Need 64-bit media

[Bob Cronin]

Two years ago I bought a full ultimate license and then another 2 licenses
for home premium under the old family pack program. I later upgraded both of
them to ultimate under the anytime upgrade program. Later I applied SP1 to
all 3 systems. Now I want to wipe one system and install 64-bit, but I don't
have any media that has the 64-bit version of ultimate with SP1. I tried
ordering new media at www.windowsvista.com/1033/ordermedia and put in my
ultimate product key that I got with the anytime upgrade, but it only offers
me the 32-bit DVD. How can I get the 64-bit ultimate DVD with SP1? Thanks.

 

[Mark H]

Go back to the ordermedia site and put in the Home Premium PID. One disk can
be obtained for each full version PID at a cost of $10 each.

 

[Bob Cronin]

But will I be able to install Ultimate from that DVD?

Bob

 

[Mark H]

Two things:
First, how old is your Anytime Upgrade?
The original versions used an executable file to self-install the upgrade
while running the current installation.
The newer version installs from the disk they send you, but it is unknown to
me if the PID is automatically entered, or you have to manually enter it at
some point.
Based on your original post, you already have the Ultimate PID which
implies you probably have the newer version of Anytime Upgrade.
When you get to the point of installing x64 Ultimate upgrade below, you
will be running x64 version of Home Premium. Insert the installation DVD and
when prompted, select install now. When asked for the PID, insert the PID
you for Ultimate. An upgrade installation will proceed.

All versions of Vista are on the same DVD for the same "bitness." The PID
determines what gets installed. To move to x64 Ultimate you will have to do
the following:
Perform a clean install of Home Premium with the appropriate PID.
Activate the installation.
Perform the Anytime Upgrade to Ultimate.
You use the same disk to perform both installations.

The Ultimate version you have is an Anytime Upgrade and expects Home Premium
to be installed first.
It won't work any other way.
The PID you have for Home Premium and Ultimate will work on either x86 or
x64 versions.

 

[Bob Cronin]

Since I originally had one full Ultimate license, what if I ordered
replacement media for that and then (after wiping the PC that has Ultimate
derived from the Home Premium+Anytime Upgrade), used that DVD to install
Ultimate (using the Ultimate PID that I got with the Anytime Upgrade)? Would
that work? It just seems silly to have to re-install Home Premium and then
re-apply the Anytime Upgrade. If I have an Ultimate PID (regardless of how it
was derived), why can't I just install Ultimate from the get-go specifying
that PID? It's the PID that proves I have the license, isn't it? I don't mean
to be argumentative, I'm just trying to understand exactly what I need to do
before I wipe the PC (and at the same time, minimize the amount of work, I'm
lazy ;-).

Thanks very much for your help.

Bob

 

[Mark H]

You missed the key element: the PID determines what is being installed.
The PID for an Anytime Upgrade expects to find the version you are upgrading
from already installed and activated.
It will not work as a direct installation. (I've tried.)

What you seem to be missing is that it is an UPGRADE license. And, MS
designed the Anytime Upgrade to only work as an upgrade, unlike the retail
upgrade version.

Going to x64 requires a clean install. No way around this.
Anytime Upgrade requires the "from" version installed and activated.
Two installs required to get to Ultimate.

The good Once you are done, you can make a full backup which can be restored at any
future date in less than 20 minutes and will already be activated.

 

[Bob Cronin]

Thank you, I think I have it straight now. Here's my plan:

1. I used my original 64-bit Ultimate DVD today along with VLite to create a
new 64-bit DVD with SP1 integrated (since I could not find a way to get MS to
sell me one via the Media Replacement program, which I find odd, but oh well).

2. I plan to use that DVD along with my original Home Premium PID to install
the 64-bit version of Home Premium.

3. Then I will use the Anytime Upgrade DVD (which I purchased just after SP1
came out, so it also has SP1 already integrated) and the PID that came with
it to upgrade to 64-bit Ultimate.

Does that sound about right?

Bob

 

[Mark H]

Yep.
Just remeber, you must activate the Home Premium version (after step 2) for
the Ultimate PID to work as an Anytime Upgrade (step 3).


Regarding the media order...
As stated way back there at the beginning:
If you use one of your two Home Premium PIDs for the order form, you could
get the x64 DVD (with SP1) for $10.
(7-10 days for delivery.)

 

[Bob Cronin]

Re the media order, yes I know, and I did do that too just to have an
"official" copy, but I'd still like to understand why MS won't sell me
replacement media based on the Ultimate PID. Don't people with RTM Ultimate
deserve a cheap copy of Ultimate SP1? Sheesh ...

Bob

 

[DevilsPGD]

In message <[email protected]> Bob

Re the media order, yes I know, and I did do that too just to have an
"official" copy, but I'd still like to understand why MS won't sell me
replacement media based on the Ultimate PID. Don't people with RTM Ultimate
deserve a cheap copy of Ultimate SP1? Sheesh ...

Microsoft's goal with the x64 media offering is to offer x64 to
customers who don't already have it, the system was designed to assume
that RTM Ultimate users already have the appropriate media (since it was
included in the box)

The goal of this program is not, and never was, to provide a cheap
integrated service pack solution.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/326246 covers ordering replacement media

The "Media replacement for end-users of system builders' computers"
section might be helpful.