The Notebook Review forums were hosted by TechTarget, who shut down them down on January 31, 2022. This static read-only archive was pulled by NBR forum users between January 20 and January 31, 2022, in an effort to make sure that the valuable technical information that had been posted on the forums is preserved. For current discussions, many NBR forum users moved over to NotebookTalk.net after the shutdown.
Problems? See this thread at archive.org.

    Is Vista 64-bit a free upgrade?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by TigerFX, Aug 20, 2008.

  1. TigerFX

    TigerFX Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    I thought I had heard people here say that Vista 64-bit is a free upgrade to current owners of Windows Vista. Is that true? Where do you download it if so?
     
    TigerFX, Aug 20, 2008
    #1
  2. Silas Awaketh

    Silas Awaketh Notebook Deity

    Reputations:
    891
    Messages:
    1,676
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    0
    You have to order a $10 or so DVD with the x64 edition on it from MS or Newegg or where-ever and use your old key (the one that came with the x86 edition) to install it.
     
    Silas Awaketh, Aug 20, 2008
    #2
  3. TigerFX

    TigerFX Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    TigerFX, Aug 20, 2008
    #3
  4. eleron911

    eleron911 HighSpeedFreak

    Reputations:
    3,886
    Messages:
    11,104
    Likes Received:
    7
    Trophy Points:
    456
    Technically speaking, if you have anyone with a vista dvd, you can use that and just enter YOUR serial when prompted.
     
    eleron911, Aug 20, 2008
    #4
  5. PocketAces21

    PocketAces21 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    309
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Just make sure it's the x64 DVD, not the x86 one.
     
    PocketAces21, Aug 20, 2008
    #5
  6. TigerFX

    TigerFX Notebook Guru

    Reputations:
    0
    Messages:
    52
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    15
    Got it -- thanks everyone.
     
    TigerFX, Aug 20, 2008
    #6
  7. masterchef341

    masterchef341 The guy from The Notebook

    Reputations:
    3,047
    Messages:
    8,636
    Likes Received:
    4
    Trophy Points:
    206
    yeah you can just find someone with the disc and use theirs. all you need is your key.
     
    masterchef341, Aug 20, 2008
    #7
  8. coolguy

    coolguy Notebook Prophet

    Reputations:
    805
    Messages:
    4,679
    Likes Received:
    12
    Trophy Points:
    106
    This won't work with the OEM key under the notebook. The ordering info is for the retail version of vista.
     
    coolguy, Aug 20, 2008
    #8
  9. PocketAces21

    PocketAces21 Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    309
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    In the case above, use ABR.
     
    PocketAces21, Aug 20, 2008
    #9
  10. niGht kiD

    niGht kiD .. beach boy ♫

    Reputations:
    319
    Messages:
    843
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    Is this the only way(ABR) for OEM x86 notebook to upgrade to x64?
     
    niGht kiD, Aug 20, 2008
    #10
  11. VipeR_930

    VipeR_930 Notebook Enthusiast

    Reputations:
    1
    Messages:
    23
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    5
    No, ABR is only used to reactivate Windows after the clean install without having to call MS. ABR will not help you acquire the x64 upgrade.
     
    VipeR_930, Aug 21, 2008
    #11
  12. The Fire Snake

    The Fire Snake Notebook Virtuoso

    Reputations:
    426
    Messages:
    2,889
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    55
    Basically you can go from 32 to 64 or from 64 to 32 but you have to stay with the version of Vista you bought with the machine. For example if you bought Home premium 32 bit you can go to Home premium 64 bit and vice versa, but you can't go to Business 64bit. What you need is the appropriate media(either 32 for a 32 bit install and 64 bit for a 64 bit install) and follow one of the clean install guides here. Use the ABR utility so that it uses the pre-activated OEM key that came with your laptop with your new Vista install. This is the best way since it avoids any possible activation call to MS.
     
    The Fire Snake, Aug 22, 2008
    #12
  13. own3d

    own3d Notebook Evangelist

    Reputations:
    73
    Messages:
    445
    Likes Received:
    0
    Trophy Points:
    30
    If the OP bought vista business / ultimate with his/her dell xps then the OP can get it free off dell like I did. Look in the dell forums for a long thread about how to obtain it.
     
    own3d, Aug 22, 2008
    #13