Quote: Originally Posted by
Mick Murphy 
It doesn't apply for you, as you have a pre-installed OEM vista.
OEM licences, which yours is, are much cheaper than Retail versions.
So, you can not just swap, or get a free 64bit copy.
If it was Retail Vista, you would get both versions when buying.
In that scenario, you can run one or the other, but NOT both at the same time.
Thanks Mick. MS's alternate OS policy makes better sense to me now. MS is selling their retail store boxed x32 OS edition to the user, which entitles the user to the alternate x64 OS edition for the price of shipping. Thier commitment to the user as a service for buying directly through their retailer, at a premium price, of course. My agreement stops at the OEM's door. Different set of software support policies there, sad to say, but that can be expected I guess. Ya gets what ya payz for.
Not too terrible a loss. Although I'm only being dealt 3006MB out of 4GB installed RAM, unless I go x64. I'll just continue using my existing x32 software and drivers and seek an OEM plain brown wrapper full x64 install down the road when (or if ever) the situation warrants.