Hi, I need to know some taboo questions regarding how Vista Ultimate is licensed. Yeah taboo, becos when I googled there's no clear answers as if every business are trying to misleed people (not enough info!).

You see, Vista Ultimate (upgrade) include 2 DVDs of both 32 & 64 bit. Will it include 2 product keys or not (32bit & 64bit) or just a single product key for both use?

Can I be wishy-washy and switch back and forth between 32&64bit? Or can I legally install both on my PC? Or I'm only allowed to pick 1 as my destiny? Or it's a upgrade to 64bit for a price.

For Vista Ultimate (upgrade) - if my PC is dead, can I transfer it's license to a new PC?

Really need those answers so I can sleep in peace :)

peace

The License Key you purchased will only work with the version you have purchased a license for................

As to wether or not you can transfer I am still trying to get my head around that one, but it may depend on the license of what type of qualifying product you have upgraded from...

Better hire an intellectual property lawyer to translate for you the terms, conditions, and all legalities laid down in Vista EULA HERE.

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i_XpUser

>>>The License Key you purchased will only work with the version you have purchased a license for................>>>

I know, but from your above said it can also mean applying to 2 licenses. Go to a store, grab 1, open up the "retail box" and inside you'll find 2 dvd's. So does this box contain 1 or 2 license bcos it has 2 dvds? That's my questions. Sorry

Better hire an intellectual property lawyer to translate for you the terms, conditions, and all legalities laid down in Vista EULA HERE.

Yeah, that's what I was about to say LOL!

If you throw these questions to M$, it's likely they'll throw you back with this EULA.

So XpUser, ever thought about changing your user nick to VistaUser?

"The License Key you purchased will only work with the version you have purchased a license for................"

That was my initial thought prior to Vista's official launch too. However, I have since confirmed that to not be the case, especially within the same flavor of x86 & x64 Vista. AFAICT, buying either version with a flavor of the OS entitles you to both 32-bit & 64-bit x86 edition. In other words the x86 Product Key for a particular version also works for x64 activation of the same version.

Furthermore, the fact that every other version of Windows Vista, with the excepton of Vista Starter which is not offered for sale in the US as well as other technologically advanced countries is shipped to users with both the 32-bit & 64-bit versions on that same DVD should negate the need to have two discs.

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

"Furthermore, the fact that every other version of Windows Vista, with the excepton of Vista Starter which is not offered for sale in the US as well as other technologically advanced countries is shipped to users with both the 32-bit & 64-bit versions on that same DVD should negate the need to have two discs."

Hmm, my copy of Vista Ultimate has "This disc contains only 32-bit software" written on the front :(

So XpUser, ever thought about changing your user nick to VistaUser?

Nope. I prefer to be known more of XP man that happens to be testing Vista territories. Vista itself is nowhere near the terms to qualify as OS as far as Google is concerned :-)

i_XpUser

"Hmm, my copy of Vista Ultimate has "This disc contains only 32-bit software" written on the front :("

You must have bought the OEM version as opposed to the standard retail version ;-)

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

Ah. That'll teach me to do my bloody research ;-)

Not OVERLY bothered as I have XP x64 lying around somewhere, also OEM. I guess if I ever need to run a 64 bit app in the coming years then I can possibly run it on there.

I decided to go with 32-bit Vista though after following the advice from here and Paul Thurrott's Windows site. Which by all accounts says 64-bit is woeful. Here's hoping I've made the right decision!

"Not OVERLY bothered as I have XP x64 lying around somewhere, also OEM. I guess if I ever need to run a 64 bit app in the coming years then I can possibly run it on there."

No worries - you didn't make the wrong decision, your 32-bit Vista Product Key will still work with a 64-bit installation of the same Vista version.

However, you might be faced with the irrelevant IMPOV (but possibly moral to someone else) decision - do you pay for a second & most likely useless Product Key despite being aware that you already own one legally obtained 32-bit/64-bit license just so you can have access to a 64-bit install media, or do you just have someone with the same 64-bit DVD lend or burn you a copy sans Product Key?

I'm sure you are not unaware of what I'd do ;-)

How To Ask Questions The Smart Way

Or just wait for vista offline activator. hehe.

AMD Athlon 64 X2 4600+ OC 2.7ghz
2GB Dual Channel DDR 3200
Nvidia 7900GT
SATA II 2x 300gig 7200rpm 16mb cache RAID-0+1
Gigabyte Nforce 4 SLI

I have both the 32 and 64bit version of Vista Ultimate installed on my machine. Used the same key for both, activated both, etc. with no problems.

thank you for sharing this information.

Today's subliminal thought is: 'Calm down ... it's only ones and zeros.'

I also want to thank you all for the info, sounds very useful.

So finally could someone give a simple answer to this, When you open your Vista Ultimate retail package and it has two dvds, one 32, and one 64, does it also have two product keys, or just one that can be applied to either? Thanks.

One key that can be used for either 32 or 64 bit versions, or both on the same computer.