Activation question

[yelloguy]

Hi,

I have a laptop with Vista Home Basic and a desktop with Vista Home
Premium. Both run slow and unstable. A friend told me that Vista 64
bit version runs more stable and seems snappier on the same hardware
since he has tried both. So, I want to know if I can install Vista 64
bit for Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium for the licenses I
have or do I need to buy new licenses for the 64-bit OS.

I also have a complimentary copy of Vista Business that I was using on
an old computer. The computer died and the copy is now unused. I
wonder if I can install and activate that as a 64-bit edition.

Is there a number I can call to get an answer to these questions?
Thanks in advance.

 

[John Inzer]

Hi,

I have a laptop with Vista Home Basic and a desktop with Vista Home
Premium. Both run slow and unstable. A friend told me that Vista 64
bit version runs more stable and seems snappier on the same hardware
since he has tried both. So, I want to know if I can install Vista 64
bit for Vista Home Basic and Vista Home Premium for the licenses I
have or do I need to buy new licenses for the 64-bit OS.

I also have a complimentary copy of Vista Business that I was using on
an old computer. The computer died and the copy is now unused. I
wonder if I can install and activate that as a 64-bit edition.

Is there a number I can call to get an answer to these questions?
Thanks in advance.

===================================
Maybe the following link would be worth a try:

(295539) How and When to Contact Microsoft
Customer Service
http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=295539

--

John Inzer MS-MVP
Digital Media Experience

Notice
This is not tech support
I am a volunteer

Solutions that work for
me may not work for you

Proceed at your own risk

 

[Mick Murphy]

Changing an Operating System is no way to get rid of problems with existing
Systems.
Look into the fundamantals of why you have problems now.
If it won't run 32bit properly, it won't run 64bit.
And how do you know your hardware will even run 64bit Vista?

If your Laptop and Desktop came with Vista OEM pre-installed, you have to
buy new Licences, and get Vista 64bit DVD.
All versions are one 1 disk, but 32bit and 64bit on seperate disks.
If they are Retail copies, contact Microsoft, and they will send you what
you want for Postage costs.

 

[Mark H]

The versions you own did not come with a 64-bit installation DVD, but one
may be obtained, once, for each license for $10.

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

That said, Mick Murphy has a very strong point. X64 will not solve your
problems, although a clean install may. It would be better you determine the
cause of your issues first.

In addition, unfamiliarity with x64 migration will initially cause even more
problems: Do you have all the drivers you need? (They must all be "signed"
x64 drivers. This is not normally an issue, but can be: old scanners,
Creative products, etc.) Can you store all your data before you migrate.,
(This must be a clean install?) You may have some program issues requiring
alternative solutions (ie. AV). Don't get me wrong... x64 Vista is rock
solid, but for many, there is a little more to it than simply insert the
disc. Luckily, there are a lot of people with good answers here and in the
newsgroup: microsoft.public.windows.vista.64bit.general.

 

[yelloguy]

The versions you own did not come with a 64-bit installation DVD, but one
may be obtained, once, for each license for $10.

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

That said, Mick Murphy has a very strong point. X64 will not solve your
problems, although a clean install may. It would be better you determine the
cause of your issues first.

In addition, unfamiliarity with x64 migration will initially cause even more
problems: Do you have all the drivers you need? (They must all be "signed"
x64 drivers. This is not normally an issue, but can be: old scanners,
Creative products, etc.) Can you store all your data before you migrate.,
(This must be a clean install?) You may have some program issues requiring
alternative solutions (ie. AV). Don't get me wrong... x64 Vista is rock
solid, but for many, there is a little more to it than simply insert the
disc. Luckily, there are a lot of people with good answers here and in the
newsgroup: microsoft.public.windows.vista.64bit.general.









- Show quoted text -

Thanks for all the answers so far. I am a savvy user and can handle a
backup and clean install. I am not certain that my problems will go
away with a 64-bit switch but I am willing to try. Trying an
alternative is one way to troubleshoot the problem, isn't it?

I tried calling the number listed on the link in the second post
(thanks, John) but after going through a maze of questions, I came to
a dead end. None of the options seemed like a pathway to Activation
questions. That is sort of expected because MS doesn't want that
number to get unnecessary phone calls. That is why I was sort of
hoping that people here would know about these licensing and
activation issues.

As for disks, I have a Windows Vista disk (courtesy MS) with a key for
Vista Business. I suspect that one will have the 64 bit version.
Also Dell gave me a Vista disk which I have used to re-install the OS
once. That worked without a flaw and didn't even ask me for
activation but (as expected) it (re)installed the 32-bit version. I
am not sure I ever saw a choice for 64-bit version in any of my
previous Vista installations (maybe 4-5 times).

My computer hardware is 64-bit. I am willing to search for drivers
for my peripherals.

 

[Mark H]

The x64 installation DVD is a separate disk from the 32-bit version and will
be labeled as such. You need only one disk as that disk will contain all
versions of Vista on it. The license you enter will determine which version
is installed. A single license can be used for either the 32-bit or 64-bit
version of Vista. You do not need to buy a disk for every use of the license
(in fact, you could borrow one), but you can only use each license for one
installation of the OS.

The disk you have from Dell is a recovery disk, not an installation disk. It
will restore your computer to the date you bought it with no options of
anything else. This also implies that one of your licenses is OEM. That
would be one of those "extra work" required to install x64. Either you must
get a x64 version of the recovery disk from Dell, or install using the
product ID found on the MS label on the computer (requiring phone
activation. It will not activate over the internet.) Because it is Dell, you
will need to get specific Dell x64 drivers before you install x64. Put them
on a USB or CD and install them when asked by the installation DVD.

The versions you own did not come with a 64-bit installation DVD, but one
may be obtained, once, for each license for $10.

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

That said, Mick Murphy has a very strong point. X64 will not solve your
problems, although a clean install may. It would be better you determine the
cause of your issues first.

In addition, unfamiliarity with x64 migration will initially cause even more
problems: Do you have all the drivers you need? (They must all be "signed"
x64 drivers. This is not normally an issue, but can be: old scanners,
Creative products, etc.) Can you store all your data before you migrate.,
(This must be a clean install?) You may have some program issues requiring
alternative solutions (ie. AV). Don't get me wrong... x64 Vista is rock
solid, but for many, there is a little more to it than simply insert the
disc. Luckily, there are a lot of people with good answers here and in the
newsgroup: microsoft.public.windows.vista.64bit.general.









- Show quoted text -

Thanks for all the answers so far. I am a savvy user and can handle a
backup and clean install. I am not certain that my problems will go
away with a 64-bit switch but I am willing to try. Trying an
alternative is one way to troubleshoot the problem, isn't it?

I tried calling the number listed on the link in the second post
(thanks, John) but after going through a maze of questions, I came to
a dead end. None of the options seemed like a pathway to Activation
questions. That is sort of expected because MS doesn't want that
number to get unnecessary phone calls. That is why I was sort of
hoping that people here would know about these licensing and
activation issues.

As for disks, I have a Windows Vista disk (courtesy MS) with a key for
Vista Business. I suspect that one will have the 64 bit version.
Also Dell gave me a Vista disk which I have used to re-install the OS
once. That worked without a flaw and didn't even ask me for
activation but (as expected) it (re)installed the 32-bit version. I
am not sure I ever saw a choice for 64-bit version in any of my
previous Vista installations (maybe 4-5 times).

My computer hardware is 64-bit. I am willing to search for drivers
for my peripherals.

 

[AJR]

Whether or not a 64 bit installation will perorm faster than 32 bit depends
on several factors - you cannot apply a blanket statment such as "64 bit
will perform better than 32 bit".

The 64 bit will perform faster running applications designed for 64 bit and
provide for "usage" of memory beyond 3-4 gigs.

Vista 64 creates a separate Program Files folder to house installed 32 bit
applications - in addition it houses a registry item titled "WOW64" - The 64
OS protects it's registry entries by using WOW64 to redirect registry
requests made by 32 bit applications.

Therefore performance may not compare favorably, running 32 bit
apllications, to a 32 bit OS installation.