Obtaining 64bit version of Vista

[Pup]

I have recently ordered a new system, along with Vista Home Premium Retail Upgrade, and expecting everything to be delivered in the next 2 or 3 days. I know that with the retail box (apart from ultimate) you only get the 32bit disk and have to request the 64bit version from Microsoft, which I believe costs just a couple of quid in postage.

However, I ideally want to install the 64bit version of windows as soon as my pc is setup, rather than putting the 32bit on, and having to reinstall with the 64bit when that finally arrives. Does anyone know if its possible to download the 64bit disc from microsoft instead of request it by post, so that I could have it ready for when the pc and vista product key arrives?

[shaithis]

Not sure what version is available for download from Microsoft (using the account we have at work you can normally only download SELECT or MSDN, neither of which I would expect to work with a retail/OEM/upgrade key)

Find anyone who has a retail or OEM 64bit disc and it will certainly work. I have used my OEM 64bit disk to install a number of upgrade editions that only shipped with 32 bit disks.

[Pup]

Couldn't find anyone with the 64bit disk Vista just arrived in the post though, so I just sent off for the 64bit dvd from Microsoft. Rip-off at £7.88 though, even with them saying wait up to 28 days for delivery

Looks like i'll be running 32bit for the time being and reinstall when the dvd arrives.

[Clunk]

The 64bit disc cost me 2.50 from microsoft anytime upgrades a few weeks back. They have changed the site a bit now, but the price should still be the same.

[Pup]

hm, well I went through http://www.microsoft.com/windows/pro...ons/64bit.mspx and it definitely cost £7.88 inc vat. Oh well.. tis done now.

[Pup]

Arrived a couple of days ago, looks like it shipped from Germany. Still no idea why it cost me about 3 times more though.

Not convinced by the 64bit OS yet though, starting to consider going back to 32bit even though I've got 4Gb of ram in there

[shaithis]

Not convinced by the 64bit OS yet though, starting to consider going back to 32bit even though I've got 4Gb of ram in there

Well, other then 64 bit support, there really are no differences unless you have some poor drivers

[Pup]

3dmark06 wont run (although that complains about openal, which i have installed for my onboard SoundMax), Pcmark05 fails a third of the tests. Both ran fine under 32bit.

Powerdvd seems to have numerous problems under 64bit. Some versions wont install, mine just wont play xvids properly, yet they play fine in Media player, and fine in 32bit with the same software and same codec.

Serv-U tray monitor doesnt update properly, nor does it seem to like a linked folder setup, so essentially I cant use it unless I physically move all the files into one root folder.

I've had some other software that worked fine in 32bit but not in 64, but found updated versions or patches to fix them. Just seems to be a bit of a ballache at the mo :/

I'll keep plodding on since i've only been using it for a couple of days, and would be a shame to waste the extra 2gig i bought, by going back to 32bit.

[shaithis]

3d mark runs fine, although theres a specific version of OpenAL you need to install..... this one may work

PCMark fails but then that's due to poor coding from what I've read. Need to kick futuremark to update their code.

PowerDVD issues, odd, I've been running it for a while without issue......although not sure I've played any XVIDs through it.....Will check tonight. Have you tried a different CODEC pack?

Serv-U I have no experience with.

The problem with a lot of these things is that blame gets placed on the OS "as that's what changed"......but most issues are down to drivers or program code being poorly written.

[Pup]

Aye I know that most (if not all) problems are down to the software developers not updating their code to work properly under x64. I'll try a different OpenAL driver and see if that works, I had only tried the one from the Asus website for my m/b.

With powerdvd & xvid I first tried the latest 1.1.3 codec which I had running fine under XP and 32bit Home Premium, and when that didnt work I tried the Vista Codec Package and the additional x64 components, which gave the same result of sound but no video.

[Pup]

hm, im sure i rebooted after installing both codecs before, but I switched pc on when I got home from work today and powerdvd played them fine

[2Cold Scorpio]

I have a question: if I get a version of Vista (say, Home Premium) preloaded on a new computer from, say Dell, can I still get the 64-bit version from Microsoft? Or if I got Ultimate preloaded, would it come with a 64-bit disk as well? Or thirdly, if I buy Vista Ultimate though my school, does it include a 64-bit verion inside it like the retail versions? And if not, can I still get one from MS?

I ask because soon I'll be getting a new laptop (likely a Dell) with either Home Premium or Ultimate installed, or if I have Home Premium pre-installed and get Ultimate though my school (likely the cheaper option, seeing as its only 60 bucks from there). I won't use the 64-bit version right away (I'll dualboot XP Pro and Vista for a while), but in a year or two when drivers are more caught up and I can phase out XP, I'd like to give it a try.

[Pup]

Usually if you get an OS preinstalled on a system by Dell it is an OEM version. I dont actually know if they even have an option to buy retail versions with their systems. OEM versions come as either 32bit or 64bit, so you have to specify which. The retail versions allow you to use either and switch from one to the other. On Vista Ultimate Retail you get both 32bit and 64bit versions provided, with other versions such as Home Premium you have to send off for the 64bit disk, where you pay for postage. I am not sure about the student versions though.

[2Cold Scorpio]

Thats what I thought. Can you use a retail Ultimate upgrade on an OEM version?

As far as installing the 64-bit version using an upgrade, I am well aware of the installing Vista twice on itself to get around it not checking for previous media. I don't consider it wrong: it does not break the EULA and I DO have previous versions of XP (And in that case, Vista as well). The only reason I bring this up is beause you can't upgrade an existing 32-bit install to 64-bit (nor would I want to), but an upgrade disk of the 64-bit version that can't clean boot is silly. In this way, though, you *can* legally clean boot, I suppose. But I've gone off-topic a bit...

[shaithis]

Edu and OEM can be installed from the 64bit disk, regardless of whether you bought 32 or 64 bit.

64bit media costs extra though if you ordered 32 bit (edu only ships in 32 bit AFAIK)...or borrow a 64 bit disk and plug your key in.

[2Cold Scorpio]

How much extra are we talking to get a 64-bit disk if I purchased either an OEM or student version )the Edu. version IS Ultimate). Can you get it from the MS page listed above for just the shipping if the previosu statement is the case?

Sorry to keep at this, I'm just trying to decide the best course of action for my upgrading plans.