Hmmm.... One big problem we're running into is that we get OEM machines and reload them with retail disks. We thn try to activate them with the OEM activation key from the sticker on the machine. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I'll have to try the phone activation, thanks.
64bit or 32bit from COA sticker?
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Hmmm.... One big problem we're running into is that we get OEM machines and reload them with retail disks. We thn try to activate them with the OEM activation key from the sticker on the machine. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. I'll have to try the phone activation, thanks.
PCX
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Yeah, that is going to be a big waste of time. Get some OEM disks for your reinstalls and that should fix your problem. Also, in the rare case that you having activation problems, activate by phone as Jimbo has already suggested.
andcorptech
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Doesnt matter as far as MS are concerned. I have had to reinstall a few clients with 32bit after the bought machines with 64 installed and their apps wont run. I called MS the first time I had to do this and as far as they are concerned as long as they key is only used on that PC they dont care if its 32 or 64.
rudger
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My rule of thumb is I always install Vista x86 unless I know it originally came with Vista x64. with windows 7 I check how much memory is installed if it is 2gb or less I recommend a memory upgrade (if the machine is capable), if the customer accepts I put on x64 if the customer does not want the memory upgrade I install x86.
I have had the same problem as Vicenarian only with a Packard bell PC 4GB ram with 32bit Vista but a bit of digging online I found it was a re-branded Acer and I found the drivers on the acer website which avoided another reload
I have had the same problem as Vicenarian only with a Packard bell PC 4GB ram with 32bit Vista but a bit of digging online I found it was a re-branded Acer and I found the drivers on the acer website which avoided another reload
JustInspired
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+1 for this method.
You are right about Packard Bell; Acer bought them out not long ago and a lot of the hardware is now the same.
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d0m0
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I have a similar experience wit M$
In my experience with Vista it is NOT both, that being you are limited to one or the other but the COA does not tell you which it is. I have pulled my hair out countless times in this situation. And although I cannot say this is the case with all licenses, I have run into this and noted several times that the CoA was limited to one specific architecture. Perhaps they changed this in the latter stages of vista, but ALL of the vista COAs I have dealt with are limited to one architecture, but it doesn't tell you which. (I operate out of canada, not sure if this matters)
With windows 7 you can install either x86 or x64 operating system with any given COA. Perhaps not the case universally, but I have never seen a win 7 license limited to one architecture. I bought a Windows 7 x64 ultimate OEM and I can activate using x64 or x86. Same goes for every system I have worked on from our customers. Using integrated recovery solutions often times it allows you to pick which arcitecture you want to recover to. (Acer erecovery etc.)
On another note Vista CoAs on toshiba laptops will not allow you to install using OEM media sometimes. I have see this several times. With Windows 7 though this is not the case.
I cannot prove or provide sources for this info, this is just based upon my experiences. I do not think it is true that Vista COAs allow installation of either architecture however.
With windows 7 you can install either x86 or x64 operating system with any given COA. Perhaps not the case universally, but I have never seen a win 7 license limited to one architecture. I bought a Windows 7 x64 ultimate OEM and I can activate using x64 or x86. Same goes for every system I have worked on from our customers. Using integrated recovery solutions often times it allows you to pick which arcitecture you want to recover to. (Acer erecovery etc.)
On another note Vista CoAs on toshiba laptops will not allow you to install using OEM media sometimes. I have see this several times. With Windows 7 though this is not the case.
I cannot prove or provide sources for this info, this is just based upon my experiences. I do not think it is true that Vista COAs allow installation of either architecture however.
PCX
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Sorry, but you must be doing something wrong. We do tons of hard drive replacements and reinstalls and on 99% of ALL the computers running both Vista and 7, we upgrade to 64bit. A great majority of computers that come with Vista comes with the 32bit architecture, and as long as the CPU can handle it, it gets a 64bit upgrade.
Also, I have never had an issue with Toshibas either, and their hard drives get replaced more often than any other brand.
Unless you are using a retail disk instead of OEM, you should not be having this many issues. As already mentioned before, if you are having issues, then activate it over the phone.
Xander
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Another thing worth mentioning is, with brand name models, is to check what it was sold with. The product page will often tell you if it came with x86 or x64 and, if it doesn't say, you can fairly safely assume it's 32-bit.
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I can't believe this thread is still around.
As stated by another in this thread, I personally put on whatever the PC will handle comfortably, (reserving x64 for a minimum of 3GB or better, and naturally I wouldn't put 32bit on a 4GB system.)
Also, there is NO way to tell the architecture by the product key, because there is NO difference between a product key for x86 and x64, they use the SAME key. Yes, even on Vista. Never seen any issues with this in my years... Maybe it's because I'm in the US, or maybe it's because I install during the right phase of the moon I dunno.
As stated by another in this thread, I personally put on whatever the PC will handle comfortably, (reserving x64 for a minimum of 3GB or better, and naturally I wouldn't put 32bit on a 4GB system.)
Also, there is NO way to tell the architecture by the product key, because there is NO difference between a product key for x86 and x64, they use the SAME key. Yes, even on Vista. Never seen any issues with this in my years... Maybe it's because I'm in the US, or maybe it's because I install during the right phase of the moon I dunno.
angry_geek
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Agreed. I have never seen vista or 7 care what architecture I'm installing. In fact, I remember, before vista was officially released, this was even in a technet bulletin listed as one of the new features.
valramz
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That's right. Since Vista, product keys are for both architechture. Since you are replacing the hard drive, you might get into trouble with the activation/license because some are SLP keys which means they can only work on a specific hardware component. Activating by phone usually does the trick.
JustInspired
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Same here. Most Vista boxes or packs came with two install discs, one x86 and one x64. Same COA for both.
If I cannot see the old install of Windows to see if there are two program files directories or other means to determine what version, I usually go by how much RAM is installed, CPU etc. Most of these end up being x86 installs though.
If I cannot see the old install of Windows to see if there are two program files directories or other means to determine what version, I usually go by how much RAM is installed, CPU etc. Most of these end up being x86 installs though.
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