machine B it will wortk just fine.
 
Just so you know (this is only with the OEM version of XP home so it might be the same), I had to reformat a friends laptop who had a preinstalled version of XP home, with an OEM sticker with the licence key underneath. Unfortunately, he lost the recovery discs!

So... I grabbed a copy of an XP Home OEM CD, did a full format and installed it, used the licence key under the laptop, but when it came to activation it didn't work.

However, after trying via telephone, it asked a few questions. If I remember the first question correctly, it was press 1 if this is preinstalled, or 2 if purchased from a retail store.

Pressing 1 gets a message saying you need to purchase an additional licence and hangs up... but... pressing 2, then stated that this is the first time it has been installed, then this is installed only on one computer (all automated) etc... seconds later it created an confirmation ID, I put that in and Bob's your Dad's brother!

This may be the same for the OEM versions of Vista?

I'm still thinking about ordering either the Ultimate OEM or retail upgrade version.

This may make you feel sick, but at the moment I'm downloading a full free legit version of the Vista Business edition, thanks to my Uni and its links with Microsoft Academic Alliance! I will install it in a couple of weeks and let you know how I get on with my setup (will be ordering a EVGA 680i within the next few days).

Happy Easter,

JP
 
BillytheImpaler said:
According to the license you can install one copy of it on one machine at a time. If you wipe machine A and install on machine B it will wortk just fine.
Click to expand...

Possibly not (might be activation issues) and it certainly won't be legal (according to the license).
 
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Gimpymoo said:
Dont know if this is just myself being very silly, but I am very confused as to where to spend my £135 on Vista OEM.

I have a 64bit CPU so logic tells me to get the 64bit VISTA OEM. Logic tells me any compatibility issues with apps will be worked out and the WOW feature should be pretty rock solid by now and as for drivers, manufacturers should be releasing Vista capable 32bit drivers as we speak.

HOWEVER, my brain then kicks in and says, wait.... What if compatibility issues are not resolved and manufacturers do not support fully support 64bit? What about that old but usefull wi-fi card... only £10 for a new one, but is not the point.

I then think, i'll get the 32bit VISTA OEM then think, hang on, isnt that a little silly spending £135 on a 32bit OS when 64bit will standard in a few years.. Or will it????

Also, if I replace my Motherboard in 2 years time, I presume I will need a new copy of Vista?

HAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

PLEASE HELP.

Muchos Grazias.
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To save all the worry about weather you've chosen the right version for £135 for Ultimate 64bit or 32bit and possible activation issue if you upgrade your hardware, why not just get the Home Premium Retail Upgrade that has both 64bit & 32bit included for £140, you also wouldn't have any issues with activation and you could upgrade to Ultimate later via the market place feature in Vista if needed.
 
I rely on remote desktop so must have ultimate since none of the other versions have it (except business)

Oh well.
 
Gimpymoo said:
Goes off to google the "Market Place" feature.
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Sorry for missleading you slightly, but the marketplace feature is acually called "Windows Anytime Uprgade"", this can be used for upgrading Vista to a better version than what's currenly installed, the good thing about it is you don't need to reinstall Windows, all you need to do is enter the new product code and use your current Vista install CD and all the new features will be installed and unlocked.

Upgrade to another edition of Windows Vista

Windows Anytime Upgrade: frequently asked questions

Hope this helps!
 
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Reading lots of articles on the net i decided to install the 32bit version of vista although ive got a 64bit processor.

It seems that more and more x64 drivers are coming out but x64 vista will NOT install unsigned drivers, x86 will.. and at the moment the only real benefit of using a 64bit operating system is if the programs your running have been written for 64bit systems.
Very very few programs have been and so you wont see hardly any performance increase using x64.
The articles seem to suggest that it will be a couple of years until a fair number of programs start to appear for it. So as there isnt much benefit and there could be a lot of headache with drivers etc, id go x86 for the time being.b
 
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