Windows 7 Home Premium 32 bit or Vista Ultimate 64 bit?

[Muse]

Odd dilemma, but here it is:

Running Vista HP 32 bit right now on my Acer laptop bought last August. I have the free upgrade disk for Windows 7 HP 32 bit, haven't installed yet. I hear that the key will work with Windows 7 HP 64 bit but don't have access to that disk.

I increased my DDR2 from 3GB to 4GB a week or so ago, so this machine should work OK with Windows 7 64 bit (or Vista 64 bit).

I got a copy of Vista Ultimate 32 and 64 bit at a meeting a couple of days ago. Install it instead of Windows 7 HP 32 bit? Or sell on ebay?

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

vista ultimate x64 was likely the most pirated version- unless that disc has a holographic key along with it (genuine), recycle.

def. install win7 over vista. you are correct- the key works for either version; x86 or x64. I'd try calling acer and then ms whining for a 64-bit install (be it dl'd image or a disc) to make use of that key.

maybe you can get x64 by trying a legit MS 'try win7-x64' download. If not.. you can live with ~3gb of ram or find a x64 image online.
Possibility of upgrading from vista->win7 may work in your case.. but the map of 'anytime' upgrades mixed with oem upgrades is like chutes and ladders dictated by an underpaid foreign phone techy

 

[Muse]

vista ultimate x64 was likely the most pirated version- unless that disc has a holographic key along with it (genuine), recycle.

def. install win7 over vista. you are correct- the key works for either version; x86 or x64. I'd try calling acer and then ms whining for a 64-bit install (be it dl'd image or a disc) to make use of that key.

maybe you can get x64 by trying a legit MS 'try win7-x64' download. If not.. you can live with ~3gb of ram or find a x64 image online.
Possibility of upgrading from vista->win7 may work in your case.. but the map of 'anytime' upgrades mixed with oem upgrades is like chutes and ladders dictated by an underpaid foreign phone techy

Thanks. Don't know anything about "chutes and ladders," a game I suppose. :awe:

Interesting things you say here. The Vista Ultimate 32/64 I have is totally legit, provided by MS to my computer club (Bay Area Association of Database Developers). It's just like what you'd pick up off the shelf at CompUSA, BB, etc.

I'll see if I can get the 64 bit version from Acer, explaining that I upgraded to 4GB. the legit MS download I'll look for too. I looked for a x64 ISO download, found some at torrent sites, but the one I tried to torrent stood at zero bytes indefinitely, don't know why. I could try again, a different site. Most of the ones out there are hacks. I don't need a hack, having a perfectly good key. However, it would be HP, not Ultimate. Another possibility is my "computer club." I went to a meeting Thursday, and one of the "raffle" prizes was a Win7 Ultimate x64 DVD! Yup! I wasn't lucky enough to snag it, but I have to figure that within a year I'm apt to get lucky. That's assuming they have more of those disks, a probability (I should have asked!).

As far as upgrading vs. clean install goes, I'm not sure which I want to do. Of course, I could upgrade and if I don't like the results, I can do a clean install.