OK, so what CAN I do with an Upgrade Key?

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I had a spot of trouble getting an actual legal version of Vista, and in the
end the only version I could lay hands on in a timely manner was the Home
Premium Upgrade - which wasn't exactly what I wanted, since I really like the
option of making true clean installs. I managed to find a workaround by
accident (you can upgrade from a non-keyed Vista just fine, just not from a
clean drive...), but I'm starting to plan ahead now and I need some questions
answered...

The first one is, if I install Vista without using a key, can I use an
upgrade key to activate it? That'd at least get me around having to install
Windows twice.

The second is, can I install a 64-bit version of Vista using my upgrade key,
already used once for the 32-bit version, or would I need to buy yet another
expensive copy of Vista for that? I noticed there was an offer for 64-bit
setup media in my box, but I was considering going the much faster route and
downloading a copy while I wait for the new disc...

The third is, if I can install the 64-bit version with the key I have, and
decide I don't like it, can I go back to the 32-bit version, or will I have
burnt my bridges, so to speak?

SP
 
Sebastian Palm said:
I had a spot of trouble getting an actual legal version of Vista, and in
the
end the only version I could lay hands on in a timely manner was the Home
Premium Upgrade -
Click to expand...


what the hell does THAT mean?

- the cops were chasing you after you knocked over that Piggly Wiggly and
you got sidetracked?

- you got caught shoplifting a copy?

one can only imagine
 
The first one is, if I install Vista without using a key, can I use an
upgrade key to activate it? That'd at least get me around having to
install
Windows twice.
Click to expand...

It has been said by those who know (MVP's) that the retail DVD's of Vista
all contain the same info and that it is the key you have that unlocks one
of the versions on the DVD. I'm assuming you have a retail version DVD, not
a download or an OEM DVD - is that correct?
The second is, can I install a 64-bit version of Vista using my upgrade
key,
already used once for the 32-bit version, or would I need to buy yet
another
expensive copy of Vista for that? I noticed there was an offer for 64-bit
setup media in my box, but I was considering going the much faster route
and
downloading a copy while I wait for the new disc...
Click to expand...

Yes - but you will need to activate the 64 bit version via phone. I've done
exactly that - gone from the 64 bit version to the 32 bit version and made
the call. Simply explain what you did and then go thru the activation
process - about 5 mins.

The third is, if I can install the 64-bit version with the key I have, and
decide I don't like it, can I go back to the 32-bit version, or will I
have
burnt my bridges, so to speak?
Click to expand...

The retail version can be uninstalled/installed as many times as you like
and it doesn't matter if its 32 or 64 bit version - you can go back and
forth all you want. You're the one doing the work.

Now if you have an OEM copy or a download version - I have no knowledge of
those and someone else would have to help.

Bob S.
 
johnm said:
what the hell does THAT mean?

- the cops were chasing you after you knocked over that Piggly Wiggly and
you got sidetracked?

- you got caught shoplifting a copy?

one can only imagine
Click to expand...

Nah. I went to the local (well, as local as it gets considering I'm on the
outskirts of the urban jungle about ten miles from the nearest one) computer
shop on Launch Day (a tuesday, wasn't it?), they didn't have any. Same story
on wednesday and thursday. When I got there friday, half an hour before
closing, they'd just taken delivery, and found that they'd only gotten
upgrades - no OEMs, no Full Retail boxes. And the word was that I'd have to
wait another two weeks for the version I had preordered. That's when I called
it quits and bought what they had on hand, rather than what I wanted...

SP
 
Let me clarify. When I said "retail" that meant the upgrade DVD also. You
can do a clean install as you know already.

Bob S.
 
BobS said:
It has been said by those who know (MVP's) that the retail DVD's of Vista
all contain the same info and that it is the key you have that unlocks one
of the versions on the DVD. I'm assuming you have a retail version DVD, not
a download or an OEM DVD - is that correct?
Click to expand...

Yes, I've got a retail version - had a damnably hard time breaking into the
case, though, since I couldn't see the red markigns on the sealing tape
against the green background (partially color blind - usually not a problem,
but sometimes it's a curse).

The question I was asking though was whether I could just activate my
keyless install of vista using the upgrade key - the answer is no, I'm stuck
installing windows twice every time I want a clean install for the forseaable
future, as I found out elsewhere.
Yes - but you will need to activate the 64 bit version via phone. I've done
exactly that - gone from the 64 bit version to the 32 bit version and made
the call. Simply explain what you did and then go thru the activation
process - about 5 mins.
Click to expand...

OK, that's not too much trouble. Windows itself will tell me the phone
number for my locale, right? I won't have to go digging online for it? (never
activated by phone before...)
The retail version can be uninstalled/installed as many times as you like
and it doesn't matter if its 32 or 64 bit version - you can go back and
forth all you want. You're the one doing the work.
Click to expand...

Nice. Good to know that a vista licence is good for any equivalent version,
at least. Now I just have to make sure all my software will run correctly...
Now if you have an OEM copy or a download version - I have no knowledge of
those and someone else would have to help.
Click to expand...

Only one way to find out (hoists the Jolly Roger).

SP
 
Answers inline.
I had a spot of trouble getting an actual legal version of Vista, and in
the
end the only version I could lay hands on in a timely manner was the Home
Premium Upgrade - which wasn't exactly what I wanted, since I really like
the
option of making true clean installs. I managed to find a workaround by
accident (you can upgrade from a non-keyed Vista just fine, just not from
a
clean drive...), but I'm starting to plan ahead now and I need some
questions
answered...

The first one is, if I install Vista without using a key, can I use an
upgrade key to activate it? That'd at least get me around having to
install
Windows twice.
Click to expand...

To activate with an upgrade product key the installation must be started
from the desktop of a qualifying OS. That can be either from the copy of XP
which you have to own to use an upgrade version, or from a previously
installed copy of that same Vista version where no product key was entered
(part of the double install). So without XP being installed you have to do
two installations of Vista if you want to activate with an upgrade product
key.
The second is, can I install a 64-bit version of Vista using my upgrade
key,
already used once for the 32-bit version, or would I need to buy yet
another
expensive copy of Vista for that? I noticed there was an offer for 64-bit
setup media in my box, but I was considering going the much faster route
and
downloading a copy while I wait for the new disc...
Click to expand...

The same product key will activate either the x86 or the x64 VHP version.
Only one can be installed at a time. So if you install x86 first, then
remove it and install x64, with the same key.
The third is, if I can install the 64-bit version with the key I have, and
decide I don't like it, can I go back to the 32-bit version, or will I
have
burnt my bridges, so to speak?
Click to expand...

Yes you can go back and forth as long as only one of the versions is
installed with that key at any one time.
 
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