Clean install, does a retail vista work?

My friend has a retail home premium vista, but the cd says 32bit only. I want to do a clean install but i have the 64bit, will this cd have the 64bit version somewhere in there or no?

 

No, it won't. You also will need an OEM disc, a retail one will not work.

 

sorry to ask in this thread but are there any places that sell an oem disc without a key? i figure that by buying it this way it would be cheaper. i have seen online stores selling retail discs for $20 that do not include a cd key

 

This is partially correct. While it is correct that no, the 32 bit OEM your friend has will not contain the 64 bit files as these are currently considered two different options by Microsoft to purchase and use, you can use an OEM or retail copy on any computer. The difference is if you are using a retail copy, use the license key from the Retail versus the one on the sticker on the bottom of your laptop.

No, it is illegal to make, purchase, use, or contain a copy of the Vista O.S. that is not registered and licensed through Microsoft unless under special situation conditions through Microsoft itself to my knowledge. So, if you are coming across a place that is selling "OEM" discs without a license, you should probably check on the company's history carefully as these are generally not legal and are most likely ripped and remade copies from one OEM disc the seller is using. That being said, even if they did make an OEM without the license, the license key that comes with your laptop is designated by HP for the recovery discs/partition you get. If you were to use another disc, it would not accept the original laptop license key from the laptop without contacting Microsoft to approve it, so you would be stuck either way. By the way, OEM discs are suppose to be sold with Motherboards for PC builders per Microsoft's licensing guidelines, but this isn't always follow nor is it really enforced.

BBGus

 

i have tried it with xp though. i bought an oem copy of xp home on newegg with a key and install it on my previous laptop but instead of using the key that came with it i just used the key under the laptop and it worked fine.

 

One must see the sticky thread at the top of this section in the forum concerning a clean install of Vista without activation. If one follows it to the letter, one will find bliss and tranquility.

 

The "letter" does not include the middle chapter concerning how to obtain an OEM vista install disc for HP dv5t owners. I am stuck there, with bliss being far in sight.

 

No, it's not partially correct. It is correct. He isn't looking to buy a retail copy and use the key from that on his computer, he is looking for media to install Vista on his computer using his existing OEM key. Sure, he could use his friend's retail media to install, but then he'd have to use his friend's retail key. And then his friend would be SOL, cause he couldn't use it anymore.

 

Why would I have to use his retail key? I thought keys weren't tied to the cds.

 

Although I have not done so with Vista, I have installed retail copies of XP using the Serial Number on the bottom of the notebooks (not the Serial# that came with the retail disc). This was on notebooks with an original XP operating system installed from factory. After the install I had to call Microsoft to assist with the activation and all went well. I don't see how that would differ with a Vista install?

 

Well, not his necessarily. But if you used a retail disc, you would be unable to use your key.

Sorry, but you must be mistaken on the media you used. A retail disc simply will not accept an OEM key. I reload several computers daily and if this was true, I would not have a CD wallet with one of every version of windows...
Home OEM, Home Retail, Home Upgrade, Pro OEM, Pro Retail, Pro Upgrade, MCE OEM, MCE Retail. A key from any of the above cannot be used with anything but that. Actually, a Pro key might work in MCE since MCE is based off XP pro. Other than that.. no.

 

Newegg is your friend.

http://www.newegg.com/Store/SubCategory.aspx?SubCategory=368&name=Operating-Systems

Ebay is your neighbor.

And there is no OEM Vista install disc just for DV5T owners. It is for all systems and all people.