Vista Tutorial - Vista Home Premium Retail - 64bit pending - Serial Key question

We bought Windows Vista Home Premium *retail* for my machine today, and I've
already ordered my 64 bit version from Microsoft, I'm guessing the new disc
will be tied to this Serial Key, but can I use it for my 32 bit version in
the meantime?

I want to try and get this new sata drive running and feel my way around any
hardware issues with vista before the 64 bit gets here, apparently it can
take up to a month to arrive. Will there be problems using this Key with the
32bit now and then reusing it when the 64 bit arrives or will my 64 bit be
void if I do?

"miramis82" <miramis82@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6D3B1774-DF36-4FB9-901F-39FCABFEBCF9@microsoft.com...
> We bought Windows Vista Home Premium *retail* for my machine today, and
> I've
> already ordered my 64 bit version from Microsoft, I'm guessing the new
> disc
> will be tied to this Serial Key, but can I use it for my 32 bit version in
> the meantime?
>
> I want to try and get this new sata drive running and feel my way around
> any
> hardware issues with vista before the 64 bit gets here, apparently it can
> take up to a month to arrive. Will there be problems using this Key with
> the
> 32bit now and then reusing it when the 64 bit arrives or will my 64 bit be
> void if I do?


By serial key I presume you mean the product key needed for activation
No problem using the key with the 32 bit until the 64 arrives.
The 64 bit install has to be a "clean" installation.
You will need 64 bit drivers for all of your hardware, so it may be a good
idea to see if they are available before you upgrade.
I'm about to go back to 32 bit, my system is noticeably more sluggish under
64 bit and there isn't any real advantage to running 64.

Tony

Hi,

Yes, you can use it now, and then later with the 64-bit version when it
arrives.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"miramis82" <miramis82@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6D3B1774-DF36-4FB9-901F-39FCABFEBCF9@microsoft.com...
> We bought Windows Vista Home Premium *retail* for my machine today, and
> I've
> already ordered my 64 bit version from Microsoft, I'm guessing the new
> disc
> will be tied to this Serial Key, but can I use it for my 32 bit version in
> the meantime?
>
> I want to try and get this new sata drive running and feel my way around
> any
> hardware issues with vista before the 64 bit gets here, apparently it can
> take up to a month to arrive. Will there be problems using this Key with
> the
> 32bit now and then reusing it when the 64 bit arrives or will my 64 bit be
> void if I do?

You don't need to input the Serial Key during the installation.
Leave it blank and select the product you purchased for installation.
You then have a full working Vista for 30 days.

"miramis82" <miramis82@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:6D3B1774-DF36-4FB9-901F-39FCABFEBCF9@microsoft.com...
> We bought Windows Vista Home Premium *retail* for my machine today, and
> I've
> already ordered my 64 bit version from Microsoft, I'm guessing the new
> disc
> will be tied to this Serial Key, but can I use it for my 32 bit version in
> the meantime?
>
> I want to try and get this new sata drive running and feel my way around
> any
> hardware issues with vista before the 64 bit gets here, apparently it can
> take up to a month to arrive. Will there be problems using this Key with
> the
> 32bit now and then reusing it when the 64 bit arrives or will my 64 bit be
> void if I do?

I'm kind of glad about that because it's all installed and I'm using right
now *grin* Just got to get certain things turned off and set up, blah blah
blah!

"Rick Rogers" wrote:

> Hi,
>
> Yes, you can use it now, and then later with the 64-bit version when it
> arrives.
>
> --
> Best of Luck,
>
> Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
> http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
> Windows help - www.rickrogers.org
>
> "miramis82" <miramis82@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
> news:6D3B1774-DF36-4FB9-901F-39FCABFEBCF9@microsoft.com...
> > We bought Windows Vista Home Premium *retail* for my machine today, and
> > I've
> > already ordered my 64 bit version from Microsoft, I'm guessing the new
> > disc
> > will be tied to this Serial Key, but can I use it for my 32 bit version in
> > the meantime?
> >
> > I want to try and get this new sata drive running and feel my way around
> > any
> > hardware issues with vista before the 64 bit gets here, apparently it can
> > take up to a month to arrive. Will there be problems using this Key with
> > the
> > 32bit now and then reusing it when the 64 bit arrives or will my 64 bit be
> > void if I do?
>
>

"HairyMcLeary" wrote:

> By serial key I presume you mean the product key needed for activation
> No problem using the key with the 32 bit until the 64 arrives.
> The 64 bit install has to be a "clean" installation.
> You will need 64 bit drivers for all of your hardware, so it may be a good
> idea to see if they are available before you upgrade.
> I'm about to go back to 32 bit, my system is noticeably more sluggish under
> 64 bit and there isn't any real advantage to running 64.
>
> Tony
>
>

Yes I meant the Product Key

I'll just format the SATA when the 64bit arrives, it's going to be secondary
to my XP installation until all the hardware/software drivers and such settle
down for games.

Now for the fun of setting up my first SATA drive ever in a (hopefully) dual
boot situation with the existing IDE (XP) drive. What fun..