Upgrade Vista Ultimate 32bit to 64bit?

[Josh123]

I currently have Vista Ultimate 32bit but would rather have the 64bit version. Is there anyway of downloading it and using my key to upgrade for free?

 

[Peter]

That would be a good question to ask Microsoft Support ...

 

[raystorm]

If you are willing to pay 10 bucks you can order the 64bit dvd of Vista here to replace your 32bit Vista. Thats if you have a 32bit only disc (like I do).

edit: If you have a disc with both then do like nerp below says..a clean install.

 

[nerp]

Clean install only. You can't upgrade 32 to 64 bit. It's a different architecture completley.

 

[bighedstev]

Originally posted by: raystorm
If you are willing to pay 10 bucks you can order the 64bit dvd of Vista here to replace your 32bit Vista. Thats if you have a 32bit only disc (like I do).

edit: If you have a disc with both then do like nerp below says..a clean install.

Can I do this with the 32 bit oem version I bought or only retail? Thanks

 

[Dadofamunky]

I still recommend it even with a clean install. 64-bit is awesome so far.

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: bighedstev

Originally posted by: raystorm
If you are willing to pay 10 bucks you can order the 64bit dvd of Vista here to replace your 32bit Vista. Thats if you have a 32bit only disc (like I do).

edit: If you have a disc with both then do like nerp below says..a clean install.

Can I do this with the 32 bit oem version I bought or only retail? Thanks

32bit OEM works too. Vista keys do not differentiate between 32bit and 64bit.

 

[bighedstev]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: bighedstev

Originally posted by: raystorm
If you are willing to pay 10 bucks you can order the 64bit dvd of Vista here to replace your 32bit Vista. Thats if you have a 32bit only disc (like I do).

edit: If you have a disc with both then do like nerp below says..a clean install.

Can I do this with the 32 bit oem version I bought or only retail? Thanks

32bit OEM works too. Vista keys do not differentiate between 32bit and 64bit.

The reason I ask is because I went to the link and entered the key from the 32 bit oem version I bought and it said there were no offers available for that key. Are there any other ways for me to get a copy of the 64 bit version on the cheap?

 

[nerp]

Technically not legally. But it can be done. Nobody is going to call the cops on you and MS is likely not too concerned about someone like you using a 64 bit disc to install the OS with a valid license key -- they're more worried about real pirates and companies that don't have proper licensing in place.

 

[bighedstev]

So basically I can't get a valid 64bit copy from Microsoft b/c I bought the oem version...but the 32 bit oem key I bought will work with a 64 bit copy if I can get my hands on one? Correct?

 

[nerp]

Yes.

 

[Josh123]

Originally posted by: bighedstev
So basically I can't get a valid 64bit copy from Microsoft b/c I bought the oem version...but the 32 bit oem key I bought will work with a 64 bit copy if I can get my hands on one? Correct?

This is what I'm wanting to do. I have the 32bit key but would like to reformat and install the 64bit version.

 

[bighedstev]

Originally posted by: Josh123

Originally posted by: bighedstev
So basically I can't get a valid 64bit copy from Microsoft b/c I bought the oem version...but the 32 bit oem key I bought will work with a 64 bit copy if I can get my hands on one? Correct?

This is what I'm wanting to do. I have the 32bit key but would like to reformat and install the 64bit version.

Post here if you find a way to do it and I'll do the same. I'm going to try d/l a "backup" of Vista x64 and use my oem key. Will post back in a few days when I get this done. I'll be checking periodically throughout the days to see if you've found a guaranteed way to do it.

 

[QuixoticOne]

They have a few microsoft products available as downloadable trial versions
(some of which you can activate as full products if you have a key)
in their windows marketplace and other web sites.

I'm not sure about Win 64 though. It's a shame that they didn't include the 64
bit versions in most all the distributions, what were they thinking? Most PCs sold
in the past few years are 64 bit capable...

 

[QuixoticOne]

They have a few microsoft products available as downloadable trial versions
(some of which you can activate as full products if you have a key)
in their windows marketplace and other web sites.

I'm not sure about Win 64 though. It's a shame that they didn't include the 64
bit versions in most all the distributions, what were they thinking? Most PCs sold
in the past few years are 64 bit capable...

 

[masteraleph]

Originally posted by: QuixoticOne
It's a shame that they didn't include the 64
bit versions in most all the distributions, what were they thinking?

1) They know that 32-bit is going to be the dominant version this go-round, and that enthusiasts would probably either buy the 64-bit OEM version or be willing to pay for shipping.

2) To supply both 32 and 64 bit would require either 2 DVDs or a dual-layer DVD (DVD-9). They wanted to skimp on the costs for all but Ultimate.

 

[QuixoticOne]

Originally posted by: masteraleph

Originally posted by: QuixoticOne
It's a shame that they didn't include the 64
bit versions in most all the distributions, what were they thinking?

1) They know that 32-bit is going to be the dominant version this go-round, and that enthusiasts would probably either buy the 64-bit OEM version or be willing to pay for shipping.

2) To supply both 32 and 64 bit would require either 2 DVDs or a dual-layer DVD (DVD-9). They wanted to skimp on the costs for all but Ultimate.

I understand and agree with that logic given the premise that
"32-bit is going to be the dominant version this go-round".

I simply think that *that* was the mistaken / bad decision. If they'd given out
64 bit *by default*, with a "System Requirements" section listing a Core2
or above CPU or an equivalent dual-core AMD, I think most people would've found
that it'd work quite well with their computers and would never know the 32/64 difference.

They could have 32 bit editions for OEMs to sell with lower end systems not having
64 bit capable CPUs, or for systems with physically less than 4GB RAM expansion capacity.

Or they could (at least) have had the 64 bit files that wouldn't fit on the DVD be
available as a free Windows Update for a seamless in-place 32->64 upgrade with an
option to make an install ISO DVD for users who wanted that.

As it is sometime probably this year they'll have to start selling 64 bit versions in
retail stores and through many OEM channels simply because with the low price
and high benefit of 4GB RAM, users will select 4GB systems and be irate (justly) that
they're losing like 1GB of their RAM's usefulness due to the 32 bit OS. And of course
that's only amplified for people who select 6GB or 8GB system configurations from
the start.

And then a year or two from now even more people will be irate when they upgrade
their older hardware (which may not have been 64 bit / 4GB+ capable) with hardware
that *certainly* will be, and then realize they can't use their paid-for OS license
on their new hardware since the software is not 64 bit capable.

In today's strange world one would almost expect the life of the OS purchase to exceed
in usefulness the life of the computer you first install it on if you're doing anything but
basic computing tasks.

 

[Nothinman]

I simply think that *that* was the mistaken / bad decision. If they'd given out 64 bit *by default*, with a "System Requirements" section listing a Core2 or above CPU or an equivalent dual-core AMD, I think most people would've found that it'd work quite well with their computers and would never know the 32/64 difference.

Did you see the driver pains that most went through, and some are still going through, with the 64-bit release? That alone would have made everyone notice the difference.

Or they could (at least) have had the 64 bit files that wouldn't fit on the DVD be available as a free Windows Update for a seamless in-place 32->64 upgrade with an option to make an install ISO DVD for users who wanted that.

A seamless 32-bit->64-bit upgrade would be a huge PITA and impossible without a 64-bit kernel already in place. They don't even support it from the DVD so why would you believe they can do it with a downloadable patch?

In today's strange world one would almost expect the life of the OS purchase to exceed in usefulness the life of the computer you first install it on if you're doing anything but basic computing tasks.

Depends on your perspective. Most Linux and OS X users know that OS releases are frequent enough that you'll have anywhere between 1-12 releases on the same piece of hardware before even thinking about new hardware.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: QuixoticOne
And then a year or two from now even more people will be irate when they upgrade
their older hardware (which may not have been 64 bit / 4GB+ capable) with hardware
that *certainly* will be, and then realize they can't use their paid-for OS license
on their new hardware since the software is not 64 bit capable.

I really don't think that most people are going to care....
Why would the "average user" care about 64-bit when 32-bit works just fine?

 

[htne]

Originally posted by: RebateMonger

Originally posted by: QuixoticOne
And then a year or two from now even more people will be irate when they upgrade
their older hardware (which may not have been 64 bit / 4GB+ capable) with hardware
that *certainly* will be, and then realize they can't use their paid-for OS license
on their new hardware since the software is not 64 bit capable.

I really don't think that most people are going to care....
Why would the "average user" care about 64-bit when 32-bit works just fine?

That may just depend on the price of memory. No one could have predicted a year ago just how inexpensive memory has become. If that trend continues, or just stays where it's at, many more people are going to buy and install 4 or even 8 gigs of memory. Right now, I can get 4 gigs of memory (2 x 2gig, PC2-6400 DDR2-800) for less than $80 delivered. The ONLY reason I have not done so is because I do not want to fool with a 64 bit OS.

 

[groovykool]

You can change/upgrade any authorized 32bit version of vista to 64bit. Follow the instructions found here.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144783

 

[Captante]

Originally posted by: groovykool

You can change/upgrade any authorized 32bit version of vista to 64bit. Follow the instructions found here.

http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=144783

Proceed with caution here ... after careful reading it appears these instructions apply only to a factory-install of Vista on a Lenova notebook so YMMV.

 

[Yoojoo3119]

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: bighedstev

Originally posted by: raystorm
If you are willing to pay 10 bucks you can order the 64bit dvd of Vista here to replace your 32bit Vista. Thats if you have a 32bit only disc (like I do).

edit: If you have a disc with both then do like nerp below says..a clean install.

Can I do this with the 32 bit oem version I bought or only retail? Thanks

32bit OEM works too. Vista keys do not differentiate between 32bit and 64bit.

I can buy a 32-bit vista ultimate version at a very discounted price from a university store. So could I theoretically use a friend's 64-bit vista ultimate dvd and use the key on the 32-bit vista DVD from the university book store and have the 64-bit vista work?

 

[ViRGE]

Originally posted by: Yoojoo3119

Originally posted by: ViRGE

Originally posted by: bighedstev

Originally posted by: raystorm
If you are willing to pay 10 bucks you can order the 64bit dvd of Vista here to replace your 32bit Vista. Thats if you have a 32bit only disc (like I do).

edit: If you have a disc with both then do like nerp below says..a clean install.

Can I do this with the 32 bit oem version I bought or only retail? Thanks

32bit OEM works too. Vista keys do not differentiate between 32bit and 64bit.

I can buy a 32-bit vista ultimate version at a very discounted price from a university store. So could I theoretically use a friend's 64-bit vista ultimate dvd and use the key on the 32-bit vista DVD from the university book store and have the 64-bit vista work?

Yes.