Downgrade from Vista Ultimate 64 bit to 32 bit

[Matt S]

Hi all,

I recently built myself a new PC. I carefully reasearched what kit i
was going to buy but when it came to the OS i just assumed 64 bit cpu,
get a 64 bit operating system. I guess I was wrong.

Apart from not needing a 64 bit OS (no 64 bit apps and only 4GB RAM at
the mo) I am having loads of problems, most of which are driver
related.

I can't get a wireless network to function reliably (about 5% chance
it will work!). My scaner has no drivers and i am experiencing other
randoms isdsues as well.

So due to all this i would like to go from 64 bit to 32 bit.

However as i built a new pc i bought an OEM copy of Vista ultimate.
Will my 64 bit OEM product key work with an OEM 32 bit copy? If so
does anyone know where i can get a copy of the software from? I have
checked torrents etc but they all seem to be crecked editions etc
which i do want want to either support or download.

If my key does work, i take it that it IS legal to download a copy and
use my LEGAL key to activate it.

Thanks in advance for any reponse

 

[Charlie Russel - MVP]

Unfortunately, OEM versions of Windows Vista are explicitly 64-bit or
32-bit. There are no rights to the alternate one. (This is not true of full
retail copies of Vista Ultimate, which include both DVDs in the package, and
a single serial number.)

You'll have to buy a 32-bit version of Vista, I'm afraid. And you should
re-format your system drive during the install.

--
Charlie.
http://msmvps.com/blogs/xperts64

"Matt S" <mattstrain@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1183731385.554387.38210@g13g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Hi all,
>
> I recently built myself a new PC. I carefully reasearched what kit i
> was going to buy but when it came to the OS i just assumed 64 bit cpu,
> get a 64 bit operating system. I guess I was wrong.
>
> Apart from not needing a 64 bit OS (no 64 bit apps and only 4GB RAM at
> the mo) I am having loads of problems, most of which are driver
> related.
>
> I can't get a wireless network to function reliably (about 5% chance
> it will work!). My scaner has no drivers and i am experiencing other
> randoms isdsues as well.
>
> So due to all this i would like to go from 64 bit to 32 bit.
>
> However as i built a new pc i bought an OEM copy of Vista ultimate.
> Will my 64 bit OEM product key work with an OEM 32 bit copy? If so
> does anyone know where i can get a copy of the software from? I have
> checked torrents etc but they all seem to be crecked editions etc
> which i do want want to either support or download.
>
> If my key does work, i take it that it IS legal to download a copy and
> use my LEGAL key to activate it.
>
> Thanks in advance for any reponse
>

 

[John Barnes]

One of the drawbacks of OEM is that you must determine what version you are
going to run before you buy it. A few have said that they had the key work
with the other version. You might have to weight the cost of a new OEM copy
or the cost of replacing your equipment and software if that is feasible.
64-bit will be the future so you may want to spend a few extra $ to keep
your current OS.

"Matt S" <mattstrain@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1183731385.554387.38210@g13g2000hsf.googlegroups.com...
> Hi all,
>
> I recently built myself a new PC. I carefully reasearched what kit i
> was going to buy but when it came to the OS i just assumed 64 bit cpu,
> get a 64 bit operating system. I guess I was wrong.
>
> Apart from not needing a 64 bit OS (no 64 bit apps and only 4GB RAM at
> the mo) I am having loads of problems, most of which are driver
> related.
>
> I can't get a wireless network to function reliably (about 5% chance
> it will work!). My scaner has no drivers and i am experiencing other
> randoms isdsues as well.
>
> So due to all this i would like to go from 64 bit to 32 bit.
>
> However as i built a new pc i bought an OEM copy of Vista ultimate.
> Will my 64 bit OEM product key work with an OEM 32 bit copy? If so
> does anyone know where i can get a copy of the software from? I have
> checked torrents etc but they all seem to be crecked editions etc
> which i do want want to either support or download.
>
> If my key does work, i take it that it IS legal to download a copy and
> use my LEGAL key to activate it.
>
> Thanks in advance for any reponse
>