Vista x86 Upgrade to Win7 x64

I have purchased an Acer Aspire 6930G laptop that came with Vista x86 (32
bit) installed but with a free 'upgrade' to Windows 7 x86. I have a
'desktop' and an update copy of Windows 7 (legit) that came with both 32 and
64 bit disks. I have installed the 64 bit version onto the desktop. I want
to install the 64 bit version of Win7 onto my laptop but Microsoft insist
they will only provide the 32 bit version as I am 'updating' from a 32 bit
version. (seems that they are being simply bloody minded). My question is
can I successfully install the 64 bit version (I have the disk) and activate
it using the 'key' that will come with the 32 bit OEM upgrade? The possible
problem I anticipate is the 32 bit version will be an OEM version whereas
the 64 bit disk that I have is of the MS vanilla variety. Anyone with any
experience of this?

I note that the serial number of Vista loaded onto the laptop includes the
designator OEM. Does that mean that any key used to register the OS will
need to have a similar key, that is including the designator OEM.

While I know I will not be abiding strictly to the terms of the license by
doing what I want to do, there is no loss to Microsoft. In my op[inion I
am not denying Microsoft of anything to which they are entitled..

Edward W. Thompson wrote:
> I have purchased an Acer Aspire 6930G laptop that came with Vista
> x86 (32 bit) installed but with a free 'upgrade' to Windows 7 x86. I have
> a 'desktop' and an update copy of Windows 7 (legit) that
> came with both 32 and 64 bit disks. I have installed the 64 bit
> version onto the desktop. I want to install the 64 bit version of
> Win7 onto my laptop but Microsoft insist they will only provide
> the 32 bit version as I am 'updating' from a 32 bit version. (seems
> that they are being simply bloody minded). My question is can I
> successfully install the 64 bit version (I have the disk) and
> activate it using the 'key' that will come with the 32 bit OEM
> upgrade? The possible problem I anticipate is the 32 bit version
> will be an OEM version whereas the 64 bit disk that I have is of
> the MS vanilla variety. Anyone with any experience of this?
> I note that the serial number of Vista loaded onto the laptop
> includes the designator OEM. Does that mean that any key used to
> register the OS will need to have a similar key, that is including
> the designator OEM.
> While I know I will not be abiding strictly to the terms of the
> license by doing what I want to do, there is no loss to Microsoft.
> In my op[inion I am not denying Microsoft of anything to which they
> are entitled..

No. Product keys do not work like that.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

"Shenan Stanley" <> wrote in message
news:%23ZKhEY%...
> Edward W. Thompson wrote:
>> I have purchased an Acer Aspire 6930G laptop that came with Vista
>> x86 (32 bit) installed but with a free 'upgrade' to Windows 7 x86. I have
>> a 'desktop' and an update copy of Windows 7 (legit) that
>> came with both 32 and 64 bit disks. I have installed the 64 bit
>> version onto the desktop. I want to install the 64 bit version of
>> Win7 onto my laptop but Microsoft insist they will only provide
>> the 32 bit version as I am 'updating' from a 32 bit version. (seems
>> that they are being simply bloody minded). My question is can I
>> successfully install the 64 bit version (I have the disk) and
>> activate it using the 'key' that will come with the 32 bit OEM
>> upgrade? The possible problem I anticipate is the 32 bit version
>> will be an OEM version whereas the 64 bit disk that I have is of
>> the MS vanilla variety. Anyone with any experience of this?
>> I note that the serial number of Vista loaded onto the laptop
>> includes the designator OEM. Does that mean that any key used to
>> register the OS will need to have a similar key, that is including
>> the designator OEM.
>> While I know I will not be abiding strictly to the terms of the
>> license by doing what I want to do, there is no loss to Microsoft.
>> In my op[inion I am not denying Microsoft of anything to which they
>> are entitled..
>
> No. Product keys do not work like that.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
I had no idea you could install a 64bit OS on a 32 bit system......

>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
> I had no idea you could install a 64bit OS on a 32 bit system......

Most computers nowadays have 64 bit processors.
AMD, long ago.
>

"Edward W. Thompson" <> wrote in message
news:...
> I have purchased an Acer Aspire 6930G laptop that came with Vista x86 (32
> bit) installed but with a free 'upgrade' to Windows 7 x86. I have a
> 'desktop' and an update copy of Windows 7 (legit) that came with both 32
> and 64 bit disks. I have installed the 64 bit version onto the desktop.
> I want to install the 64 bit version of Win7 onto my laptop but Microsoft
> insist they will only provide the 32 bit version as I am 'updating' from a
> 32 bit version. (seems that they are being simply bloody minded). My
> question is can I successfully install the 64 bit version (I have the
> disk) and activate it using the 'key' that will come with the 32 bit OEM
> upgrade? The possible problem I anticipate is the 32 bit version will be
> an OEM version whereas the 64 bit disk that I have is of the MS vanilla
> variety. Anyone with any experience of this?
>
> I note that the serial number of Vista loaded onto the laptop includes the
> designator OEM. Does that mean that any key used to register the OS will
> need to have a similar key, that is including the designator OEM.
>
> While I know I will not be abiding strictly to the terms of the license by
> doing what I want to do, there is no loss to Microsoft. In my op[inion I
> am not denying Microsoft of anything to which they are entitled..

My only experience with this type of thing is somewhat dated, but it would
indicate that an OEM key will not work with the retail product.

In addition, I hope you know that you *cannot* upgrade an existing x86
install to x64 anything. You must do a clean install. Also, you need to be
sure that you can obtain *all* needed 64 bit drivers for your laptop's
hardware.
Does Acer supply x64 drivers for your model?

"PvdG42" <> wrote in message
news:...
>
> "Edward W. Thompson" <> wrote in message
> news:...
>> I have purchased an Acer Aspire 6930G laptop that came with Vista x86 (32
>> bit) installed but with a free 'upgrade' to Windows 7 x86. I have a
>> 'desktop' and an update copy of Windows 7 (legit) that came with both 32
>> and 64 bit disks. I have installed the 64 bit version onto the desktop.
>> I want to install the 64 bit version of Win7 onto my laptop but
>> Microsoft insist they will only provide the 32 bit version as I am
>> 'updating' from a 32 bit version. (seems that they are being simply
>> bloody minded). My question is can I successfully install the 64 bit
>> version (I have the disk) and activate it using the 'key' that will come
>> with the 32 bit OEM upgrade? The possible problem I anticipate is the 32
>> bit version will be an OEM version whereas the 64 bit disk that I have is
>> of the MS vanilla variety. Anyone with any experience of this?
>>
>> I note that the serial number of Vista loaded onto the laptop includes
>> the designator OEM. Does that mean that any key used to register the OS
>> will need to have a similar key, that is including the designator OEM.
>>
>> While I know I will not be abiding strictly to the terms of the license
>> by doing what I want to do, there is no loss to Microsoft. In my
>> op[inion I am not denying Microsoft of anything to which they are
>> entitled..
>
> My only experience with this type of thing is somewhat dated, but it would
> indicate that an OEM key will not work with the retail product.
>
> In addition, I hope you know that you *cannot* upgrade an existing x86
> install to x64 anything. You must do a clean install. Also, you need to be
> sure that you can obtain *all* needed 64 bit drivers for your laptop's
> hardware.
> Does Acer supply x64 drivers for your model?

Thank you and all other who have responded.

Yes I am aware that I would need to do a 'clean/custom' install and 'yes'
the appropriate 64 bit drivers are all available.

I was hoping for a clear answer to the question, that is either an OEM key
will/will not activate the retail product but it seems that no one is sure
although the impression is it is unlikely. I suppose nothing is lost to try
and that is what I shall do. In some respect I don't think there is much if
anything to be gained by installing the 64 bit version but I would like to
have both desktop and laptop on identical OSes
>
>

"Natéag" <> wrote in message
news:...
>>> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
>>> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>> I had no idea you could install a 64bit OS on a 32 bit system......
>
> Most computers nowadays have 64 bit processors.
> AMD, long ago.
>>

I still have 3 machines running 32 bit moboards / cpu's.......