Getting the 64 bit version

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vankaiser

New Member
I got vista business cheap through an educational discount with a college. It is the 32 bit version. I tried to order a 64 bit dvd on microsoft's web site, but I enter the product key, and the website says there is no offer. Is this because I got the software through a school? Is there any way to upgrade to 64 bit?

If not, will having 32 bit show a signifigant performance decrease in comparison to 64?


I know this is "vista forums," but I also got a copy of 32 bit xp pro. Is it possible to upgrade that to pro x64?
 

My Computer

System One

vankaiser said:
I got vista business cheap through an educational discount with a college. It is the 32 bit version. I tried to order a 64 bit dvd on microsoft's web site, but I enter the product key, and the website says there is no offer. Is this because I got the software through a school? Is there any way to upgrade to 64 bit?

If not, will having 32 bit show a signifigant performance decrease in comparison to 64?


I know this is "vista forums," but I also got a copy of 32 bit xp pro. Is it possible to upgrade that to pro x64?
Click to expand...

Chances are the Vista x86 you got is an OEM version, and that is likely why you do not qualify to purchase a replacement x64 DVD.

Performance wise, I suppose the differences between x86 and x64 versions of Windows depends heavily on what it is you're doing. From experience though, I've found that because of better memory management, many applications, even 32-Bit applications, do have a tendency to perform better on Vista x64. So I'll recommend without any doubts at all that Vista x64 should be your choice, provided of course that you can find Vista x64 drivers for all you hardware.

As for "upgrading" from Windows XP x86 to Vista x64, this cannot be done. You can't even go from XP x86 to XP x64. The only way to "upgrade" from a 32-Bit OS to a 64-Bit OS is to format the target hard disk and install the x64 OS.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Build
    CPU
    AMD Phenom 9600 Quad
    Motherboard
    ASUS MB-M3A32-MVP Deluxe/WiFi
    Memory
    2 x A-Data 2GB DDR2-800
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ATI Radeon HD 2400PRO
    Monitor(s) Displays
    SAHARA 21"
    Screen Resolution
    1600x1200
    Hard Drives
    2 x 80GB Seagate (I)
    2 x 120GB Seagate (I/S)
    2 x 200GB Seagate (I/S)
    2 x 250GB Seagate (I/S)
    PSU
    800W
    Case
    Thermaltake Tai-Chi
    Cooling
    Tai-Chi Water Cooler
    Keyboard
    Genius
    Mouse
    Logitech
    Internet Speed
    384kbps
    Other Info
    Currently dual booting between Vista x64 Ultimate Windows 7 BETA x64
Actually, chances are that the one you received from your University is a *MAK* key - IOW, your university (or the larger University that it belongs to) has ordered a Site License for Vista - it is the same for the University system that I am a part of - and they resell copies of Vista at a hugely discounted rate.

MAK keys can only be used with their Volume License DVDs - so you'll have to contact the University to get the 64bit version.

Good News - same key will work.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • Operating System
    Windows 10 Pro X64 Insider Preview (Skip Ahead) latest build
    Manufacturer/Model
    The Beast Model V (homebrew)
    CPU
    Intel Core i7 965 EE @ 3.6 GHz
    Motherboard
    eVGA X58 Classified 3 (141-GT-E770-A1)
    Memory
    3 * Mushkin 998981 Redline Enhanced triple channel DDR3 4 GB CL7 DDR3 1600 MHz (PC3-12800)
    Graphics Card(s)
    eVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0 (04G-P4-3979-KB)
    Sound Card
    Realtek HD Audio (onboard)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 * Lenovo LT2323pwA Widescreeen
    Screen Resolution
    2 * 1920 x 1080
    Hard Drives
    SanDisk Ultra SDSSDHII-960G-G25 960 GB SATA III SSD (System)
    Crucial MX100 CT256MX100SSD1 256GB SATA III SSD (User Tree)
    2 * Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1TB 7200 RPM SATA II Mech. HD
    Seagate ST1500DL001-9VT15L Barracuda 7200.12 1.5 TB S
    PSU
    Thermaltake Black Widow TX TR2 850W 80+ Bronze Semi-Mod ATX
    Case
    ThermalTake Level 10 GT (Black)
    Cooling
    Corsair H100 (CPU, dual 140 mm fans on radiator) + Air (2 *
    Keyboard
    Logitech G15 (gen 2)
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master (shared)
    Internet Speed
    AT&T Lightspeed Gigabit duplex
  • Operating System
    Sabayon Linux (current, weekly updates, 5.1.x kernel)
    Manufacturer/Model
    Lenovo ThinkPad E545
    CPU
    AMD A6-5350M APU
    Motherboard
    Lenovo
    Memory
    8 GB
    Graphics card(s)
    Radeon HD (Embedded)
    Sound Card
    Conextant 20671 SmartAudio HD
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Lenovo 15" Matte
    Screen Resolution
    1680 * 1050
    Hard Drives
    INTEL Cherryvill 520 Series SSDSC2CW180A 180 GB SSD
    PSU
    Lenovo
    Case
    Lenovo
    Cooling
    Lenovo
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master (shared) | Synaptics TouchPad
    Keyboard
    Lenovo
    Internet Speed
    AT&T LightSpeed Gigabit Duplex
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