Vista 32 bit to 64 bit Upgrade?

[Ken]

I have purchased the Vista Home Premium upgrade product and Vista Ultimate
OEM product. Both are 32 bit versions. DDR2-800 memory is getting so cheap
I had to go from 2G to 4G on both systems. Is there a way to save a couple
of dollars and upgrade one or both of the above to the 64 bit version -
short of buying the operating system again? MSFT does not permit upgrading
either version on their upgrade web page.

 

[Victor Constantinescu]

Hi,
Don't you have in your OEM box both the 32 bits and 64 bits versions?

 

[Ken]

Nope, it specifically says 32-bit version.

Hi,
Don't you have in your OEM box both the 32 bits and 64 bits versions?

 

[Ken]

Yes, I know that I would have to do a clean install - upgrade was a bad
choice of words. However, since I do not know anyone with the 64-bit
version I guess I got to conclude that my only options are: pay MSFT
another $169 for the 64-bit OEM version of Vista Ultimate via Newegg, live
with the 32-bit version and 3.5G ...or... wait for MSFT to come up with the
next version of the Operating System and at least think I'm getting
something "new" and "better" for my money. Thanks for the information and
interest.

 

[Bob Knowlden]

Things aren't that bad.

You can order 64 bit install media from Microsoft for your retail upgrade
version of Vista Home Premium:

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx

Your license key ought to work with it.

I did exactly that for my own system. The charge in the US was about $10.
(That was for S&H; the upgrade was nominally free.)

I believe that an OEM license does not qualify for a free switch to the 64
bit version. I think that a 32 bit OEM key would not work with 64 bit
install media, but I'm not sure where I read that.

 

[David B.]

The OEM ships only with the DVD for the version you purchased, you don't get
32 and 64 bit, you get one or the other.

 

[Ken]

Outstanding! I tried that a couple of days ago but it did not work. I
tried the link you supplied and like magic it worked! I must have keyed in
the wrong something a couple of days ago. Anyway, the 64-bit version of
Vista Home Premium is on order for $10.65. Now, if I could just find a way
to get the OEM Vista Ultimate 32-bit to upgrade to 64-bit! Thanks for the
help.

 

[Ken]

Vista Home Premium 64-bit is up and running - so far so good - have not had
a problem with driver availablility or program incompatibility.

Outstanding! I tried that a couple of days ago but it did not work. I
tried the link you supplied and like magic it worked! I must have keyed
in the wrong something a couple of days ago. Anyway, the 64-bit version
of Vista Home Premium is on order for $10.65. Now, if I could just find a
way to get the OEM Vista Ultimate 32-bit to upgrade to 64-bit! Thanks for
the help.