Vista 64bit OEM

[rich[182]]

Building a new rig shortly, currently using XP Pro 32 bit, is this the Vista to buy ? (I'm not upgrading the OS it will be a new purchase)

http://www.overclockers.co.uk/showproduct.php?prodid=SW-037-MS&groupid=33&catid=20&subcat=

Anyone know the current re-activation terms, it sounds like you can re-install as many times as you want on the original hardware you first install on, and that changing HDD or motherboard results in re-activation

Is this just a new key or do you pay for a new licence all over again, ie £70 ish

 

[sn00p]

You have to buy another copy.

The OEM license is tied to the hardware it was "sold" with.

Edit: And unless you have a really good reason for installing 64 I wouldn't bother. I've found all sorts of gui issues with 32 bit applications running under it that don't exist on the 32 bit version of vista.

 

[FiDoDiDo]

I'm using the 64bit version on mine and it's working great, only problem I've had so far is getting CoD2 working on it, and there's probably a way to get that working as well.

 

[b3nje]

As days go buy i'm experiencing more and more problems with Vista...the longer my PC is on the more things that stop working!

 

[RSi Dave]

imo for future proofing get 64bit vista ultimate.

I built my comp back at the start of the year and bought 32bit vista ultimate as i read about loads of issues with programs and drivers etc...

However one thing i didnt realise is that 32bit vista doesnt support more than 4gb ram. Which being i bought a Mobo that can support future FSB speeds the plan was to upgrade Ram in the new year, however i will be limited to only 3.5gb max if i go for 4gb ram.

I have been thinking recently of buying 64bit when i do go to upgrade ram but i dont want to shell out another £100+ when i cant sell my 32bit on because as stated above the normal OEM law is that its tied to the hardware it was bought with. You could buy it with a mouse and then sell it with the mouse to be legal.

However in vista's case it goes one further, Microsoft have tied it to the Mobo on first use, they claim other upgrades are fine but a new mobo is a new computer. Some cases you may be able to get away with it blew up but not all of the case i have read about work.

Shame really. Next major OS wont be around til 2010ish so im thinking i will go 64bit then

 

[Daz]

You could buy it with a mouse and then sell it with the mouse to be legal.

You can't anymore.. they changed the OEM quite a bit.. have a look at the new license.. off the top of my head, it means completely assembled PC or close now.

 

[ihategherkins]

I got both 32 and 64 bit DVD's in my Utimate box does that sound right?

 

[V1NNY]

yes you get both with the retail version

 

[dk]

You could buy it with a mouse and then sell it with the mouse to be legal.

You can't anymore.. they changed the OEM quite a bit.. have a look at the new license.. off the top of my head, it means completely assembled PC or close now.

indeed, with oem you don't get the media even, just a key, each company is allowed to purchase or apply for 1 media.

same with office, manufacturers (like HP) have started to install office on the pc from day one and give you a 30 day trial, then if you want to keep it you pay for a key, if not you can uninstall. This is so they can supply the oem as it was installed by then which is what it stated in the T&C's

 

[dk]

and why would you want 64 bit?

theres no real benefit to the home user.

 

[Lee]

and why would you want 64 bit?

theres no real benefit to the home user.

Vista is seriously memory hungry though, even when doing nothing. It won't be long before eveyone is running over 3gb RAM. All our desktops come with at least 4gb these days, so a 64bit OS isn't as mad as it once sounded.

I've been running Vista Ultimate 64 for ages and not had any problems other than the odd printer driver I had to search around for.