Installing both Vista Ultimate 32bit and 64bit on the same machine

I am planning to build a new PC and have the following questions:

I know that the Vista Ultimate retail version comes with both 32bit and
64bit DVDs. I would like to take advantage of the 64bit version, yet I know
at this moment, many hardware have 64bit driver issues and some softwares do
not work with 64bit windows. So what I have in mind is, installing both 32bit
and 64 bit versions on the same PC, and the problem I have in mind is:

(1) Does the license allow me to do this? - I am planning to install the two
versions on two separate partitions of my harddisk, and switch between
whenever necessary (For example, if a certain software won't run on the
64bit, I will go back to install it on the 32bit one). Of course, since they
are installed on the same machine, the two versions won't be running at the
same time.

(2) What about, more or less the same as above, but installing the two
versions on two separate harddisks on the same computer? I have heard that
windows identifies whether the OS is being transferred into another computer
by checking whether there are changes in the motherboard and the harddisk. So
will switching between the 32bit version and the 64 bit version creates an
"illusion" that I am using the same license on two different computers?

The license that comes with Vista allows you to install one version or the
other, not both. If you want to install both versions you would need a
second license to do so.

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"Ivan" <Ivan@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:B40E0A30-664C-4CF5-93A7-14A17CA23E0C@microsoft.com...
>I am planning to build a new PC and have the following questions:
>
> I know that the Vista Ultimate retail version comes with both 32bit and
> 64bit DVDs. I would like to take advantage of the 64bit version, yet I
> know
> at this moment, many hardware have 64bit driver issues and some softwares
> do
> not work with 64bit windows. So what I have in mind is, installing both
> 32bit
> and 64 bit versions on the same PC, and the problem I have in mind is:
>
> (1) Does the license allow me to do this? - I am planning to install the
> two
> versions on two separate partitions of my harddisk, and switch between
> whenever necessary (For example, if a certain software won't run on the
> 64bit, I will go back to install it on the 32bit one). Of course, since
> they
> are installed on the same machine, the two versions won't be running at
> the
> same time.
>
> (2) What about, more or less the same as above, but installing the two
> versions on two separate harddisks on the same computer? I have heard that
> windows identifies whether the OS is being transferred into another
> computer
> by checking whether there are changes in the motherboard and the harddisk.
> So
> will switching between the 32bit version and the 64 bit version creates an
> "illusion" that I am using the same license on two different computers?

Ivan wrote:

> I am planning to build a new PC and have the following questions:
>
> I know that the Vista Ultimate retail version comes with both 32bit
> and 64bit DVDs. I would like to take advantage of the 64bit version,
> yet I know at this moment, many hardware have 64bit driver issues and
> some softwares do not work with 64bit windows. So what I have in mind
> is, installing both 32bit and 64 bit versions on the same PC, and the
> problem I have in mind is:
>
> (1) Does the license allow me to do this? - I am planning to install
> the two versions on two separate partitions of my harddisk, and
> switch between whenever necessary (For example, if a certain software
> won't run on the 64bit, I will go back to install it on the 32bit
> one). Of course, since they are installed on the same machine, the
> two versions won't be running at the same time.
>
> (2) What about, more or less the same as above, but installing the two
> versions on two separate harddisks on the same computer? I have heard
> that windows identifies whether the OS is being transferred into
> another computer by checking whether there are changes in the
> motherboard and the harddisk. So will switching between the 32bit
> version and the 64 bit version creates an "illusion" that I am using
> the same license on two different computers?


The answer to both questions is no. Your license will permit only a single
installation. It's one or the other--not both.

--
Ken Blake - Microsoft MVP Windows: Shell/User
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