boxst

Hello

I have the original of Vista 64 bit Ultimate and am a bit fed up with all the incompatibility. I would like to install the 32 bit version. If I download a, erm, 'dodgy' copy of the 32 bit DVD will my 64 bit key work?

Thanks.

Steve

wrx-kris

i dont think it will.

djuk

Yes it will. All the images for Vista are the same - from Vista Basic to Vista Ultimate the DVD is the same.

It's your product key which determines which one is installed.

Edited to add, my copy of ultimate has 32 bit and 64 bit DVDs but only one product key.

spectrum48k

how bad is the incompatibility Steve ?

ScoobyJawa

My mate works for MS, so I asked him about which to install - he said the 32 bit, theres just no support at the mo for 64 bit, nightmare for drivers etc....

Iain Young

A strange thing to say for a Microsoft employee. I'm running 64bit and have had no problems with drivers. Also Microsoft has a policy in place that they will only certify drivers if they are released for both 32 and 64bit versions, so it shouldn't be a major issue any more...

spectrum48k

What would you say has been the major headache with Vista 64 ? I ask, as I'll no doubt be upgrading later in the year, and my first choice would've been the 64bit version.

boxst

Hello

It is not about drivers, just programs. A lot of the programs I like to run (Yahoo messenger for example) just don't like 64 Bit Vista.

Anyway, I have downloaded the 32 bit version and it installed fine with the 64 Bit key. Thank you for your help.

Steve

Iain Young

The only driver problem I had with 64bit was that there weren't any drivers available for my free Dell printer when I upgraded. They have since been released though, so all hardware is working ok.

The only piece of software that I've found that doesn't work so far is Adobe Encore, but everything else I've tried so far (Photoshop CS2, Premiere Pro 2, Lightwave 9, Office 2003 / 2007, Visual Studio 2005 and of course loads of games) has either just worked, or there has been a Vista patch for it.

Fart Man

May I rant? Well I will anyway

I'm one step worse I have XP64 and moduslink are bunch of ***** as it should have been upgraded to vista.

3 issues thus far, no sony-ericsson drivers, no Canon i695 driver and the Epson c1100 driver is a bit wonky.

Other than remembering to use 32bit explorer for java based websites (you tube etc) As macromedia haven't pulled the finger out of their ***** yet Its been a fairly robust OS and I have not suffered much else in the ways of compatability problems; nothing a quick update downloaded off the web wouldn't fix.

I'm kind of disillusioned with how slow and **** about face the industry has been with taking up 64bit. I mean, whats the point of a 64bit machine if you can only utilize half its word length capeabilty (ok it doesn't quite work like thta, I know - but to all intents, its a waste of computer ).

When 16bit came, it was embraced, we moved on. When 32bit came out, it was embraced, we moved on. When 64bit comes out, everyone moans, the industry sits on their hands doing nothing, seemingly waiting for 128bit to come out instead. Barmy.

spectrum48k

its an increase / replacement of hard disk technology I'd like to see - things have hardly moved on in a decade!! Can't wait for solid state tech and the like to come down in cost.

Fart Man

Mmm, solid state, I'm awaiting sandisk to launch theirs to the public. So I can buy one and get some peace...as my Western Digital, as fast as it is, keeps making continual fluttering noises during inactivity and its driving me mad. I have to click on something to shut the thing up, grrr.