HP Dv5t with 64 bit vista

I want to order the 64-bit version of home premium on my laptop but is there anyway to go back to 32 bit with my cd key? I've installed XP tons a times but will my version of windows be only the 64 bit one? Can i just call HP up or something? Thanks -Stuart

 

Why do you want to?

 

Exactly...everything should work for you.

 

The serial key will be OEM, so it is BIT specific, and you can only use that key for that specific version and BIT of vista....You can request HP for a 32-bit disc or something, dunno if they would hand you one..!!
You can buy an OEM version of XP (32-bit) and dual-boot..!!
Read the last para....
BTW, why would you want to do that..??

 

No you can't....
NO driver support.
And not to mention the illegal factor...

 

I just wanted to try and 64-bit and see if i like it. If everything i won runs fine on it I would keep it but I would like to know if I would be able to go back to 32-bit if the 64 was incompatable with some programs. Thanks

 

You can go back and forth as many times....but the serial key that will come with your notebook will only work for that version of Vista x64, So you will have to buy a separate OEM or Retail version of Vista 32-bit and then install it over the previous installation....

 

So if I have to buy a second copy of windows to get the 32/62 bit version I think Im just gonna go with the 32 bit so I know i won't have and driver problems with like my printer and stuff. Thanks for the help though guys

 

NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! (well you're kinda right, but it's only like this: if you buy a laptop with Vista HOME PREMIUM, you can only switch between 32bit vista home premium and 64bit home premium. you can't use the vista home premium key with say...Vista ultimate, regardless of 32/64 bit).

I bought my laptop with 32bit Vista home premium. I downloaded (the legal version at mydigitallife) 64bit disc and used my 32 bit cd key that came with my laptop. The only thing was that it wouldn't activate online and it took me 4 minutes to call and get the activation code.

And if i ever wanted to (which I probably never will) go back to 32bit I could just use a 32bit disc and reformat using the same key that came with my laptop.

 

http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070130-8730.html

You mean MS gave you an activation code, even though you had an OEM licence..?! Strange..!!

 

OEM means that it's tied to that ONE computer. You can switch between 32 bit and 64 bit as many times as you want. After you do a clean install, you have to activate it again anyways, so I don't see the problem? Your link says they are 32/64 bit specific, but MS could care less. They just don't want you pirating their software.

You just cannot say, "oh I don't want vista on this laptop anymore, so I'm going to put it on this one,"with an OEM license.

Thats one of the main differences between Retail and OEM licenses.

 

OEM licences are BIT SPECIFIC, it is stated in the Vista and XP OEM EULA....
I don't know about the phone thing, since it might work as MS is more leniant with vista than they were, when XP was around....

 

I'm not sure, because it worked for me. It has also worked for many others. Microsoft will not go against you for installing 64bit with an OEM license, as long as you've paid them for the license.

 

Agreed, it may work with the phone activation, and if you are nice to MS on the phone (also depends on their mood), they provide you the activation code....
(And there is no extra charge to upgrade to a particular version's 64 bit from the manufacturer's side)
But the web activation doesn't work....!!
(The phone activation is more like a workaround for the whole OEM upgrade thing, though everything is mentioned in the OEM EULA about licenses being bit specific, but even MS don't seem to follow it)

 

On the phone, last time i activated, it was an automated process where a computer asked me what the code on my screen was, took a few seconds to verify and gave me my activation code.

 

It is perfectly legal (from Microsoft's point of view, since they allow it) to change between x86 and x64 Vista.
PS: You could even activate XP by phone on another machine other than the one you had it initially installed.