Entitled to Vista 64?

Hi all,

Its your local neighborhood question hound. I always thought that when you have a 32 bit version of vista.. you are entitled to the 64 bit as well. Is there any way that AW 15x owners can get a 64 bit disc from microsoft or even alienware? Just wondering. Thanks in advance!

 

You paid for Windows Vista 32-Bit, not 64-Bit. Unless you're a fabulous negotiator, I really don't think you can get it.

Tangent:
This sorta reminds me of something I read on Best Buy.com, but this is a much more informed question. It said: "I bought a computer with a 64-bit processor shouldn't it come with 64-bit windows!?!?" It was a $550 laptop with 1GB RAM and a Turion64...
It just made the reviewee at Best Buy sound so stupid, they had no knowledge about it at all. It's just very nice that people here do have knowledge, even those asking the questions.

 

I think if you buy a retail 32bit windows vista, it comes with 64 bit version of it, and you can only activate 1 of them.

But OEM is different.

 

Ha Ha... yeah I have read some of those reviews over at Best Buy and it can provide some quality laughs sometimes. The reason for my question is because I always thought that you had the option of purchasing the 64 bit at a very low price through microsoft. I did not want to buy an upgrade/full version just to get it. The price of that m15x already did enough damage to my budget..and to my wife's sanity...hehe.


edit: Just saw your answer fusion...thanks for that. Ok.. so I guess the next question is this... do I have to buy the full version of 64 or just the upgrade?

 

Why yes, you ARE entitled to a 64-bit disk from Mr. Gates' - for a small fee of just under $200.

64-bit OS's are a separate update and a different animal. Also, if you've got a 32 bit system and you're just updating the OS, you're not going to get the same performance as you would with a system that's 64-bit from the ground up - hardware, software, firmware, and OS.

Is a 64 bit system worth it? You better believe it. System sales of 64 bit systems have been rising exponentially all year, currently accounting for about 25% of new sales. Software vendor new programs and updates to older ones are making them 64 bit certified. But really unless you've either used one or own one, it's hard to describe. But I'll never go back to a 32 bit system.

If you want to learn about all good things 64, go to Start64 at this link: http://tinyurl.com/3nf24h

 

As far as I thought, you buy a license for Vista, and the license key is usually stuck on the bottom of the laptop.

I had an OEM 32-bit Vista installed on my self-build desktop, but after a while I upgraded the RAM to 4GB and borrowed a 64-bit Vista disc. I installed the 64-bit OS and entered my original license key that came with the 32-bit version and it worked...

So as far as I'm concerned, you pay for the license key, and it works with either 32 or 64-bit versions (so long are same editions, i.e. Home Premium, etc)...

 

Thanks ponx. Would I have to get an upgrade disc or a disc with the full version?

 

I would think you'd need a full installation disc in 64-bit; I doubt you could upgrade to 64-bit over the top of a 32-bit installation, but stranger things have happened... ;-)

Personally, I always like to do a fresh full install, so there's less chance of something going horribly wrong...

 

64 bit requires a new installation, but you can use your existing cd-key. For a while, you could order a 64-bit version of vista through microsoft for $5 if you gave them your cd-key to prove you owned vista.

 

Given that, you only can use only 32bit or 64bit, not at the same time i think.

 

well with partitions you can.

 

This is what I was trying to get at from one of my posts. I had a feeling microsoft offered this at one time or another.

 

Ok all.. this is what I found. I hope this helps someone out.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx

 

as i mentioned before, it works for retail, which MAY not work for OEM versions.

 

Ohhhh.. I understand now. Well, at least I can get it for the desktop that I built. Hopefully this will help anyone who bought a retail copy of vista 32bit and wants to upgrade!

 

Oh I am late... you resolved this issue
Yeah as fusionsenses said, it is for retail and will NOT work with OEM keys.

 

If I'm not mistaken and this isn't a trick I think I have found vista home premium sp1 for $99 here:

http://www.mwave.com/mwave/Skusearch_v2.asp?scriteria=AA66790

 

Thank you for the heads up shaded. Something just hit me. If I request a copy of vista 64bit for my desktop, couldn't I technically use the same disc and just use the cd key on the bottom of the laptop? Just a shot in the dark.

edit: forgot to mention that I am dealing with the full version of vista, not the upgrade. Does that matter?

 

That's what everyone is talking about. When you get one of those stickers on your system, with a copy of the vista install (or restore) disk (maybe... not all vendors provide this), it's an OEM copy. where the vendor has bulk ordered keys, often, they'll just get the stickers for the system, and only give out disks to those who request them, others get disks for every key, so they give them out without being asked (like AW).

What's being said is, if you went to a store, and bought a retail version, off a shelf, and got the box, and all the paperwork that goes with that... etc etc. then yes, you can also use the key for the x64 edition. you can even order an x64 install DVD from Microsoft for a small fee.

OEM versions, you're stuck with what you got, but Retail versions are given more rights, usually because they paid more.

also, upgrade versions are probably treated differently too, and I'm not about to get into that discussion.

I only would like to add that Vista Ultimate is often the exception. Everyone pays a premium for that. So from what I understand, Vista Ultimate keys are not specific to OEM, Retail, x86 or x64. they work in all versions of Ultimate.

Not 100% on that one though.

Bottom line: If you got Vista Home Premium x32 with a laptop (and you have a sticker that proves your Vista is genuine), you have NO RIGHTS whatsoever to the x64 edition.

If you'd gone to the store to buy it, yes, you would. If you'd gotten the Ultimate version, there's also a good chance.

but otherwise, you're pretty much SOL

 

Everybody knows what I just bought.

Don't freaking use vista 64 on your M17. arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh

trust me, I kinda regret it now.

 

Eh? What's the problem with the m17 with Vista 64 fusionsenses?