cheapest way to get vista64 home or business?

i don't wanna pay the almost 300 dollar price tag. i wanna dual boot with xp home. if i can't find something reasonable, i'm probably going to buy another laptop with better specs and vista 64 included.

 

u dont have to buy the exact 64bit..i think for a small shipping price MS will ship the 64bit disc to you...

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvista/1033/ordermedia/default.mspx
i have 32 bit Home if you want....

 

If you own any of the 32bit versions you can get the corresponding 64bit version for about 10$ its a free disk but you have to pay s&h. (or just barrow a friends disk, you already bought rights to it with your 32bit version, you just need the media)

As for the cheapest way to get a legal copy I think you have to do what I did.

I got the educational discounted home premium upgrade disk for 70$ shipped.

Then paid the 10$ for the x64 disk. So I have both full versions of vista fully legal for 80$ and thats when it first came out!

You can do a full/clean install with just an upgrade disk totally legal too. I wont get into details since its here on the forums or on google just search for it.

 

Does this work the other way around? Meaning if you have x64 bit vista can you buy the x32 bit for $10?

Also if you have Vista Home Premium x32 then you can only go to Vista HP x64, or can you go to Business or the other lines?

 

if you have a retail key, then yes, you can order x64 disks. An oem key WILL NOT work. So downloading the x64 version and entering an oem key is Pirating.

 

If your at a major university, just take a cs class which you would probably have to do anyways, and you get them free with msdnaa.

 

Do 64-bit editions use the same license key?

I own a retail copy of Ultimate plus two retail copies of Home Premium. The two Home Premium editions were bought online from Microsoft's website (part of a launch promotion) so I only have the license keys, no media. Ultimate gave me both copies of the media though.

Right now all three are installed and in use, but 32-bit edition because that's what the hardware supported. However I'm sure to replace one or more of these PCs/laptops in the next few months, in which case I'd downgrade the PC/laptop back to whatever it came with (XP) and move the Vista copy to the new PC/laptop but preferably in 64-bit form.

No issues doing that right? I can use my same license key?

 

As long as there is a valid license for Vista (OEM key is a valid license) and only ONE version is being used at one time (and only on the machine with the license), then I disagree, it is not pirating to install x64 using OEM key.

The media does NOT constitute the license for use, the KEY is the license.

From the Vista EULA:

2. INSTALLATION AND USE RIGHTS. Before you use the software under a license, you must assign that license to one device (physical hardware system). That device is the “licensed device.” A hardware partition or blade is considered to be a separate device.

a. Licensed Device. You may install one copy of the software on the licensed device. You may use the software on up to two processors on that device at one time. Except as provided in the Storage and Network Use (Ultimate edition) sections below, you may not use the software on any other device.

b. Number of Users. Except as provided in the Device Connections (all editions), Remote Access Technologies (Home Basic and Home Premium editions) and Other Access Technologies (Ultimate edition) sections below, only one user may use the software at a time.

c. Alternative Versions. The software may include more than one version, such as 32-bit and 64-bit. You may use only one version at one time.

 

The RETAIL ultimate key can be used for both the x86 and x64 version of Vista. The promo I believe is also a retail key

This is wrong. An OEM key is ONLY for one version of Vista, x86 or x64. Not both like the Retail key.

http://forums.microsoft.com/TechNet/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2873182&SiteID=17

MVP Carey Frisch's post says it all.

 

"No" says it all? This is wrong and it is an inadequate explanation.
The key works for both x32 and x64. The EULA does not prohibit this use. It is fair use.
Make your own judgement at your own risk, I have either OEM or retail licenses for all software on my machines and adhere to license requirements, I interpret the EULA to allow the key for Vista Home Premium for use or either 32 bit or 64 bit versions.
If Microsoft intended differently, they failed to cleary state this in the EULA and the software is designed in a manner is which the key works for either 32 or 64 bit.

 

Do you have any friends who work for Microsoft?

They can purchase retail copies for friends and family at employee prices at the Microsoft Company Store. (Vista Ultimate for $45 I think). The box will have a company store sticker slapped on it, but all that means is the employee can't resell it for a profit.

 

cheapest way to get 64bit vista is to download it
http://forum.notebookreview.com/showthread.php?t=240320

 

Guys, I've deleted a few posts here that outlined ways of obtaining the OS illegally.

Torrents are UNSAFE and illegal, no matter what.

You cannot purchase an academic copy from someone else, because legally the academic copy CANNOT BE SOLD.

 

I guess a "No" is ambiguous huh? Even if it DOES work, ethically and legally you cannot use a OEM key to activate a x64 retail copy of Vista.

Edit: While each OEM has their own EULA, here is the general facts. http://arstechnica.com/news.ars/post/20070130-8730.html

While ethically, I don't agree with your argument, emotionally I feel your pain. I read somewhere the OEM is suppose to give you 64 bit disks of your version of Vista if you request them however. But I can't seem to verify that post searching through Microsoft's website. And reading through the OEM EULA, I do agree with the post.

 

https://club.live.com/get_prizes.aspx
cept its 32 :[

 

HP supplied me with OEM restore disk for x64 for a nominal fee of $16. I checked and some HP models offer restore disk for both x32 and x64 and some do not.

 

To my knowledge to help clear up the confusion any full retail vista purchase gives you a key that is good for both x86 and x64. It can be a full version or an upgrade disk like mine. They are both "full retail" To back this up inside of the case itself with the disk is a little flyer from microsoft saying "hey need x64? go to XXX website and enter your key for a free copy of the x64 disk just pay s&h"


Now OEM & System Builder are pretty specific in that you order only one version of Vista (you can get x64 only or x86 only) and while I do not own one of these I am 99% sure it does not come with the documentation from MS offering you the free disk for the other version. To back up the matter more is the fact that you cant order the x86 disk at all for free as far as I know. So I am really sure OEM & System builder are single machine, single version use only.

Retail is 2 or 3 machines at once (also believe they made this unlimited recently as long as its for personal use and you own all the machines), with unlimited re-install. OEM I think is supposed to be a max of 3 reinstalls (but they really dont enforce this)

 

So if I have a retail Vista Ultimate, I can use it on 3 of my computers at home?

 

no you can use it on one

Converting from 32bit to 64bit of the same version/key is not illegal aslong as only ONE is active. Its just arcitechtures thats different between the two which isnt even a big difference

 

This is not true. What IS true is that the Retail version allows unlimited TRANSFERS from one machine to another (install/uninstall).

http://www.microsoft.com/singapore/staylegal/faq/default.aspx#Transfer

Copy and pasted from above link.
Can I transfer software from one PC to another?


OEM software installed on a new PC cannot be transferred to another PC/notebook. If you bought the software (Full Packaged Product) at a retailer, you may transfer the software from one PC to another as long as you have uninstalled it from the previous PC. In the case you have a Volume License, the desktop operating system upgrade license is tied to the PC, as is the underlying license. The only way to transfer this from one entity to another is to transfer the hardware, along with the base operating system license and the Volume License upgrade license together.



edit:

This is not true for OEM keys, which has been the topic of much discussion on this thread. I should just retype everything all into one post.

 

do you even know the REAL difference between 32bit and 64bit? nothing ....other than the system files

If it was illegal, my WU and system would have locked up by now. I doubt MS would have missed this when they could have possibly made millions on restricting it

 

Torrents are not illegal no matter what!!!!!!!!!! Torrents are a completely valid and LEGAL way to share files.

If someone downloads a windows cd/dvd via a torrent then they use their perfectly legal key that they own to install it THIS IS NOT ILLEGAL!!! you have stolen nothing and it is fair use! There is nothing in the EULA that specifies that you may only use the Microsoft gold disk to install windows, or that the disk you use must be obtained from Microsoft! I am MCSA/MCSE/MCITP Certified. I work in the largest corporation in the world with (no surprise) the largest Active Directory network in the world. I deal with Microsoft Licensing everyday. I am right. You are wrong.

Bit torrent and other P2P is not illegal, every linux distro would be in serious trouble if it were as they often encourage the use of torrent for OS downloads. Some people choose to share and download things from bit torrent that they have not licensed properly and that is illegal.


I request you un-delete my post advising the OP to download a copy of vista x64. I think that this community would benefit greatly if in the future you use your mod title with more responsibility and research before irrationally deleting posts because they contain words like "bit torrent" that you personally find taboo.

Thank you

 

Actually its illegal, you need a distrbuting licence to give out any sort of copies

You probably think so just because you have a valid key, it justifys everything

 

I run both versions on my laptop, but regardless. Just because it works, doesn't mean it is legal. It is clearly against the EULA. I have made a post in the Windows Forum.

 

We are talking about money-hungry microsoft here. Do you actually think they would overlook something like this? They would have milked every cent out of this if they could

If it doesnt mean its legal, doesnt mean its illegal either.

 

He is not distributing it, he is obtaining it from someone who may or may not be licensed to distribute it. Not his problem. I will repeat it for the last time, if he has a LEGAL VISTA KEY he can LEGALY get it from anywhere. He could ask his friend to give him a copy of the CD.. doesnt matter.

As for OEM vista legally not going to a different cpu architecture... I assumed it was legal because it worked for my new xps m1530.. but depends on the EULA and I am not 100%

 

I wasnt talking about him distributing it.

I was talking about torrents dont have a distributing licence. Try find me a legal download link in there without some sort of crack or hack lol

Of course you can use your friends CD, since hes not exactly giving you a copy.....Now burning/copying that CD is illegal. why? cause you do not have a distributing licence.

dont you think MS would have freely/openly let you download it if it was legal?

 

I see what you are saying, I am not saying that you are wrong as your arguments are intelligent and well thought out and your are making me work harder than I have all day. My opposition comes to the fact that I am not aware of anything in the EULA that states you can only obtain it from a licensed distributing source. I am not saying its not there.. but I don't see it.

Assuming what you say is correct my point is unless the EULA states that vista DVDs are only legal if they come from MS (Which it doesn't, as we churn out many of them every day and give to other organizations. Also Dell makes you a copy which DOES NOT have a MS genuine seal on it.) then it is not the person that receives the DVD problem. It is the person who distributes without MS permission problem. That party faces legal action. Unknowingly obtaining it from someone not licensed to distribute cannot be illegal as they do not have to display or inform you that they have a license to distribute. Right?

One could even argue that as far as I know, every bit torrent peer is licensed to distribute thus it is their problem if they are not. I am not redistributing it (assuming I dont seed or ever upload it) therefore I am legal. Thus negating the argument that all copys of windows on bittorrent are illegal. (ok maybe that is a stretch)

None the less, if you used your own key I couldn't ever see anyone getting in trouble regardless of where the dvd came from. It just wouldnt hold up.

 

EULA does not regulate the ways you obtain software, only the way you use it. The acquisition part is regulated by different set of laws - those of intellectual property and you, as a full, grown-up member of society should be aware of.

 

Precisely why if you own a valid key then it is legal to use media from wherever to install it. Thank you for agreeing with me.