Will i be able to install both 32bit and 64bit versions of Windows 7?

Goose · 1 Aug 2009 at 20:51

I pre-ordered my copy of W7 Home Premium and as i understand it it comes with both 32 and 64 bit versions.

Im just wondering if I can install the 64bit version (i use vista 64bit at the moment) and then install the 32bit version using Virtualbox on the same machine?

Thanks.

marc2003 · 1 Aug 2009 at 20:54

no. that would require 2 licences.

and why in the world would you want to do that anyway? doesn't make any sense.

Craig321 · 1 Aug 2009 at 20:57

marc2003 said:
no. that would require 2 licences.

and why in the world would you want to do that anyway? doesn't make any sense.

So he can have one fully licensed Windows 7 under VMWare for testing?

Goose · 1 Aug 2009 at 21:38

I use Vista 64bit because i have 4gb of RAM but i'd like to be able to test a program called Sandboxie which works only on on 32bit systems.

Also, i thought with retail versions of windows you aren't tied to one PC, you can use it again if you upgrade. I thought that was the main difference retail and OEM?

marc2003 · 1 Aug 2009 at 21:46

Goose said:
Also, i thought with retail versions of windows you aren't tied to one PC, you can use it again if you upgrade. I thought that was the main difference retail and OEM?

indeed, that is correct.

but that's not what you asked is it? running 64bit on a machine and having virtualbox installed with a 32bit guest would be running 2 copies concurrently - which is why i said you'd need 2 licences.

theheyes · 1 Aug 2009 at 21:56

Yeah, a virtual machine is running concurrently and requires a separate license. For example if the host OS was Linux you'd be fine.

I installed an activated an OEM version of XP in a VM once becaue I wasn't paying attention, then it wouldn't activate on the bare metal. /facepalm