Activation question yelloguy <brijesh[ at ]gmail.com> 10/29/2008 11:21:37 AM 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.

Re: Activation question "John Inzer" <oobie[ at ]doobie.xyz> 10/29/2008 11:52:10 AM yelloguy wrote: [Quoted Text] > 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

RE: Activation question Mick Murphy 10/29/2008 12:05:01 PM 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. -- Mad Mike "yelloguy" wrote: [Quoted Text] > 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. >

Re: Activation question "Mark H" <jmhonzell[ at ]nospam.comcast.net> 10/29/2008 12:42:07 PM 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" <brijesh[ at ]gmail.com> wrote in message news:2ad5b1ec-a53e-4c04-9e17-aa941884c29b[ at ]e17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... [Quoted Text] > 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.

Re: Activation question yelloguy <brijesh[ at ]gmail.com> 10/29/2008 1:42:57 PM On Oct 29, 8:42 am, "Mark H" <jmhonz...[ at ]nospam.comcast.net> wrote: [Quoted Text] > 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" <brij...[ at ]gmail.com> wrote in message > > news:2ad5b1ec-a53e-4c04-9e17-aa941884c29b[ at ]e17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > > > > > 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.- Hide quoted text - > > - 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.

Re: Activation question "Mark H" <jmhonzell[ at ]nospam.comcast.net> 10/29/2008 6:04:15 PM 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. "yelloguy" <brijesh[ at ]gmail.com> wrote in message news:b5d12ceb-172d-43e0-bd91-9ccc8a058a81[ at ]h60g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... On Oct 29, 8:42 am, "Mark H" <jmhonz...[ at ]nospam.comcast.net> wrote: [Quoted Text] > 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" <brij...[ at ]gmail.com> wrote in message > > news:2ad5b1ec-a53e-4c04-9e17-aa941884c29b[ at ]e17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... > > > > > 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.- Hide quoted text - > > - 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.

Re: Activation question "AJR" <ajrjdr[ at ]comcast.net> 10/29/2008 8:07:18 PM 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. "yelloguy" <brijesh[ at ]gmail.com> wrote in message news:2ad5b1ec-a53e-4c04-9e17-aa941884c29b[ at ]e17g2000hsg.googlegroups.com... [Quoted Text] > 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.