Vista 64 & Vista 32 Duel boot issue

[Sterry]

Hello,

I had an Vista 32 bit version installed and which was used fine.
3 days before I had upgrade my PC's memory to 4G, then I find Vista 32 Bit
version can not recognize all the memory.So I try to install an Vista 64 Bit
version for the test to check if the 64 bit system is ok for me.

The problem is, Vista 32 was installed on to the 3rd partition of the
harddisk,usually the drive letter will be E in Windows XP and previous
version windows, although it in Vista it display as C drive. I tried to
install the 64 Bit Vista in to the 4th partiton. After all the drivers and
applications install completed,that seems so far so good. Then I find my
previous F drive now names C. The Drive C in Vista 32 Bit names E now. When
I try to boot into Vista 32, the error message : winload.exe could not find.

I used bcdedit try to redirect the device and osdevice to E drive, Vista 32
still could not start normally, the system will hang up in the blue desktop
background,seems can not load user profile or sth like that.

I have check the E drive, all the files of Vista 32 are still there.Anyone
have any good idea about fix the Vista 32 bit boot and keep the Vista 64 bit
also?

Thanks in advance.

 

[John Barnes]

First, you can't legally have both installed at the same time. Forget drive
letters. Which partition is the system partition (disk management)
Download and install EasyBCD or VistaBootPro and play around with logical
drive letters for the non working Vista until you get it the way the BCD
sees it.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

John, there is nothing stopping anyone running both 32 bit and 64 bit
editions on the same PC "providing" they have a legal product code number
for each version. (This generally means that you have to physically buy one
32 bit copy of Vista and one 64 bit copy of Vista) It is only when one
installs both 32 bit and 64 bit using the "same" product code umber that the
legal issue enters into the equation.

I understand perfectly what you mean by your comment "you can't legally have
both installed at the same time." because you are thinking of people using
the same product code for both versions, therefore I just thought it worth
while clarifying the situation a little more.

--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[John Barnes]

You are correct and I do need to specify the need for 2 keys for 2 installs
to be clear. Thanks.

 

[walt rutka]

John, there is nothing stopping anyone running both 32 bit and 64 bit
editions on the same PC "providing" they have a legal product code number
for each version. (This generally means that you have to physically buy one
32 bit copy of Vista and one 64 bit copy of Vista) It is only when one
installs both 32 bit and 64 bit using the "same" product code umber that the
legal issue enters into the equation.

I understand perfectly what you mean by your comment "you can't legally have
both installed at the same time." because you are thinking of people using
the same product code for both versions, therefore I just thought it worth
while clarifying the situation a little more.

--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..


i am sorry but i to came to the same conclusion,

why is microsoft putting a 32 bit version and a 64 bit version
with vista ultimate baught at a store
did it say anywhere in the documentation that you have to choose
between one or the other before using a product key?
i didn't read that anywhere and if i did its pretty sly.
i am having problems or found 64 or 32 bit software i like
so i am going to install the other CD that came with my purchase
or i got something for nothing
the peace of mind microsoft gives with shipping 2 disks to the final
purchaser i totally BS.

 

[John Barnes]

From the EULA

2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS. Before you use the software under a
license, you must assign that license to one device (physical hardware
system). That device is the “licensed device.†A hardware partition or
blade is considered to be a separate device.
a. Licensed Device. You may install one copy of the software on the
licensed device.

 

[John Barnett MVP]

If the Vista package you purchased contained both 32 bit and 64 bit then the
'ingle' product key can be used to install either but not both. The choice
is ultimately yours whether you install the 32 bit from the pack or the 64
bit. You are not getting anything free. You are only allowed to install one
version on your PC as per the EULA (as stated by John Barnes in his reply).
If you want to run both 32 bit 'and' 64 bit then you need an extra product
key (for either the 32 bit or 64 bit version) and as volume licensing starts
at 5 copies (which you wouldn't be buying) this means that you would have to
physically buy another copy (32 bit or 64 bit) of Vista in order to
accomplish this task.

Microsoft, sadly, have made this issue extremely confusing!

--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

 

[James Kosin]

John, there is nothing stopping anyone running both 32 bit and 64 bit
editions on the same PC "providing" they have a legal product code
number for each version. (This generally means that you have to
physically buy one 32 bit copy of Vista and one 64 bit copy of Vista) It
is only when one installs both 32 bit and 64 bit using the "same"
product code umber that the legal issue enters into the equation.

I understand perfectly what you mean by your comment "you can't legally
have both installed at the same time." because you are thinking of
people using the same product code for both versions, therefore I just
thought it worth while clarifying the situation a little more.

I can take things a bit further, in that the 32-bit version should have
a different key than the 64-bit version anyway. They are physically two
different disk sets.

James

 

[John Barnes]

Additional single license only products are now available see
Note they are available thru Amazon.
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/products/windowsvista/buyorupgrade/addlicense/default.mspx

Windows Vista additional license pricing**
Product Estimated Retail Price (U.S. dollars)

Windows Vista Home Basic Upgrade
$89.00

Windows Vista Home Basic Full
$179.00

Windows Vista Home Premium Full
$215.00

Windows Vista Home Premium Upgrade
$143.00

Windows Vista Business Full
$269.00

Windows Vista Business Upgrade
$179.00

Windows Vista Ultimate Full
$359.00

Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade
$233.00

 

[Timothy Daniels]

I am appreciative of what Microsoft has done to develope
personal computing, but I also feel that with the decreasing
prices of hardware, the *increasing* prices of Windows OSes
will only fuel resentment, and it will energize the switch to Linux.

*TimDaniels*

 

[John Barnes]

Unfortunately, one of the increasing costs of the Windows OS's is the
'fines' which the EU keep demanding, which are backdoor ways of raising
revenue when 'taxpayers' aren't eager to contribute more.
As to Linux, Wal-Mart among others has had test marketing programs offering
cheaper computers with Linux installed and almost all companies have
abandoned those attempts.
I'm glad Linux is available for those who want it and it does provide at
least a tiny amount of competition for Microsoft.

 

[Timothy Daniels]

Politics aside, I grant that Windows is a lot easier for newbies
to install and to maintain. It will be interesting to see how well
Dell does with its foray into offerring Ubuntu on a subset of its
personal machines. I chose an XPS M1330 laptop just recently
because Dell offers that same machine with Ubuntu Linux installed,
and I intend to set up a dual-boot between Vista and Linux on it
using the Ubuntu image (drivers and all) that Dell has as a free
download for that very hardware. So far, I'm impressed with
Dell's renewed emphasis on tech support, and I'm REALLY
impressed with Dell's Linux tech support.

*TimDaniels*

 

[John Barnes]

Linux has had a reasonable penetration in the server side, but much less so,
so far in the consumer side. With more applications available for Linux it
will be interesting to see where it goes. Glad to hear Dell is getting
their act together again. It seemed to have problems while Michael was less
involved.