messiah

Pretty sure this has been asked before but where is the cheapest place to get a copy of Vista Ultimate (64bit).

Thanks in advance.

Borat_Drives_A_Scooby

My advice is to stick with what you have now and wait for windows 7 later next year, Vista is no great shakes anyway and their isn`t massive differences from XP other than a nicer interface with a bit of transparency.

bugeyeandy

Try Ebuyer - Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate -SP1- Licence and media - 1 PC - OEM - DVD - 32-bit - English - Ebuyer

It can be had for less than £100 though if you just want the upgrade from XP.

or you could try this

Let me google that for you

ChefDude

remember though that the OEM version is tied to Motherboard, once installed.

if you need to change your mobo, new vista license

Iain Young

There speaks someone with obviously no knowledge of Vista whatsoever

For a start the memory handling routines are far more efficient than XP (completely rewritten), indexing is vastly improved, better underlying architechture, better security etc...

messiah

I'm in the middle of building a new PC and going the 64bit route rather than 32 - I've got a Core 2 Quad on order so want to make the best of it.

ChefDude

If you're using new components, you'll have no problems with vista 64 and drivers, etc

I've built 2 quad core 9450 systems in the last 6 months and vista 64 has been faultless on both (drives are another matter )

Vista is quite different from xp under the hood and thankfully so. It's just a shame that people are riding MS for bringing out an OS that uses the power of new hardware.

I'm looking forward to Win 7 though

Borat_Drives_A_Scooby

And here speaks someone who thinks he has knowledge of Vista

UAC is a waste of time and its more of an annoyance than anything else, you don`t need it if you have a good enough firewall and most people do. Certain software will still not work with vista, if you bought a digi camera a few years ago then good luck in finding drivers for it especially if its a sony.

ChefDude

Borat, are you trolling?

UAC was thought, initially, to be a good idea for the masses. If you don't like it, turn it off, duh!

Most applications of worth work okay - some you might have to compatibility execute the setup.

As far as legacy kit goes, MS gave manufacturers plenty of warning about driver conversion/creation, so MS are not nearly as much to blame as you might think.

Iain Young

Well as I'm a programmer and write software for Vista (amongst others) for a living then I can safely say that I know I have a knowledge of Vista

That's not a problem with Vista. That's a problem with the hardware manufacturers not providing updated drivers (nothing to do with MS). To use an analogy, would you expect to still be able to use 4star petrol in your scooby?

Borat_Drives_A_Scooby

YouTube - Fonejacker - internet service providings - Fix your script

john_s

iTrader: (1)

Just use a card reader... plus it's likely to transfer the files faster than a few year old digital camera too.

c-o-l-e

Not true, the activation asks you to phone to complete activation, simply phone them up, give them the installation ID, confirm that it is the only PC it is installed on and that you received the copy of Windows with a PC from a shop (lie) and you'll be given a code to complete activation.

The service is automated unless you want to speak to someone or don't answer the questions correctly.

ChefDude

If that's true cole, then - i thought i had to replace my g/fs mobo at one point, so was dreading having to buy another OEM vista 64 ultimate.

Tenby

iTrader: (1)

Not so sure about Vista. Friend of mine had a hacked version soon after its relese and it is still running. If they can't stop that it makes me wonder?

Iain Young

Bet it's not downloading updates though...

Tenby

iTrader: (1)

Thats the funny thing - it is! He has had it for a while now

Iain Young

That's strange. You have to validate Vista with the "genuine validation tool" to download updates. If that worked then I would say it was a fluke...

mike1210

Many versions of Vista floating around the net which hack it for you so to speak. Once you specify a username on initial setup it "does it's thing" reboots and it's activated. I believe Paradox were one of the first to hack Vista doing comparisons of royalty OEM versions and versions bought from the shop. Some KMS activation servers have also been made publicly accessible for Enterprise and Business edition however im 99.999999% sure this will blacklist your copy once you run a validation check

Tenby

iTrader: (1)

It was Vista Ultimate. Passes validation. Might just be a fluke as you say

c-o-l-e

I've activated Vista repeatedly with the same key, the system was upgraded twice (Total system change) and also SP1 invoked a re-activation, BIOS updates also meant I had to re-activate a few times.

Most people who state you can't re-activate or use a key again have made the mistake of telling MS that they have used the key on a new system or multiple systems, so MS have told them to get a new license.

pimmo2000

iTrader: (6)

I have the same and its perfectly up todate .. using the BIOS hack ..

Microsoft 'wait-and-see' on Vista BIOS hack ? The Register

TonyBurns

iTrader: (3)

Cheapest place
Computer Hardware - All - Software - Scan.co.uk
Tony

EddScott

I don't like Vista and have Ultimate 64 on my PC. Its a retail copy and if your interested you can buy it off me. Only installed once so perfectly useable.

Gives me an excuse to go back to XP.

PM if interested.