Can I install Vista Business 64 using an Ultimate 64 disc?

I wanted to install Vista Business 64 bit to take advantage of the 64 bit features and 4GB of RAM on my laptop. I got a Vista Ultimate disc and my understanding was that the version of Vista installed depended on the key but that was not what happened.

This was the first time that I installed Vista on any machine and the Vista Ultimate disc dumped Vista Ultimate 64bit on my computer. I was never prompted for a key, which version of Vista I wanted to install, or activation. The top of the EULA listed the 4 Vista versions at the top, but that was the only mention of the different versions. After installation, the Vista Ultimate install was activated and fully functional.

Does Dell do something to the computer or DVD that allows the OS to be installed without prompting for a key? I have never had a Dell computer or installed an OS, Win95 and newer, that didn't ask for a key.

Is it possible to put Vista Business 64 using a Vista Ultimate 64 disc? I have no interest in Ultimate and the bloat it comes with.

I have another thread here: http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=346852 but I didn't receive any useful answers before it was closed. Someone just pointed out the obvious before it was closed. I am trying to get a legal install of Vista on my computer and in the process inadvertently put an illegal copy on there and am seeking advice on how to do it legally so I don't understand why it was closed. I guess I worded it incorrectly.

 

um, vista upgrade any time disc?
or, call up the laptop manufacture and ask for a disc, assuming you have a key, and that is what came on your laptop

 

It is possible using a Retail or Generic OEM version. I guess the versions that comes from the system manufacturer are different from system to system. I re-installed a friends version of vista on his acer machine, and this never prompted me or a key or the like.

If you get a retail or generic oem copy, they have all versions of vista on, and the version you install depends on the key you use.

 

Yes.

....No...



I have installed various versions of Vista using the same Dell OEM disc. I do not know if their discs have changed, but AFAIK, you should be able to install any 64 bit OEM copy of Vista with that disc.
When it mentioned the four versions, were you able to select a version? This is usually the case, if you enter no key, you install the version you want. As for Dell, yes, they add a little bit of data to the BIOS that contains the Vista license. When installing, it should automatically detect the version of Vista you have a license for, and install that. The fact that it installed Ultimate tells me that they messed up and gave you a Ultimate BIOS not a Business BIOS. That, or there are no versions on the BIOS and the license is good for all versions - also possible (and no, I don't mean it's good in legal terms, I mean in technical terms... before someone gets up in arms about that).
I would attempt again with the Dell disc - if it doesn't work, seek out unmodified OEM discs.

 

If I manage to get a retail or other OEM disc, will my key still work? I remember that for XP, OEM and retail versions have different keys and I think one couldn't put an OEM key when trying to install using a retail disc or vice versa.

 

A retail disc will not work, only OEM. Vista has not changed from XP in that regard, sadly. I'd love to have one disc with all my versions. A man can dream, a man can dream.

 

The screen that mentioned the 4 versions was the EULA so the only option was agree and then next.

I will try again in a few days when I get home...Dell overnighted me a Vista Business 64 disc anyhow. Legal or not, I don't want Ultimate and its bloat like the DVD editing stuff.

 

Dell often modifies their discs to include an auto-installation file that tells the installer to install a certain version of Vista. If you remove this file and burn a new disc, you will be able to choose which version to install. This auto install file also includes the keys and activation for that OEM and that version of Vista.

Look at my clean vista install guide (see sig), which has a section on how to modify Dell discs, as well as how to backup and restore your activation keys so you don't need to activate over the phone.

There is information in the BIOS, but it does not determine which version to install. That is done using the autoinstall file as I mentioned above. The BIOS information only contains a signature which tells Vista not to monitor the hardware configuration. In retail versions, you will need to reactivate if you change too much hardware... with this kind of OEM version, you could change that hardware all you want and it won't ask you to reactivate. That's a bit hard to do on a laptop though.

This is incorrect. XP and Vista have absolutely nothing to do with each other, and the installation system is totally different. It was true that in XP there were different discs for OEM and retail installations, but in Vista they are all the same. The only thing that makes the system behave differently is the key you use when installing. In addition, all Vista discs contain all versions of Vista. You don't need separate discs for Premium, Ultimate, etc...

 

If you have an Business key, juts enter the key when instellation ask then it will be Business if it is a Vista buseness disk

 

Many OEM installations do not give you the chance to enter the key because of the autoinstall file. That is what the problem is.

 

Okay, bro sorry...

 

I snooped around my Ultimate 64 install and the key that was used is different than that of the key on the COA sticker on the bottom of my laptop. I only have the last 5 characters from running "slmgr -dlv". I found a plain text file on the Ultimate 64 CD with the same key so it seems Dell is using a generic key rather than embedding the key from the COA sticker.

I did a clean Business 64 install and same thing happen, no prompts for key or version of Vista and the key doesn't match that of the COA sticker.

So as orev stated, there's a bit of code in the BIOS that the installation program uses to authenticate the machine because the same disc does ask for a key when trying to install to a VM on the same physical machine.

Given the number of machines that Dell sells, I do understand why they go this route.

 

The VM thing is interesting. Are both of the discs you are using Dell OEM discs?

 

Nevermind...It installed on VirtualBox the same way as on the E4300, but it's not activated. I must have been thinking of something else. It used the same key as on the E4300.

 

There is a lovely tutorial on NBR on how to back up your license.

1. Put Business 32 back...random install...but make sure it is activated.
2. Use the ABR tool, backup the whole license.
3. Install Business x64, do not insert serial and do not tick activate windows when online...or whatever.
4. Finish the install...insert your USB stick with ABR and restore the license. The software will install the license like it was done in the factory.
5. Enjoy x64.

 

Glad you like my guide