OEM Vista 32bit to 64bit?

I just got a DV9730ca. Vista Home Premium 32bit. Has nVidia GeForce 8400M GS w/256 dedicated RAM. Came with 2GB RAM. Runs great and I am not complaining. But with something like Google Earth open it was up to 1.6GB used in Performance Monitor. Eventually Google earth froze up, I had to the window pop up to try fix it or close it, etc, I just closed it. I saw the memory instantly drop to 700MB. So its not a life or death thing.
The laptop specs tells me its upgradeable to 4GB RAM, thats fine and dandy but will only see 3GB with 32bit OS....so does HP send a 64bit copy of recovery discs if I ask?...you know, so I can use the full 4GB they claim I can use on my new laptop! Anyone done this?

I built a desktop PC a year ago, purchased Vista Home Premium 32bit Upgrade and emailed Microsoft for the 64bit version and they sent me the DVD (have not used it as the clean install of the 32bit copy is still running great and I didn't want to fight with 64bit drivers last year). Will HP do the same or am I on my own as far as getting a 64bit to use on the laptop?

BTW, great site here. Been stuck reading here since I found it last week.

Thx

 

If you already have the vista 64bit dvd then you can use that. ALL vista discs contain the SAME thing. Its the licence/serial key that you use that will unlock which ever version you purchased

 

no, HP will not send you a copy unless you buy a new license.

umm

if you have the 64bit disk, you could always use orev's abr utilty from the HP forum for clean installs, retrieve your key and vista certificate from the laptop, do a clean install w/ the 64bit disk, use the abr tool to reinstall the key and certificate, all without having to activate again.

ABR utility and HP thread--> Click Here

This is legal as going to 64bit from 32bit is a lateral, not an upgrade. Your key on the bottom laptop is diff from what's installed- it's the bulk oem key used to install on all their machines, so you be able to do the clean install without having to ever use the key on the bottom of the laptop.

 

Brilliant. Thats the answer I am looking for. Thanks to you both. I had no idea I could do that. Its very simple too. And yes I'll do the clean install, thanks for th elink. I'll wait a while and make sure the laptop runs with no problems for a while, then get some RAM on sale. Like I say I am fine with 2GB for now, not a big deal. Its something to do down the road. I was planning ahead.
Thanks again.

 

Yeah do the above, i just switched to 64bit 2 days ago using that method. Its never failed me once.

Very happy with 64bit after minor issues were solved

 

Something I was just thinking since last posting. Since my desktop PC has the retail Vista Home Premium Upgrade 32bit and I got the 64bit version from Microsoft later on....then on the laptop can't I just put that 64bit "Upgrade" DVD in and it upgrades to 64bit and I use my laptop license key of course? Obviously not a clean install. Unless I do the full clean install as per that link.
When I did the clean install of the 32bit on my desktop PC I purchased the upgrade version and followed some instruction to install once and then again. I forget the details. I read that was leagal. I don't use pirate software.
Just wondered?

 

Yes everything here is legal.

Like i said earlier you can USE any 64bit vista install disc as they all contain the same versions. You HAVE to do a clean install to switch to 64bit

You just have to use the same licence that came with your laptop and install the same version (basic, home premium, ultimate). You can use the same licence from 32bit to 64, its perfectly legal

 

OK, thank you.

 

You cannot do an "upgrade" to 64bit, they are totally different systems. An "upgrade" implies that all of the programs you have installed and the settings will still be the same when the process is done. If you switch to 64-bit, this cannot be done and you will have to reinstall all of your programs. Since you have to do that anyway, you might was well do a full clean install.