Product keys and versions

Hi, I have a question about Vista product keys. I recently bought a retail version of Vista business, intending to use it for a new computer I plan to get in the near future, but didn't realize you had to get a 64 bit version (the computer will be 64 bit), and that the retail version only comes with the 32 bit version, and you have to contact Microsoft to get the 64 bit one. Since Microsoft no longer sells Vista, I'm out of luck. So I was thinking about getting an OEM version of Vista Business 64 bit, and wondered if I could activate it with my product key from my retail version, thereby allowing me to save the OEM key if I need it later on. So in essence I would have two copies of Vista to activate, if this would work. When I searched on the internet, the question is usually asked the other way around (can an OEM key be used on a retail copy of windows - apparently the answer is no), so hence my question.

Don't know where you found that information as I have a retail version with an OEM key on my laptop

Vista Product Keys will work with either OEM or Retail disks, and either 32-bit or 64-bit disks.

Just find someone with the appropriate disk, or download the fileset for SP1 and create the disks - see here....

Download the Vista for your chosen language from the links on these pages... (the Ultimate disk will install all common editions)
http://www.heidoc.net/joomla/technology-science/microsoft
The links are for downloads from the Digital River server run for MS.