Ordering Vista Ultimate 64bit disk from Microsoft - Alternate Media

By +Mystic
in Microsoft (Windows)

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Grand Master

+Mystic MVC

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I am pretty sure I posted about this before, but my bookmark to the topic has gone missing so I'm starting fresh.

I am building my own gaming computer for college in a couple weeks here. The school I am going to, offers software licenses to the students and faculty at a great price. I was able to get Office Enterprise 2007 Win32 for $15 along with Vista Ultimate 32bit for $15 as well.

The thing is, I am most likely going to want to install a 64bit version of Vista Ultimate as I will be running 4gigs of ram. If I only received that one Vista Ultimate disk with 32bit on it, that means I'm screwed if I want to install 64bit right?

So then I learned about ordering the disk from Microsoft here, I think that is the right area, not sure though.

It wanted me to put my cd key in that I haven't even used yet to go any farther, so I thought I would ask here first. Am I going about the process what I need to do through Microsoft? How much would ordering the disk cost?

Finally, if the label reads Office Enterprise 2007 Win32 for my Office, will I have to do anything different (installation wise) with it since I'm going 64bit? Thanks!

Grand Master

devHead

Posted
Posted

Well the Office Installer (at least on the disk I have) has the 64-bit elements that are optimized to run in the 64-bit OS environment.

If not, it doesn't matter; you can run 32-bit programs in Vista x64 with no problem at all. I've found no slowdown with any 32-bit application in Vista x64.

When you install 32-bit apps, Windows by default will install them in C:\Program Files(x86) rather than C:\Program Files

Grand Master

+Mystic MVC

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  • MVC
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Well the Office Installer (at least on the disk I have) has the 64-bit elements that are optimized to run in the 64-bit OS environment.

If not, it doesn't matter; you can run 32-bit programs in Vista x64 with no problem at all. I've found no slowdown with any 32-bit application in Vista x64.

When you install 32-bit apps, Windows by default will install them in C:\Program Files(x86) rather than C:\Program Files

I think I had heard the part about Office, but thanks for once again confirming it. That is very interesting about the Program Files thing, I had no clue it would do that.

Now I just need to find an answer to the other half of my original post.

Grand Master

theyarecomingforyou

Posted
Posted

Vista keys work for both the 32bit and 64bit versions - I bought the 32bit version and my key was fine for the 64bit version I downloaded with SP1 streamlined. Discs can be downloaded off the web (not through official channels) or ordered from Microsoft.

Grand Master

+Mystic MVC

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  • MVC
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So I could just download Vista Ultimate 64bit and my key would work as well? I really wouldn't feel good about it, so let's keep on the track of getting it from Microsoft. Was I in the right part of the site, and how much would it cost?

Grand Master

zhangm Supervisor

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So I could just download Vista Ultimate 64bit and my key would work as well? I really wouldn't feel good about it, so let's keep on the track of getting it from Microsoft. Was I in the right part of the site, and how much would it cost?

You don't know what you're getting when you just download an ISO from the internet. Digitalriver used to distribute Vista images, but they no longer do.

Grand Master

+Mystic MVC

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  • MVC
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Sorry to bump an old topic but I finally went to order it through their site today....and I am screwed. I don't know if it is just because I bought it through the college I'm going to, but it says there are no offers available to me.

What the heck?

If I can find a friend who has the Vista Ultimate x64 bit dvd, would I be able to use his and use my serial even if MS rejected it for the offer?

Grand Master

xendrome

Posted
Posted
The thing is, I am most likely going to want to install a 64bit version of Vista Ultimate as I will be running 4gigs of ram. If I only received that one Vista Ultimate disk with 32bit on it, that means I'm screwed if I want to install 64bit right?

Doesn't the Ultimate Edition come with both 32 bit and 64bit DVDs? I am pretty sure it does.

Yea I just checked.. this is what I found

"Windows Vista Basic, Home Premium and Business ship with 32-bit DVD only, while the Ultimate comes with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions." if thats a retail copy, and not OEM

Grand Master

+Mystic MVC

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  • Author
  • MVC
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Doesn't the Ultimate Edition come with both 32 bit and 64bit DVDs? I am pretty sure it does.

Yea I just checked.. this is what I found

"Windows Vista Basic, Home Premium and Business ship with 32-bit DVD only, while the Ultimate comes with both 32-bit and 64-bit versions." if thats a retail copy, and not OEM

Yes if you buy them through a retailer. As I said above, I Vista Ultimate 32bit from the college I am going to. All I received was the disk in a sleeve with the product key on the back.

Grand Master

xendrome

Posted
Posted
Yes if you buy them through a retailer. As I said above, I Vista Ultimate 32bit from the college I am going to. All I received was the disk in a sleeve with the product key on the back.

I must be blind then, I don't see anywhere that you said you actually purchased it.., or that you have the sleeve with the product key and the disc.. all i saw was that you were building a system and were probably going to go with Vista from the college....

Grand Master

+Mystic MVC

Posted
  • Author
  • MVC
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I must be blind then, I don't see anywhere that you said you actually purchased it.., or that you have the sleeve with the product key and the disc.. all i saw was that you were building a system and were probably going to go with Vista from the college....

"I was able to get Office Enterprise 2007 Win32 for $15 along with Vista Ultimate 32bit for $15 as well."

I didn't specify the sleeve part, but I did say that I had it. My mistake.

Veteran

Snakehn

Posted
Posted

Do you guys know if that Alternate DVD they are shipping now includes SP1?

Edit:

Nevermind just found out, it does includes SP1, but i notice that they are shipping 32bits Multiple CDs and 64bits DVD, but i need 32bits DVD and they are not listing that one :(

Grand Master

xendrome

Posted
Posted
I called Microsoft today and they gave me the answer I assumed was coming. I can't purchase the alternate media through them since I got Vista through the college I am attending.

Honestly then I would go for a torrent of the media. If you have a valid product key, the media has nothing to do with the license... So you aren't violating any laws or copyrights.

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