Vista - x64 Upgrade Path (MS lied...)

I currently have Vista Business 32-bit, and decided I need more than 2GB ram, so I started investigating options. Current Vista license is from my partner pack, which does not qualify for the MS media exchange for the 64 bit version...

So I called the Microsoft Licensing hotline (10 June 2008) and spoke with "John", who was (surprisingly) very helpful. I explained my situation, and he told me that since I'm also a full-time student in college I should go and purchase a student copy of Vista and then do the "alternate media" exchange to get the 64-bit version.

Awesome! Get another 2GB of PC6400 from newegg (around $80) and order Vista Ultimate upgrade edition (we won't even bother discussing 64-bit "upgrade" fiasco for now) and wait.

Student license and 32-bit disc arrived (hooray! -- let's use that other 1.5GB wasting away!)... I visit the website given to me by "John" at microsoft and plug in the product key on the CD sleeve and it says "No offer available".

OMGWTFBBQ?! I call up the friendly folks at the MS Licensing Hotline and speak with "Chris" (female), who explains that all I need to do is speak with the order fulfillment desk to get the 64-bit version. So I get transferred to "Jason" at the order fulfillment desk, who isn't quite as nice or helpful as the people at the Licensing Hotline. He tells me that student copies do not qualify for the upgrade with a "gee doesn't that suck to be you have a nice life" tone. When I express my displeasure at spending hundreds of dollars at Microsoft's direction only to now be told that my non-refundable purchase was pointless, he tells me to call the "corporate switchboard and file a complaint." I am pretty sure I heard him laughing as we got off the phone.

As it just so happens, I actually have a copy of x64 ultimate install media, but unfortunately it does not seem at all interested in my x86/32bit product key.

What am I to do? I've spent lots money at the direction of microsoft, only to find out that they mislead me with promises unfulfilled. Anyone have suggestions on what to do from here? I'm going to send this little story to the MS Customer Advocate email address, but I'm not holding my breath...

Also, why should Microsoft care if students run x86 or x64? It seems very disingenuous for them to limit the up-and-coming to the 32-bit version. What a load of crap...

Any thoughts/ideas/suggestions/wisdom will be greatly appreciated.

/blaxthos

So you have an upgrade key and media?

Clean Install From Upgrade Vista

I have:

• Vista Business 32-bit install media (full install)
• Vista Business 32-bit product key (partner pack license)
• Vista Ultimate 32-bit install media (upgrade install)
• Vista Ultimate 32-bit product key (student license)
• Vista Ultimate 64-bit install media (full install)

I need:

• Vista Ultimate 64-bit

The problem isn't so much the "upgrade" install fiasco (I figured out the work-around a while ago)... the problem is that the partner pack full-install and student upgrade product keys (32-bit) won't work with the 64-bit version (after I bought the RAM and student license at the direction of MS, with the promise that they would allow a swap to 64-bit version). Thanks in advance!

/blaxthos