Is my Vista DVD 32-bit or 64-bit??

[pauloz!]

Hi guys, i currently have a pentium 4 processor and i am running vista ULTIMATE 32-bit. My problem is i am going to be building my own pc in the next week with a core 2 duo, quad core processor which is obviously a 64-bit processor.

I received my Vista DVD from a friend who reverted back to XP by burning his original copy...i am using his original key, so its legit but the problem is i don't know what disc i burnt from him because back then i knew nothing about what 32-bit and 64-bit was. How do i find out whether it is 32-bit or 64-bit??????? I dont know whether he only had 1 disc or 2 discs and if he had 2 discs i dont know which i burnt. Now i have heard that Vista DVD's contain both 32-bit and 64-bit on the single DVD..is this true?? I have also heard that Ultimate comes with 2 dvd's...a 64-bit DVD and a 32-bit DVD. Sadly i can't get in touch with my mate but is there anyway i can find this info out??

Does anyone know how i can find out what version i have??

Thanks in advance.

[Lucio]

Assuming it's a legitimate Vista DVD, it should say physically on the disc which version it contains. If not, start the install sequence and read what it says on the screen at the top


Oh and just as an FYI

"Please note 64-Bit Edition DVD is not included in this package. Only the 32-Bit edition DVD is supplied in the box. Information on obtaining 64-Bit edition is included in this package."

That's the note attached to all retail packs EXCEPT Vista Ultimate.

[Saracen]

Also, if it's an OEM copy, it will probably not be legitimate, because the licence is for the original user and not transferable, and because it's for the original PC only, and too many hardware changes will cause potential licence problems.

[this_is_gav]

And Microsoft deem a 'new PC' as a change of motherboard, so if your change from Pentium 4 to C2D meant a new motherboard, then you'll need another Vista license.

For the record, who uses or owns the PC has no relevance to the license (other than multiple PC licenses), only to the hardware. You can transfer the license around as much as you want, but it's only going to work on the original motherboard.

[pauloz!]

Assuming it's a legitimate Vista DVD, it should say physically on the disc which version it contains. If not, start the install sequence and read what it says on the screen at the top

I tried that but it doesnt say...thanks for the replies but maybe i should just wait until i get my new pc.

[Spud1]

If your using your friends Vista key, and he has reverted to XP under the Microsoft scheme that lets you go back if you don't want Vista, or if its an OEM copy of vista, then its not legal for you to install/use it. The only situation where it would be OK is if its a retail boxed version of Vista, then you have no problem

The Vista DVD is a universal DVD containing every version of Vista, including home basic, premium, business, ultimate and the N versions of each. On every Vista DVD so far that i've seen both 32bit and 64bit versions have been on the same disc as well, so it should be there, but note that you can install the 32bit version on a 64 bit PC anyway Assuming your licence is valid ofc

[Dreaming]

And Microsoft deem a 'new PC' as a change of motherboard, so if your change from Pentium 4 to C2D meant a new motherboard, then you'll need another Vista license.

For the record, who uses or owns the PC has no relevance to the license (other than multiple PC licenses), only to the hardware. You can transfer the license around as much as you want, but it's only going to work on the original motherboard.

Thing is, I've got an OEM Licence and have changed the motherboard - I told the lady in the call centre at Microsoft that and she gave me the key no problem. Just wanted to verify that it wasn't installed on another PC - which I confirmed it wasn't. So either they're going easy on me or the 'locked to one motherboard' rule is a myth. I don't know which though. It was the same PC, the motherboard was changed as 50% upgrade and 50% cos I thought the old one was dodgy (blue screens, but since I've discovered that was the memory's fault).

[this_is_gav]

She was wrong to do so then, thinking or assuming you had a Retail license, or just getting confused as they often seem to.

[pauloz!]

If your using your friends Vista key, and he has reverted to XP under the Microsoft scheme that lets you go back if you don't want Vista, or if its an OEM copy of vista, then its not legal for you to install/use it. The only situation where it would be OK is if its a retail boxed version of Vista, then you have no problem

The Vista DVD is a universal DVD containing every version of Vista, including home basic, premium, business, ultimate and the N versions of each. On every Vista DVD so far that i've seen both 32bit and 64bit versions have been on the same disc as well, so it should be there, but note that you can install the 32bit version on a 64 bit PC anyway Assuming your licence is valid ofc

Okay well my friend has gone back to XP with his XP key so i am using his valid Vista licence. I know i can install the 32bit version on a 64 bit PC but i just want to have my options open for now. So you have seen both 32bit and 64bit versions on the same disc...but then i look at this pic () and think to myself.. what disc do i have??...The disc with both or just 32-bit???

This is just 64-bit...anyways thanks for your help...ill probably install 32-bit even if i had the opportunity of 64-bit. BTW do you actually think i'm gonna need to buy a new vista key just because i'm upgrading pc's??? That really sucks...

[directhex]

BTW do you actually think i'm gonna need to buy a new vista key just because i'm upgrading pc's??? That really sucks...

you should be. that's the license you agreed to, after all.

personally, i wish product activation and WGA were better enforced - no indian call centers which don't fully understand the license terms, a strict, mechanical interpretation and enforcement of the rules.

[this_is_gav]

This is just 64-bit...anyways thanks for your help...ill probably install 32-bit even if i had the opportunity of 64-bit. BTW do you actually think i'm gonna need to buy a new vista key just because i'm upgrading pc's??? That really sucks...

That's what Retail is for mate. You don't just get a bigger box...

If you pay 1/3 of the price for a license then you've got to accept that there are limitations...

[badass]

If you pay 1/3 of the price for a license then you've got to accept that there are limitations...

Ones that are arguably (until there is a test case) an Illegal restriction of trade.

[this_is_gav]

Ones that are arguably (until there is a test case) an Illegal restriction of trade.

If you want to take on Microsoft, then I'd more than happily watch.

Until then, I'll just stick with abiding by what I bought.

[Splash]

I'm not a lawyer so I'm not going to get into the legalities of that argument. What _does_ annoy me is this "I'm entitled to free stuff" attitude that is always used to argue that the restrictions on the OEM license are somehow unfair.