64 Bit upgrade and Sound issue.

Hi there guys,

I received my studio 17 (p8400, 4 GB, ati 3650) 2 weeks ago and I love it. However theres a few things I wan't to change such as 32bit to 64bit. I thought it would be very simple but i realised there is a lot more to it (or not).
Forgive me if some questions have been answered before and if they seem obvious.

1.) I have read the 32 bit vista is useable on the 64 bit of the same type of vista correct? This would mean I could just use my 64 bit vista DVD to install and use my current Dell CD Vista key with it?

Or would I be best off asking a copy from dell as it may come with all the dell apps with it not that I would need them.

2.) Would installing using my own disk void warranty rather than using dells requested DVD?

3.) Also if I upgrade to 64 bit would this effect the recovery partition. Eg. Would I just be able to format the C: partition, Install 64bit vista on that and leave the D: Recovery partiton alone. Th reason I ask is I read removing this may lead to void of warranty which I wouldnt as im only 2 weeks into.


Sound Issue

I find that the sound can be distorted on just medium level. I have tried a lot of solutions such as installing new drivers, getting rid of IDT drivers and using the default windows ones. I have a wifi 5100 intel card so the other solution provided does not apply to me. However this is not a big issue to me as I can use headphones but would be nice to have them working normally. I also think it could be just a faulty speaker as one side seems more distorted.


Any help would be welcomed if any more info is required just ask.

Thanks.

 

Sure, if you have a vista 64Bit DVD then you can do what you said with your studio 17's key.

Also it doesn't void your warranty to format the hard drive or removed the recovery partition.

So before you install vista 64 you need to go to my computer>Local Disk C:>then there will be a file named "Dell" or "Drivers" and you will need to save that for after you install vista 64.
BTW you can always go to dell.com/support to get drivers if you dont save them.

 

I have a Studio 1535 that came with Home Premium 32-bit, and I opted to switch to 64-bit afterwards, when I upgraded to 4GB of RAM. It's pretty straightforward.

I called Dell customer service and gave them my service tag, and explained to them that I wanted a 64-bit Vista restore disk. It took a few minutes of back-and-forth with the rep, because she was confused by the fact that my system shipped with 32-bit, but eventually she agreed to send me the disk, but I would have to find drivers myself. No problem for me. ^_^

Once I got the disk, installation was pretty self-explanatory. Pop the disk in, restart and boot from disk, reformat (make sure you back up any files you want to keep before this, on an external hard drive or something), make the Windows partition and let it do the work. For the record, I never actually had to activate Windows with the product key on my sticker...once I installed Windows, it was already activated. Not sure why that happened, but I'm not complaining.

Once I got Windows installed, I started it up and logged in for the first time...then remembered I had no drivers, so I was stuck on 800x600 with no internet connection or anything.

It wasn't really a problem, though. I just downloaded the 64-bit drivers from Dell's support page and carried them to my computer via USB flash drive. I installed them, a process that took maybe half an hour total, rebooted, and it's been working fine ever since.

 

For anything 64 bit related, go to Start 64.com - if it's 64 bit related, it'll be there.

 

Guys i Know it is against the rules but on some popular torrent sites they have original Vista 64 DVD's just for upgrade from 32!
It is free provided upgrade from Dell - so I guess it doesn't matter from torrent or from Dell.
But if you have problem with Dell and must wait hours on the phone, go for torrent.
I have close contact with my Dell Support guy, I don't want to outstay/wear out...but...

 

Thanks for the replies guys very helpful.

One more question regarding 64 bit drivers, would I be able to burn them onto a disk and install them from there or would I have problems reading the dvd disk on a new install. DVD drives dont have drivers do they?

All I see is firmware which I think I have updated already. It would save me time as I only have a small USB flash stick 128 mb :O, that I bought many eons ago. I guess I could also download it onto my main pc and use the transfer cable I have to move the drivers across.

 

Yes, your dvd drive will NOT need any drivers

 

Your DVD drive should be ready to go from the start. And 128MB will carry at least some of the drivers across, even if you have to make multiple trips.

Although I recommend getting at least a 1 or 2GB flash drive, they're dirt cheap right now. I'm enjoying the heck out of my 16GB Cruzer.

 

Thanks for confirming that erwallie,

@ Mastershroom, yea they are going nice and cheap maybe I should get a bigger one. One of those things I keep putting off and then I get a situation like this where it would be helpful.

Anyways I will put all the information you guys have given me into use and install the 64 bit. On the sound front I'm not too bothered about it, maybe the 64bit vista might fix it .

I'l post back here to tell ya how it went or if I come across any problems. Again thanks for all the help, very much appreciated.

 

I think you're pretty much out of luck with the sound thing. It's not really a driver issue or wifi interference, it's just that the speakers are crap. 64-bit sound drivers might help, but don't get your hopes up. You'd be much better off with a good pair of headphones or 2.1 speakers.

 

Hey guys an update to this.

I have installed the 64 bit system and installed the drivers flawlesly. However I am having trouble activating it. It gives me the error 0xC004E003, that the home key I used is invalid for activation.

I had to use a tool to find my product key as there was no label on sticker anywhere. The tool worked fine on my main pc and correctly identified the key. I used it on the dell and presumed it found the right key too.

I used the genuine tool and it confirmed it was a genuine key. I am going from home 32 bit to home 64 bit so thought it would be fine.

I left the D/recovery partition incase if I needed it but this shouldnt effect the activation should it, so it wont think that the key is in use.

My next plan is to try activate via a live person as the computer via telephone says I need the activation wizard installation numbers which I have a clue about and it doesn't really explain much. I was wondering does anyone have any solutions as I will have to wait untill monday to get to a liver person.

Thanks.