32 bit to 64 bit Vista

[CarbonShadow]

Ok i brought and built my pc from novatech and i have read up on being able to upgrade from 32bit to 64bit for free. Then i found out i couldnt do it from the microsoft scheme because i have a OEM version from novatech.

Then i have read that novatech wont supply the disk to upgrade. But just for clarification i could get someone i know with a 64bit vista home premium disk from a friend and use his disk to do it using my key? Is that how it works or is there something more to it?

Thanks, Marcus

[snakedoc]

That's exactly how it works. You will have to do a clean install but as long as you have backups you will be fine.

[CarbonShadow]

backups? as in backing up the files i want to keep?

[snakedoc]

backups? as in backing up the files i want to keep?

Indeed, such as music, pictures and game saves etc.

[hankmoody]

The problem with that of course, is that you're trading in the 32 bit key for a 64 bit key - meaning you'd be leaving said friend without a legitimate version.

[matthab]

1 key works with 32 bit and 64 bit verisons.

[lechuck]

no, as the OP legally only owns 32bit. Installing 64 bit with a 32bit key is illegal, and breaks the EULA.

[moorw003]

Really, I didn't know that. :o

[Baggpuss]

no, as the OP legally only owns 32bit. Installing 64 bit with a 32bit key is illegal, and breaks the EULA.

so? doesnt mean it wont work.

[Helior]

Technicality tbh!

[Baggpuss]

tbh as far as microsoft are gonna be concerned, as long as youve actually purchased it then your gonna be fine,

[Andrew Moore]

You cant upgrade 32bit vista to 64bit windows 7 as everything is written differently. So would this apply to a 32bit vista upgrade to 64bit?? I would have thought a fresh install using the same key would be in order!

Andy

[Baggpuss]

Yeah it is required. But the keys that you get with oem versions arnt limited to either 32bit or 64bit versions and can be used with both. If you have a 32bit version of windows but can borrow a 64disk theres nothing stopping you installing it then using your key to activate it. Is what im doing atm, needed more ram than 3gig so borrowed my brothers vista 64 disk.

[Andrew Moore]

Yeah it is required. But the keys that you get with oem versions arnt limited to either 32bit or 64bit versions and can be used with both. If you have a 32bit version of windows but can borrow a 64disk theres nothing stopping you installing it then using your key to activate it. Is what im doing atm, needed more ram than 3gig so borrowed my brothers vista 64 disk.

yes but it was a fresh install, not an upgrade??

Andy

[Baggpuss]

Yeah, 64bit is too different to just be installed over 32bit so you need to format and start again. Is worth it tho, and ive had no issues at all since i went 64bit

[Andrew Moore]

Yeah, 64bit is too different to just be installed over 32bit so you need to format and start again. Is worth it tho, and ive had no issues at all since i went 64bit

Awesome... just needed you to confirm that so that carbonshadow didnt get the wrong end of the stick. Cheers for that

Andy

[jackvdbuk]

found out that the hard way myself :(, cannot upgrade from 32 bit to 64 ... dont try it :)

[waba]

whats the difference between 32 and 64 bit? what do i need to run 64 bit?

[jackvdbuk]

the main differnce is the ability to run more than 3gb of ram, 32 bit is limited to like 4gb total ram but that innludes all the other devices such as graphics cards, so usually ends at about 3.25gb

64bit has a ridiculous limit to the amount you can install :)

[kris2424]

Just remember when you have installed a clean copy of 64 you might well need to search the net for 64 bit drivers for various bits like the graphics card.

[Baggpuss]

I wouldnt worry too much about the drivers nowadays, unless you have lots of old hardware most places produce 64 and 32 bit drivers anyway

[kris2424]

yeah as you say its just older stuff really, it took me nearly a month to search out a 64 driver for my ageing tv card that i still use. Apart from that everything was straight forward for me

[stevemilw]

its not just drivers that might not work. I had 64bit vista and flash didnt work. So the internet browser was really fast because its 64bit, but i could nevr use it because there is no flash available. So i was constantly switching between the two. In the end i just decided to stay with the 32 bit browser. Most games dont take advantage of 64 bit, the only one i know of is crysis. The main advantage is the extra RAM ( more than 3.25gb).

[Helior]

its not just drivers that might not work. I had 64bit vista and flash didnt work. So the internet browser was really fast because its 64bit, but i could nevr use it because there is no flash available. So i was constantly switching between the two. In the end i just decided to stay with the 32 bit browser. Most games dont take advantage of 64 bit, the only one i know of is crysis. The main advantage is the extra RAM ( more than 3.25gb).

All 32 bit browsers i've tried, in fact, almost all 32 bit applications, run perfectly in 64 bit windows, i see no reason to buy 32 bit anymore, but i also son't see much reason to upgrade either.