Can my Vista Business disk install both 32 or 64 bit?

[bupkus]

I figure since the disk I have is an upgrade disk, I can use my XP 64-bit disk to do a basic installation and then upgrade using the Vista Business disk. It never gave me an option for 32/64 bit install before.

BTW, it's a MS Action Pack Subscription disk.

 

[RebateMonger]

As far as I know, the Vista DVD with the Action Pack is 32-bit only. Microsoft might supply a 64-bit DVD if a Partner/Subscriber asks.

Doing a pre-install of XP x64 probably won't do any good, since you can't do an in-place upgrade of XP x64 to Vista x64.

 

[QuixoticOne]

This is the way many people can get 64 bit install media ($10 cost AFAIK) if their disc is 32 bit only; I don't know about ActionPack.
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia

Usually if one has a key for Vista 32, it'll work on Vista 64 of the same edition, so however you can get a 64 bit install disc, it should work. Most Vista 64 install discs have *all* (almost) of the Vista Versions contained on them, so if you have a 64 bit Vista disc for most any Vista version, it should have Business on it too.

I'd skip installing XP64 first, as the above response says, the in-place upgrade is probably not possible or problematic with respect to preserving your preexisting files / configurations on XP64 when Vista is done installing. Though you should be able to install XP64 and *overwrite* (loss of all data) it with Vista 64 as an install option.

Though if you're not wanting to preserve data on the XP64 install, you'd just be wasting your time installing it only to delete it in a moment AFAIK. Just directly install Vista 64 Business, don't tell it you're upgrading anything, don't give it your product key when you're in the installer, don't choose activation. It should install fine and into a 30 day trial mode.

Then when you want to activate, just run an elevated administrator command prompt, execute:
slmgr -ipx xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx
where xxxx-xxxx... is your Vista key.

Then:
slmgr -ato
...and it should activate online

Then:
slmgr -dli
to verify that it has activated properly.

 

[John]

I have the 32-bit Vista Business Upgrade DVD from the MS Action Pack and it's 32-bit only. About 6 months ago MS sent out the quarterly supplement that contained the 64-bit version.

FWIW you can perform a clean Vista install using the upgrade disc, and here are the directions that you should follow: http://www.dailytech.com/article.aspx?newsid=5932

Afterwards you can attempt to activate online, but if it fails you'll need to phone it in and tell the CSR that you're using an action pack subscription.