Vista Home Premium 32 Bit disc

Hey
i bought this acer PC and i hate the recovery disc.
i have a cd key on the side of my case.
Can't i borow a Vista home premium 32bit disc and use the cd key on the side of my case because i H8 recovery disc's.
it doesn't give the options to format or which hdd to install system on

I was recently in your situation, and I did exactly what you wanted to do. I used the number on the bottom of my brand new laptop and it legally activated. So give it a try.

Hi,

As long as you use your product key. By the way, all versions of Vista are on the one dvd - your product key determines which is installed.

Double check the product key on your case is correct - download this free app.

SIW | System Information for Windows by Gabriel Topala

when you run it, click Licenses in the left pane - in a couple of seconds, your product key will be revealed.

While you have the installation dvd, make your own disc using vLite - this is very easy and should take about 10 mins.The general idea is in this tutorial

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/151606-vista-sp1-slipstream-installation-dvd.html

As you are not slipstreaming in the service pack, do Steps 1, (skip 2)3,4,5,6,7,8 ( only select "make bootable iso " in step 8) skip to 17 and continue to end. It can only be used with valid product key, of course.

If you are going to do a clean install it will wipe the hard disk - make sure you have an external copy of any data you want to keep. Also make sure you have drivers you need.

Vista includes lots of drivers, I only need to download and copy on to cd my graphics card and gigalan drivers. I connect to the net thru. firewire port so I need the gigalan driver - you probably have it on your motherboard cd - or go to their website and download newest version first.

SIW2

Hi SWAT,

You can also order a replacement Vista installation DVD from Microsoft for a small S&H fee that acts just like a retail DVD.

Windows Vista Alternate Media

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Hi Shawn,

Good post - looks like 32bit users can now get install media -suppose it's still just the $10 - shame it's on cds though.

Wonder if x86 is near as big as x64 on disc - that would be 3.69gb - quite a few cd's then.

32bit users could stiil copy the cd's onto a dvd using vLite of course.


SIW2

Hi SIW2,

Oh Yes, using vLite to make a slipstream DVD is a good alternative to have in a pinch. I would image that a 32 bit Vista is a little bit smaller than the 64 bit Vista.

I do not know about the 32 bit Vista DVD, but the 64 bit one I ordered from there came on a DVD. Hopefully the 32 bit will also be on DVD.

If I order a Vista Home Premium, can i get a 64Bit version or do i have to pay more?
I currently have 32bit so will switching to 64 cost?

Hi SWAT,

As long as you have your 32 bit Vista product key number, you can order either the 32 bit or 64 bit Vista DVD or both of them. I would image that they will charge you the $9.99 S&H fee for each DVD ordered though.

Shawn

Tnx brink for your help.
I have another question. but it may sound realy really stupid.
Is it possible for microsoft to send me a Vista Ultimate instead of Home Premium?
Also it says " Window's Vista Alternate Media"
does the media part mean it is on disc or what?

SWAT,

The "Alternate Media" just means available alternative Vista DVDs that you can order from Microsoft than you have. For example ordering the 64 bit Vista DVD version of your 32 bit edition of Vista.


The DVD can install all editions of Vista, but you cannot activate Ultimate with a Home Premium product key number. You would have to purchase a retail Vista Ultimate with it's own product key number to do so.

Hope this helps,
Shawn

Shawn perhaps I haven't got my head around this properly but is it possible to purchase these even if you have OEM install. I thought that anything to do with OEM had to be dealt with via the builder, Microsoft wouldn't have anything to do with it.

I have Home Premium SP1 32 bit but I do have the means to deal with DVDs so if I would be able to purchase this can buying the 64 bit DVD work for me ?

Yes, you should have no problems ordering a 64 bit DVD version for your Home Premium from Microsoft. It was the method I used to get the 64 bit DVD version of my other OEM Home Premium 32 bit copy.

Afterwards, you can do a clean install with the 64 bit DVD using the product key number from your 32 bit Home Premium.

Thank you for the reply I will go see what I can do. :D

Your welcome Joan. Hope it goes smoothly for you.

No luck so far just tried it and after giving my product key and the code in the picture it just came back telling me that there were errors, my product key was still there but a new set of code and after trying 3 times it told me I'd gone over my tries and suggested getting in touch with customer support.

Haven't got time to do anything now as I'm ready to shut down for the night but not sure what to do at this stage.

When you get the chance to try again, check to make sure that you have cookies enabled for the website. This way it can keep track of you order as you change webpages.

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/60641-cookies.html

Same problem, I have no problems with cookies being allowed.
The box that comes at the top of the page where you enter your product key and the image code comes on telling me that errors are found and underneath that it says.
No Offer Found, or words to that effect I can't remember the exact words but it just shows the boxes for entering the product key which is still filled in and the box to enter the image code, which has changed to a new image.

This after entering my country in the drop down box on the first page I get to after clicking the link in your post, it then goes through the process of the address showing as validating my machine and it puts me on the page congratulating me on upgrading my machine put the information in to get the disc's and that's it can't get them.

I take it I'm not going to be able to order them for my machine

Joan, you might call the support number or email them for your location and see what they have to say about the errors you are receiving when trying to order the 64 bit DVD.

Windows Vista Alternate Media Ordering Support


You might also see if your OEM offers the 64 bit DVD at a small fee as another option.

Hi Joan,

Sorry you are having trouble - you could trying phoning the activation line, they may be able to help, or point you in the right direction.

If you ring the Toll Free number, it's a free call, so what have you got to lose?

http://www.vistax64.com/tutorials/84488-activate-vista-phone.html


SIW2

Brink said:

Joan, you might call the support number or email them for your location and see what they have to say about the errors you are receiving when trying to order the 64 bit DVD.

Windows Vista Alternate Media Ordering Support


You might also see if your OEM offers the 64 bit DVD at a small fee as another option.

Click to expand...

Yes I thought about doing that but as it's the weekend I'll have a go at this on Monday, I have the necessary info to get in touch either via email or telephone support.

Thanks I'll keep you all informed of the outcome when I get things sorted out