Vista x64 and x32 activation status

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Romeo Ghiriti

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Dear all,

I am ordering a custom-made PC and I will be getting an OEM version of Vista
Ultimate. Now the choice is mine if it is x32 or x64 I am getting. The x64
version has all the drivers for all the hardware I require, and also has the
option of accessing more than 4GB of RAM, which I am interested in. The issue
is that if I get the computer with Vista Ultimate x64 OEM and I activate the
copy, later down the line I may find that I encounter huge compatibility
issues that force me to revert to an x32 version. With x64 version's being
activated already, if I install x32 OEM Vista Ultimate (the system builder
told me he could provide me with the relevant DVD media) afterwards on the
same PC, with the same product key, will the activation still work? There
would be no hardware changes, but there would be a change in the Vista
flavour, from x64 to x32. I supose the underlying question is if the
activation takes into account BOTH the hardware components AND the Vista
flavour (i.e. x32 or x64), or just the hardware components? Any help would be
highly appreciated!

Best regards,
Romeo Ghiriti
--
Romeo Ghiriti
Software Engineer
 
Re: Vista x64 and x32 activation status

The "stick out like a sore thumb" factor here is that the copy has already
been activated on that hardware. After you remove the 64 bit version and
near the end of installing the 32 bit, you will come to the activation
phase. You might have to make use of the facility to activate by phone.
Other than that, there should be no impediment to the change—the bother of
reinstalling applications &c aside.

--

Tom
MSMVP 1998-2007


"Romeo Ghiriti" <RomeoGhiriti@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:79A1D8E5-9CEB-46F8-AFF2-B20E1B695F0F@microsoft.com...
> Dear all,
>
> I am ordering a custom-made PC and I will be getting an OEM version of
> Vista
> Ultimate. Now the choice is mine if it is x32 or x64 I am getting. The x64
> version has all the drivers for all the hardware I require, and also has
> the
> option of accessing more than 4GB of RAM, which I am interested in. The
> issue
> is that if I get the computer with Vista Ultimate x64 OEM and I activate
> the
> copy, later down the line I may find that I encounter huge compatibility
> issues that force me to revert to an x32 version. With x64 version's being
> activated already, if I install x32 OEM Vista Ultimate (the system builder
> told me he could provide me with the relevant DVD media) afterwards on the
> same PC, with the same product key, will the activation still work? There
> would be no hardware changes, but there would be a change in the Vista
> flavour, from x64 to x32. I supose the underlying question is if the
> activation takes into account BOTH the hardware components AND the Vista
> flavour (i.e. x32 or x64), or just the hardware components? Any help would
> be
> highly appreciated!
>
> Best regards,
> Romeo Ghiriti
> --
> Romeo Ghiriti
> Software Engineer
 
Re: Vista x64 and x32 activation status

Since this is OEM (not retail), you really only have a license for one or
the other, not both. You've done the research to know you've got drivers,
you want to be able to access >4GB of RAM -- I'd say you should go with
Vista 64 and get on with it. Yes, it's possible you may find something that
won't work. But I haven't yet found one of those where there wasn't an
alternative option that I could use instead. Or, in the case of a few older
16-bit applications, I simply run them in a Virtual PC session on an old
copy of Windows 98 as a guest.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/xperts64
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/profile/charlie.russel


"Romeo Ghiriti" <RomeoGhiriti@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:79A1D8E5-9CEB-46F8-AFF2-B20E1B695F0F@microsoft.com...
> Dear all,
>
> I am ordering a custom-made PC and I will be getting an OEM version of
> Vista
> Ultimate. Now the choice is mine if it is x32 or x64 I am getting. The x64
> version has all the drivers for all the hardware I require, and also has
> the
> option of accessing more than 4GB of RAM, which I am interested in. The
> issue
> is that if I get the computer with Vista Ultimate x64 OEM and I activate
> the
> copy, later down the line I may find that I encounter huge compatibility
> issues that force me to revert to an x32 version. With x64 version's being
> activated already, if I install x32 OEM Vista Ultimate (the system builder
> told me he could provide me with the relevant DVD media) afterwards on the
> same PC, with the same product key, will the activation still work? There
> would be no hardware changes, but there would be a change in the Vista
> flavour, from x64 to x32. I supose the underlying question is if the
> activation takes into account BOTH the hardware components AND the Vista
> flavour (i.e. x32 or x64), or just the hardware components? Any help would
> be
> highly appreciated!
>
> Best regards,
> Romeo Ghiriti
> --
> Romeo Ghiriti
> Software Engineer
 
Re: Vista x64 and x32 activation status

Take the 64bit version now.

You do not get both the x86 and x64 versions with an OEM copy of Vista. If
you choose to switch to x86 later you will have to purchase Vista x86 at
retail and do a clean install of Vista.

I run Vista x64 just fine and do not have compatibility problems with any of
the software I use. x64 is the future of computing and I would not hesitate
for a moment to recommend you simply go 64.

Remember, you can always run a 32bit operating system in a virtual machine
using VPC or a similar program so there really is no downside to going 64
now.

Enjoy.

"Romeo Ghiriti" <RomeoGhiriti@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:79A1D8E5-9CEB-46F8-AFF2-B20E1B695F0F@microsoft.com...
> Dear all,
>
> I am ordering a custom-made PC and I will be getting an OEM version of
> Vista
> Ultimate. Now the choice is mine if it is x32 or x64 I am getting. The x64
> version has all the drivers for all the hardware I require, and also has
> the
> option of accessing more than 4GB of RAM, which I am interested in. The
> issue
> is that if I get the computer with Vista Ultimate x64 OEM and I activate
> the
> copy, later down the line I may find that I encounter huge compatibility
> issues that force me to revert to an x32 version. With x64 version's being
> activated already, if I install x32 OEM Vista Ultimate (the system builder
> told me he could provide me with the relevant DVD media) afterwards on the
> same PC, with the same product key, will the activation still work? There
> would be no hardware changes, but there would be a change in the Vista
> flavour, from x64 to x32. I supose the underlying question is if the
> activation takes into account BOTH the hardware components AND the Vista
> flavour (i.e. x32 or x64), or just the hardware components? Any help would
> be
> highly appreciated!
>
> Best regards,
> Romeo Ghiriti
> --
> Romeo Ghiriti
> Software Engineer
 
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