Anytime Upgrade question

[ElementalDragon]

I know questions about Anytime Upgrade have been asked quite a bit in here...
but searching through the various questions to try to figure out the answer
to my dilemma would probably take longer than just asking my question.

I recieved a free copy of Vista Business through what i believe was called
the Power of Together event that took place a while before Vista was
released. Apparently the product key that came with the disc is only for the
32-bit version. I've been thinking about getting Vista Ultimate 64-bit, but
i don't really want to spend the $300 for the retail version, although i
could just buy a single-pack disc for system builders from Newegg.

I was wondering if, were i to go through with the Anytime Upgrade process to
go from Business to Ultimate.... would there be any way to install the 64-bit
version of Ultimate instead of a 32-bit version, or would my best bet in this
situation be to just buy the system builder disc?

 

[Mick Murphy]

32bit to 64bit and 64bit to 32bit has to be a clean install; not upgrade.

 

[Rick Rogers]

Hi,

There is no upgrade path from 32 to 64 bit, they are clean install only.

That disk you recieved may have been a release candidate (RC) and while it
may qualify an upgrade, I don't think it can be exchanged for a 64 bit disk.

Do you have any 64 bit applications? If not, then other than the "because
you can" bit, there is no benefit to using x64, the applications will just
be run in 32 bit mode and in addition you may have trouble finding proper
drivers for the hardware in use.

I should think the system builder kit is the way you'd want to go. A full
version disk will have everything you need now and down the road should
something go wrong. Keep in mind too that these generic OEM disks allow you
to upgrade the hardware on your system, but cannot be transferred to another
system. Also, as you are the system builder, you are responsible for your
own support (no freebie incidents with Microsoft).

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
My thoughts http://rick-mvp.blogspot.com

 

[Andre Da Costa[ActiveWin]]

Well, you do qualify for the Anytime Upgrade, the thing is that you have to
get a qualifying key for Windows Vista Ultimate, in addition to that you
have to order Alternate media separately since your disk is just a 32 bit
Vista installation DVD. The current disk you have only qualifies you for the
Anytime Upgrade to Vista Ultimate 32 bit, not 64 bit version.