32 bit to 64 bit Vista

[Guest]

I've read about the different versions of Vista and possible upgrade paths.
What happens if I buy Vista, install and activate. Then decide a couple of
months later that I want to reinstall with 64 bit Vista. Is that an upgrade?
Would it use the same activation code? Could I install both with a dual
boot configuration? Thanks.

 

[Mark Rae]

Is that an upgrade?

I don't think so...

Would it use the same activation code?
No.

Could I install both with a dual boot configuration?

Technically, yes. Legally, almost certainly not.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

While you cannot upgrade the bits, you can install the x64 edition using the
custom install option using the same product key you used to install your
x86 edition. There are not different product keys for x86 and x64. You
would have to reactivate, of course.

Since the x64 Setup program is itself 64bit, you will not be able to start
it from you Vista x86 desktop. You will boot with the x64 dvd and run Setup
from there.

 

[Chad Harris]

Colin--

I'm confused now (I know you can straighten this out) in the light of the
thread where Darrel Gorter posted and you posted that you can upgrade X32 to
Vista 64 bit:

You say here you cannot upgrade the Bits, but how does that square with
these posts you did?

"Darrel's experiment with an upgrade edtion"

Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:25 PM



Excellent! Thanks, Darrel!

By the way, don't EVER try doing a custom install of an x86 edition of Vista
into a volume already containing an x64 edition of XP (or Vista). I know,
only a goof like me would try that.

The good news is that it works. The bad news is that it works. But you
ought to see the Program Files and Program Files (x86) folders afterwards.
The punch line is that there shouldn't be any Program Files (x86)
folder...but there sure is. And it isn't empty.

Hello Colin,
Tom was asking for 32-bit upgrade behavior from inside Windows 2000 or
booting from a DVD.
I installed Windows 2000 and Windows XP 32-bit versions.
I booted to a Windows Vista 32-bit DVD and used an upgrade product key.
I get the following message after entering the product key.
" To use the product key you entered, start the installation from your
existing version of Windows."
My only choices at this point are to enter a different product key ( full
package product key) or to boot into Windows and then run setup.
1) I booted to a Windows Vista x64 DVD and used a Windows Ultimate upgrade
Product Key.
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows XP
64-bit
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows XP
32-bit
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows
Vista Enterprise edition.
2)I used a Windows Ultimate Upgrade Product key. that is the only Upgrade
product key I have available to me.
If you were using Home Premium Upgrade product key and you had Windows XP
Professional installed
Presuming this is based on the chart:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeinfo.mspx
If you start Windows Vista setup from within a qualifying OS and it
requires a clean installation as per the chart, you will only be offered a
custom install.
If you boot the DVD to a 32-bit version of Windows Visa,
I get the following message after entering the product key.
" To use the product key you entered, start the installation from your
existing version of Windows."
My only choices at this point are to enter a different product key ( full
package product key) or to boot into Windows and then run setup.


Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

________________________________________

Upgrading to 64bits - new info from Darrel

Friday, January 12, 2007 10:43 AM

Darrel Gorter (MSFT) reported the results of some experiments he did for us
using an Ultimate edition product key. It looks like good news for those
hoping to be able to migrate directly from W2k and XP 32bits to Vista 64bits
at upgrade prices. It goes without saying that your computer must be 64bit
capable.

His findings:

When you boot the machine with a Vista x86 dvd and enter an upgrade edition
product key you will be instructed to restart Setup from the legacy desktop.
You cannot use an UE pk without running the legacy OS.

When you boot the machine with a Vista x64 dvd and enter an upgrade edition
product key you will NOT be required to restart and run from the legacy
desktop. As long as a qualifying legacy Windows is installed you will be
allowed to proceed. This removes a key concern, which was that x64 Setup
cannot run from an x86 desktop. It turns out that it doesn't have to.
Ealier statements turned out to apply only to the x86 dvd but not the x64
dvd.

Conclusion: If you are running 32bit Windows you can install 64bit Vista
using an upgrade edition product key. All you need to do is boot with the
64bit dvd. Those already running XP Pro x64 should have the choice of
booting with the dvd or running from the desktop.

Darrel believes that the x64 dvd is only included in the Vista Ultimate
upgrade edition box and will have to be requested for the other upgrade
editions.

<Rant>There ought to be a way to only have one retail box, period. Surely
the product key is all that varies and given present technology that can be
purchased at point of sale and generated by the salesperson. You get your
media kit and then tell the clerk what edition you want at the checkout
counter. No problems with open boxes if you make a mistake and need an
exchange since one box does all.</Rant>

Colin Barnhorst - MVP Virtual Machine


Can you clear up my confusion? These two posts seem to be saying you can
upgrade from a 32 bit platform to a 64 bit platform. I know (we all know)
that the mantra has always been until this that it was impossible.

Thanks,

CH

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

You cannot upgrade-in-place any 32bit Windows to any 64bit Windows. Neither
clients nor servers. Such scenarios are really migrations rather than
upgrades. I used "upgrade the bits" as "upgrade-in-place."

You cannot even upgrade the bits from XP Pro x64 to any Vista x64 (due to
issues like device drivers and such). All upgrades from qualifying
non-Vista Windows products to Vista x64 are really migrations and require a
custom installation. In fact I think MS should issue Vista x64 in separate
boxes labled "Migration Edition." They won't, of course, but it would be
more accurate right now.

The only upgrades-in-place supported are from Vista x64 editions to
equivalent or higher Vista x64 editions. Those are the only scenarios in
which the upgrade option is not disabled.

Colin--

I'm confused now (I know you can straighten this out) in the light of the
thread where Darrel Gorter posted and you posted that you can upgrade X32
to Vista 64 bit:

You say here you cannot upgrade the Bits, but how does that square with
these posts you did?

"Darrel's experiment with an upgrade edtion"

Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:25 PM



Excellent! Thanks, Darrel!

By the way, don't EVER try doing a custom install of an x86 edition of
Vista
into a volume already containing an x64 edition of XP (or Vista). I know,
only a goof like me would try that.

The good news is that it works. The bad news is that it works. But you
ought to see the Program Files and Program Files (x86) folders afterwards.
The punch line is that there shouldn't be any Program Files (x86)
folder...but there sure is. And it isn't empty.

Hello Colin,
Tom was asking for 32-bit upgrade behavior from inside Windows 2000 or
booting from a DVD.
I installed Windows 2000 and Windows XP 32-bit versions.
I booted to a Windows Vista 32-bit DVD and used an upgrade product key.
I get the following message after entering the product key.
" To use the product key you entered, start the installation from your
existing version of Windows."
My only choices at this point are to enter a different product key ( full
package product key) or to boot into Windows and then run setup.
1) I booted to a Windows Vista x64 DVD and used a Windows Ultimate
upgrade
Product Key.
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows XP
64-bit
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows XP
32-bit
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows
Vista Enterprise edition.
2)I used a Windows Ultimate Upgrade Product key. that is the only
Upgrade
product key I have available to me.
If you were using Home Premium Upgrade product key and you had Windows XP
Professional installed
Presuming this is based on the chart:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeinfo.mspx
If you start Windows Vista setup from within a qualifying OS and it
requires a clean installation as per the chart, you will only be offered
a
custom install.
If you boot the DVD to a 32-bit version of Windows Visa,
I get the following message after entering the product key.
" To use the product key you entered, start the installation from your
existing version of Windows."
My only choices at this point are to enter a different product key ( full
package product key) or to boot into Windows and then run setup.


Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

________________________________________

Upgrading to 64bits - new info from Darrel

Friday, January 12, 2007 10:43 AM

Darrel Gorter (MSFT) reported the results of some experiments he did for
us
using an Ultimate edition product key. It looks like good news for those
hoping to be able to migrate directly from W2k and XP 32bits to Vista
64bits
at upgrade prices. It goes without saying that your computer must be
64bit
capable.

His findings:

When you boot the machine with a Vista x86 dvd and enter an upgrade
edition
product key you will be instructed to restart Setup from the legacy
desktop.
You cannot use an UE pk without running the legacy OS.

When you boot the machine with a Vista x64 dvd and enter an upgrade
edition
product key you will NOT be required to restart and run from the legacy
desktop. As long as a qualifying legacy Windows is installed you will be
allowed to proceed. This removes a key concern, which was that x64 Setup
cannot run from an x86 desktop. It turns out that it doesn't have to.
Ealier statements turned out to apply only to the x86 dvd but not the x64
dvd.

Conclusion: If you are running 32bit Windows you can install 64bit Vista
using an upgrade edition product key. All you need to do is boot with the
64bit dvd. Those already running XP Pro x64 should have the choice of
booting with the dvd or running from the desktop.

Darrel believes that the x64 dvd is only included in the Vista Ultimate
upgrade edition box and will have to be requested for the other upgrade
editions.

<Rant>There ought to be a way to only have one retail box, period. Surely
the product key is all that varies and given present technology that can
be
purchased at point of sale and generated by the salesperson. You get your
media kit and then tell the clerk what edition you want at the checkout
counter. No problems with open boxes if you make a mistake and need an
exchange since one box does all.</Rant>

Colin Barnhorst - MVP Virtual Machine


Can you clear up my confusion? These two posts seem to be saying you can
upgrade from a 32 bit platform to a 64 bit platform. I know (we all know)
that the mantra has always been until this that it was impossible.

Thanks,

CH

While you cannot upgrade the bits, you can install the x64 edition using
the custom install option using the same product key you used to install
your x86 edition. There are not different product keys for x86 and x64.
You would have to reactivate, of course.

Since the x64 Setup program is itself 64bit, you will not be able to
start it from you Vista x86 desktop. You will boot with the x64 dvd and
run Setup from there.

 

[Chad Harris]

Thanks--your upgrade posts have been quite helpful as was this one. I have
a MSFT Wish--

I wish you would use your MVP channels to see if they would get *you to
submit an upgrade page that someone like Darrel or someone with similar
expertise would collaberate on. Your upgrade info has been a real service
to this group--very precise and well written but above and beyond the normal
repetition of questions that will churn through a newsgroup like this, there
is legitimate upgrade and packaging confusion and if MSFT were to get you to
do an upgrade page on their site, it would help an awful lot of people.

I have been all over MSFT sites as you have, and I haven't found an adequate
page of packaging and upgrade info yet. They ought to parallel it with an
MSKB as well.

CH

You cannot upgrade-in-place any 32bit Windows to any 64bit Windows.
Neither clients nor servers. Such scenarios are really migrations rather
than upgrades. I used "upgrade the bits" as "upgrade-in-place."

You cannot even upgrade the bits from XP Pro x64 to any Vista x64 (due to
issues like device drivers and such). All upgrades from qualifying
non-Vista Windows products to Vista x64 are really migrations and require
a custom installation. In fact I think MS should issue Vista x64 in
separate boxes labled "Migration Edition." They won't, of course, but it
would be more accurate right now.

The only upgrades-in-place supported are from Vista x64 editions to
equivalent or higher Vista x64 editions. Those are the only scenarios in
which the upgrade option is not disabled.

Colin--

I'm confused now (I know you can straighten this out) in the light of the
thread where Darrel Gorter posted and you posted that you can upgrade X32
to Vista 64 bit:

You say here you cannot upgrade the Bits, but how does that square with
these posts you did?

"Darrel's experiment with an upgrade edtion"

Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:25 PM



Excellent! Thanks, Darrel!

By the way, don't EVER try doing a custom install of an x86 edition of
Vista
into a volume already containing an x64 edition of XP (or Vista). I
know,
only a goof like me would try that.

The good news is that it works. The bad news is that it works. But you
ought to see the Program Files and Program Files (x86) folders
afterwards.
The punch line is that there shouldn't be any Program Files (x86)
folder...but there sure is. And it isn't empty.

Hello Colin,
Tom was asking for 32-bit upgrade behavior from inside Windows 2000 or
booting from a DVD.
I installed Windows 2000 and Windows XP 32-bit versions.
I booted to a Windows Vista 32-bit DVD and used an upgrade product key.
I get the following message after entering the product key.
" To use the product key you entered, start the installation from your
existing version of Windows."
My only choices at this point are to enter a different product key (
full
package product key) or to boot into Windows and then run setup.
1) I booted to a Windows Vista x64 DVD and used a Windows Ultimate
upgrade
Product Key.
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows
XP
64-bit
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows
XP
32-bit
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows
Vista Enterprise edition.
2)I used a Windows Ultimate Upgrade Product key. that is the only
Upgrade
product key I have available to me.
If you were using Home Premium Upgrade product key and you had Windows
XP
Professional installed
Presuming this is based on the chart:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeinfo.mspx
If you start Windows Vista setup from within a qualifying OS and it
requires a clean installation as per the chart, you will only be offered
a
custom install.
If you boot the DVD to a 32-bit version of Windows Visa,
I get the following message after entering the product key.
" To use the product key you entered, start the installation from your
existing version of Windows."
My only choices at this point are to enter a different product key (
full
package product key) or to boot into Windows and then run setup.


Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

________________________________________

Upgrading to 64bits - new info from Darrel

Friday, January 12, 2007 10:43 AM

Darrel Gorter (MSFT) reported the results of some experiments he did for
us
using an Ultimate edition product key. It looks like good news for those
hoping to be able to migrate directly from W2k and XP 32bits to Vista
64bits
at upgrade prices. It goes without saying that your computer must be
64bit
capable.

His findings:

When you boot the machine with a Vista x86 dvd and enter an upgrade
edition
product key you will be instructed to restart Setup from the legacy
desktop.
You cannot use an UE pk without running the legacy OS.

When you boot the machine with a Vista x64 dvd and enter an upgrade
edition
product key you will NOT be required to restart and run from the legacy
desktop. As long as a qualifying legacy Windows is installed you will be
allowed to proceed. This removes a key concern, which was that x64 Setup
cannot run from an x86 desktop. It turns out that it doesn't have to.
Ealier statements turned out to apply only to the x86 dvd but not the x64
dvd.

Conclusion: If you are running 32bit Windows you can install 64bit Vista
using an upgrade edition product key. All you need to do is boot with
the
64bit dvd. Those already running XP Pro x64 should have the choice of
booting with the dvd or running from the desktop.

Darrel believes that the x64 dvd is only included in the Vista Ultimate
upgrade edition box and will have to be requested for the other upgrade
editions.

<Rant>There ought to be a way to only have one retail box, period.
Surely
the product key is all that varies and given present technology that can
be
purchased at point of sale and generated by the salesperson. You get
your
media kit and then tell the clerk what edition you want at the checkout
counter. No problems with open boxes if you make a mistake and need an
exchange since one box does all.</Rant>

Colin Barnhorst - MVP Virtual Machine


Can you clear up my confusion? These two posts seem to be saying you can
upgrade from a 32 bit platform to a 64 bit platform. I know (we all
know) that the mantra has always been until this that it was impossible.

Thanks,

CH

While you cannot upgrade the bits, you can install the x64 edition using
the custom install option using the same product key you used to install
your x86 edition. There are not different product keys for x86 and x64.
You would have to reactivate, of course.

Since the x64 Setup program is itself 64bit, you will not be able to
start it from you Vista x86 desktop. You will boot with the x64 dvd and
run Setup from there.


I've read about the different versions of Vista and possible upgrade
paths.
What happens if I buy Vista, install and activate. Then decide a
couple of
months later that I want to reinstall with 64 bit Vista. Is that an
upgrade?
Would it use the same activation code? Could I install both with a
dual
boot configuration? Thanks.

 

[Colin Barnhorst]

No MVP has been given an upgrade pk for Vista b6000, so it just isn't
possible to do the walk-throughs. You have to do walk-throughs in order to
spot new questions not previously thought about. I am recognizing new
questions every day as I read the various twists poster apply to "upgrade",
"upgrade edition", "clean", "custom", and so on.

One big question hanging out there is whether or not Vista can be installed
with an upgrade edition pk to any volume but the legacy system volume.
Folks are assuming that it can be because that's how they did it during the
CPP. They keep forgetting that we were all using full edition pk's. Full
edition pk's don't care if you're installing it on your wife's Singer sewing
machine! Personally, I think that there won't be an option to install
anywhere but the legacy system volume. After all, that's why its called an
"upgrade." Anyplace else would set up a dual-boot and that would be an
out-of-compliance scenario to use an upgrade edition that way. The fact
that folks are accustomed to doing just that with older versions of Windows
is why we have activation today and why shiny media is no longer used for
verification.

I could not get a reply from the team responsible for upgrade edition issues
even though I went through my MVP lead. That has always worked for me in
the past, but not this time. The problem with my contacts at MS is that
they always run full editions (why not?) so when they first reply to my
questions the answers obviously relate to the upgrade functionality of a
full edition. When I re-inquire they admit they have had no experience with
an upgrade edition (why would they?).

I expected the docs to start showing up on microsoft.com by mid-January. I
am very disappointed not to see them. They should have been there before
the vendors started taking orders. Now folks are spending their money.
Some of them are going to buy the wrong product.

Thanks--your upgrade posts have been quite helpful as was this one. I
have a MSFT Wish--

I wish you would use your MVP channels to see if they would get *you to
submit an upgrade page that someone like Darrel or someone with similar
expertise would collaberate on. Your upgrade info has been a real service
to this group--very precise and well written but above and beyond the
normal repetition of questions that will churn through a newsgroup like
this, there is legitimate upgrade and packaging confusion and if MSFT were
to get you to do an upgrade page on their site, it would help an awful lot
of people.

I have been all over MSFT sites as you have, and I haven't found an
adequate page of packaging and upgrade info yet. They ought to parallel
it with an MSKB as well.

CH

You cannot upgrade-in-place any 32bit Windows to any 64bit Windows.
Neither clients nor servers. Such scenarios are really migrations rather
than upgrades. I used "upgrade the bits" as "upgrade-in-place."

You cannot even upgrade the bits from XP Pro x64 to any Vista x64 (due to
issues like device drivers and such). All upgrades from qualifying
non-Vista Windows products to Vista x64 are really migrations and require
a custom installation. In fact I think MS should issue Vista x64 in
separate boxes labled "Migration Edition." They won't, of course, but it
would be more accurate right now.

The only upgrades-in-place supported are from Vista x64 editions to
equivalent or higher Vista x64 editions. Those are the only scenarios in
which the upgrade option is not disabled.

Colin--

I'm confused now (I know you can straighten this out) in the light of
the thread where Darrel Gorter posted and you posted that you can
upgrade X32 to Vista 64 bit:

You say here you cannot upgrade the Bits, but how does that square with
these posts you did?

"Darrel's experiment with an upgrade edtion"

Thursday, January 11, 2007 10:25 PM



Excellent! Thanks, Darrel!

By the way, don't EVER try doing a custom install of an x86 edition of
Vista
into a volume already containing an x64 edition of XP (or Vista). I
know,
only a goof like me would try that.

The good news is that it works. The bad news is that it works. But you
ought to see the Program Files and Program Files (x86) folders
afterwards.
The punch line is that there shouldn't be any Program Files (x86)
folder...but there sure is. And it isn't empty.

message
Hello Colin,
Tom was asking for 32-bit upgrade behavior from inside Windows 2000 or
booting from a DVD.
I installed Windows 2000 and Windows XP 32-bit versions.
I booted to a Windows Vista 32-bit DVD and used an upgrade product key.
I get the following message after entering the product key.
" To use the product key you entered, start the installation from your
existing version of Windows."
My only choices at this point are to enter a different product key (
full
package product key) or to boot into Windows and then run setup.
1) I booted to a Windows Vista x64 DVD and used a Windows Ultimate
upgrade
Product Key.
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows
XP
64-bit
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows
XP
32-bit
I was allowed to proceed to install when the underlying OS was Windows
Vista Enterprise edition.
2)I used a Windows Ultimate Upgrade Product key. that is the only
Upgrade
product key I have available to me.
If you were using Home Premium Upgrade product key and you had Windows
XP
Professional installed
Presuming this is based on the chart:
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/getready/upgradeinfo.mspx
If you start Windows Vista setup from within a qualifying OS and it
requires a clean installation as per the chart, you will only be
offered a
custom install.
If you boot the DVD to a 32-bit version of Windows Visa,
I get the following message after entering the product key.
" To use the product key you entered, start the installation from your
existing version of Windows."
My only choices at this point are to enter a different product key (
full
package product key) or to boot into Windows and then run setup.


Thanks,
Darrell Gorter[MSFT]

________________________________________

Upgrading to 64bits - new info from Darrel

Friday, January 12, 2007 10:43 AM

Darrel Gorter (MSFT) reported the results of some experiments he did for
us
using an Ultimate edition product key. It looks like good news for
those
hoping to be able to migrate directly from W2k and XP 32bits to Vista
64bits
at upgrade prices. It goes without saying that your computer must be
64bit
capable.

His findings:

When you boot the machine with a Vista x86 dvd and enter an upgrade
edition
product key you will be instructed to restart Setup from the legacy
desktop.
You cannot use an UE pk without running the legacy OS.

When you boot the machine with a Vista x64 dvd and enter an upgrade
edition
product key you will NOT be required to restart and run from the legacy
desktop. As long as a qualifying legacy Windows is installed you will
be
allowed to proceed. This removes a key concern, which was that x64
Setup
cannot run from an x86 desktop. It turns out that it doesn't have to.
Ealier statements turned out to apply only to the x86 dvd but not the
x64
dvd.

Conclusion: If you are running 32bit Windows you can install 64bit
Vista
using an upgrade edition product key. All you need to do is boot with
the
64bit dvd. Those already running XP Pro x64 should have the choice of
booting with the dvd or running from the desktop.

Darrel believes that the x64 dvd is only included in the Vista Ultimate
upgrade edition box and will have to be requested for the other upgrade
editions.

<Rant>There ought to be a way to only have one retail box, period.
Surely
the product key is all that varies and given present technology that can
be
purchased at point of sale and generated by the salesperson. You get
your
media kit and then tell the clerk what edition you want at the checkout
counter. No problems with open boxes if you make a mistake and need an
exchange since one box does all.</Rant>

Colin Barnhorst - MVP Virtual Machine


Can you clear up my confusion? These two posts seem to be saying you
can upgrade from a 32 bit platform to a 64 bit platform. I know (we all
know) that the mantra has always been until this that it was impossible.

Thanks,

CH




While you cannot upgrade the bits, you can install the x64 edition
using the custom install option using the same product key you used to
install your x86 edition. There are not different product keys for x86
and x64. You would have to reactivate, of course.

Since the x64 Setup program is itself 64bit, you will not be able to
start it from you Vista x86 desktop. You will boot with the x64 dvd
and run Setup from there.


I've read about the different versions of Vista and possible upgrade
paths.
What happens if I buy Vista, install and activate. Then decide a
couple of
months later that I want to reinstall with 64 bit Vista. Is that an
upgrade?
Would it use the same activation code? Could I install both with a
dual
boot configuration? Thanks.