Windows Vista OEM vs. Retail

As long as the 32-bit version you have is retail you're fine. MS will ship you a 64-bit version for only the cost of shipping, if I'm not mistaken. However, if your 32-bit version is OEM, you're out of luck. As OEM versions require you to contact your "system builder" for a 64-bit disc, I.E. yourself. I think you already know you can't supply yourself with one ; P

It's a student version, so I'm not sure if it qualifies as retail or OEM. It should be retail, since it did not come with a system. So do I call Microsoft Tech Support or what?

I'd think the number would be on the actual box itself, but calling their tech support couldn't hurt. They should be able to transfer you to the right department. Worst case scenario they give you the appropriate phone number and you hang up and call back.

just download it. its not illegal if you have a license.

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Originally Posted by Jazz_Data

just download it. its not illegal if you have a license.

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I wouldn't even know where to look. I'm strictly a goody goody when it comes to piracy anymore.

Just an FYI, the BenQ V2400W arrived today, but two of the menu buttons don't work. :( Now I have to RMA it. But for the half hour I played FEAR at 1920x1200 (before I realized I couldn't change picture settings) with all settings maxed out (physics and graphics), I was in heaven.

Edit: I bought it from Buy.com, so hopefully their returns process will make me want to shop there again. It came with no dead pixels so I will be pissed if the replacement one has even one that is dead.

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Originally Posted by stargate125645

Just an FYI, the BenQ V2400W arrived today, but two of the menu buttons don't work. :( Now I have to RMA it. But for the half hour I played FEAR at 1920x1200 (before I realized I couldn't change picture settings) with all settings maxed out (physics and graphics), I was in heaven.

Edit: I bought it from Buy.com, so hopefully their returns process will make me want to shop there again. It came with no dead pixels so I will be pissed if the replacement one has even one that is dead.

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That makes me think of my Samsung display. I bought it a little over a year ago, and totally lucked out. It seemed to be a perfect item, no defects or imperfections. Then a few months ago half of the screen went slightly dimmer than the other and I called in for repair. They came out and replaced the whole inner assembly. After I turned it on and tested it out, I had a wonderful new dead pixel to call my friend. I was quite sad : P

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Originally Posted by H2omg

That makes me think of my Samsung display. I bought it a little over a year ago, and totally lucked out. It seemed to be a perfect item, no defects or imperfections. Then a few months ago half of the screen went slightly dimmer than the other and I called in for repair. They came out and replaced the whole inner assembly. After I turned it on and tested it out, I had a wonderful new dead pixel to call my friend. I was quite sad : P

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I vow to raise hell if I am awarded with a dead pixel for spending $400 with them.

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Originally Posted by stargate125645

It's a student version, so I'm not sure if it qualifies as retail or OEM. It should be retail, since it did not come with a system. So do I call Microsoft Tech Support or what?

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Counts as retail almost. I got the student version too with just a 32 bit DVD. I already had a vista 64 bit DVD image, just without SP1 so I had to go through the whole windows update process. Used my key, worked great.

Wait... so if I install my Vista Ultimate OEM and register with my current hardwares, will I be able to install more RAMS later on? What if I want to change CPU? Is that against the OEM rules?

oem has the same rules as retail, u wont have a problem, and if u have to call say "hardware failure", im not usre if u still have to since xp but u get reactivated fast with that if u have to call, i havnt had to for vista though

I have reinstalled my Vista home premium 64bit, over 20 times in my computer due to hardware upgrades and atimes uninstalling it so that i can use XP to run some benches. It will auto reactivate online, if there is no hardware changed(adding extra rams or a new hard drive, woun´t affect it) but if new hardwares like a new cpu been added, you will only need to repair the os(vista) and the new drivers for the new cpu will be added it. The problem comes up when a the boot sector is freshly formatted and the vista reinstalled with maybe a cpu, motherboard and extra hd added, then one has to call ms to activate it. Which is equally easy to do.