Windows 7 License Question

manic_man · 27 Jan 2010 at 16:13

I was hoping somebody might know the answer to this question.

I have just bought a laptop that has Windows 7 Home Premium installed. Now I imagine it'll be the x86 version, however I develop 64 bit apps, so it would be nice to be able to compile and run on it.

Now I can download the media for 7 Home Premium x64 directly from MS (doing so right now actually at 8Mb/s!) However, if I format it when it comes and re-install, a) will the key on the laptop allow me to install? and b) will it activate?

Or is it likely the version that comes with it will be one of those "key-less" BIOS locked distros? (It's an Acer btw). And if so, is there any way I can get hold of the x64 version instead and use that?

Clearly I don't want to break the terms of the license I am getting with the laptop and i'll stick with x86 if I have to, but if theres any way I can swap, it'd be good to know.

Thanks all

Django x2 · 27 Jan 2010 at 16:15

You can use the same key for x64 or x86, however, if your laptop is OEM licensed, you won't as retail license (MSDN) won't allow an OEM key to be put in.

You can install the x64 completely and try activiation once installed but I'm pretty sure it wont work

manic_man · 27 Jan 2010 at 16:32

Lucero said:
You can use the same key for x64 or x86, however, if your laptop is OEM licensed, you won't as retail license (MSDN) won't allow an OEM key to be put in.

You can install the x64 completely and try activiation once installed but I'm pretty sure it wont work

Ok, I feared as much, thanks though.

I can't imagine it won't be an OEM license.

it's a tad annoying as not only does it mean I'll have to recompile anything I want to run on it, when I take the RAM above the supplied 3GB I'm done for. Maybe there's a solution, guess I'll wait till it arrives

kylew · 27 Jan 2010 at 16:35

Even if it doesn't work, you should be able to get microsoft themselves to sort it out, they'd be fine doing so.

You're using windows 7 on the laptop you own the license for anyway, they aren't going to care that it's a 64 bit version now instead of 32 bit.

manic_man · 27 Jan 2010 at 16:41

kylew said:
Even if it doesn't work, you should be able to get microsoft themselves to sort it out, they'd be fine doing so.

You're using windows 7 on the laptop you own the license for anyway, they aren't going to care that it's a 64 bit version now instead of 32 bit.

yeah, i'll have to check I guess.

TBH it just says Windows 7 Home Premium, doesnt mention which version. It could be x64. I'm just used to things always being the worst of two options

Really wish MS would just get rid of the x86 versions of their OS's...

oh well, some day!

Thanks guys.

Django x2 · 27 Jan 2010 at 16:43

Just check in Computer Properties. Tells you the architecture in there

manic_man · 27 Jan 2010 at 16:48

Lucero said:
Just check in Computer Properties. Tells you the architecture in there

Will do, it hasn't arrived yet, I'm being all pre-emptive and excitable

manic_man · 30 Jan 2010 at 15:45

Sorry to bump my own thread, but just to report that Acer installed 7 Home Premium x64 as default anyway, there was no need to mess about (other than uninstalling all the usual rubbish)

Thanks for the pre-emptive help.