32-bit to 64-bit

E

EMaNoN

I recently upgraded all of my computer hardware except for my hard drive. I
also decided to go with 64-bit Vista Home Premium in stead of the 32-bit Home
Premium retail I had. I follow through the Microsoft 64-bit order DVD and
entered my product key and the verification worked and sent me to the 64-bit
dvd media in the mail. Since I have the Upgrade product key I cannot enter it
for the installation during the 64-bit setup and also cannot enter it for the
activation in windows. (because it can only be used for upgraded installs) I
am assuming I will have to do a phone activation or something. Does anyone
else know a solution or has had the same problem?
 
B

Bob Knowlden

I'm not sure what you mean, that you "cannot enter it for the installation".

If memory serves, I had the 32 bit version of Vista (Home Premium) on my
drive. The Vista upgrade version must usually be launched from a running OS,
but you can't launch the 64 bit installer from a 32 bit OS. I believe that I
was able to boot the PC from the DVD. The installer detected the 32 bit
version on the drive, and accepted the product key. (You can't upgrade a 32
bit OS to 64. Only a clean install is permitted.)

Alternately, I have used the widely known trick for installing an upgrade
version of Vista on a blank drive. (You may have to format the partition
using some method other than the Vista install disk; I think that it may not
permit formatting a partition with an OS on it, because that would normally
prevent an upgrade. I have used an XP install disk for that purpose.) Run
the Vista 64 installation, but don't enter a product key. That will install
a time-limited evaluation version of Vista. You can then launch the upgrade
from within that evaluation version. (Vista installs on a clean drive,
without installing an older OS, at the price of having to install Vista
twice.)

I hope that I have all of that straight. The upgrade version of Vista is
much less like the full version than was the case in XP. I regret not having
spent the extra $100 for the full version; the convenience would have been
worth it.

Return address scrambled. Replace nkbob with bobkn.
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

You must have the 32-bit version of Windows Vista installed before installing
the 64-bit version using the upgrade license.

Installation choices for 64-bit consumer versions of Windows Vista
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/932795

"Important: Do not remove the previous 32-bit operating system before you start
the Windows Vista 64-bit installation. This is because Windows Vista Setup has
to verify that your current operating system license supports the installation
of a 64-bit upgrade version."

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------

:

I recently upgraded all of my computer hardware except for my hard drive. I
also decided to go with 64-bit Vista Home Premium in stead of the 32-bit Home
Premium retail I had. I follow through the Microsoft 64-bit order DVD and
entered my product key and the verification worked and sent me to the 64-bit
dvd media in the mail. Since I have the Upgrade product key I cannot enter it
for the installation during the 64-bit setup and also cannot enter it for the
activation in windows. (because it can only be used for upgraded installs) I
am assuming I will have to do a phone activation or something. Does anyone
else know a solution or has had the same problem?
 
E

EMaNoN

I did exactly what the 932795 article states about installing from a 32-bit
to 64-bit and I guess it didn't seem to work for me. When I run the 64-bit
install do I need to put my key in during that process or wait?
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

You need to type in your Vista 64-bit upgrade product key
when prompted to do so during the initial setup phase.
 

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