Vista x64 and x32 activation status

May 9, 2008

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

May 9, 2008

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

May 9, 2008

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