"Julien321" <Julien321@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote
[color=blue]
> Bought Premium but need the full HD backup of Ultimate. Will be building
> a
> new system in about 6 months so don't want to waste $160 on this one. If
> I
> upgrade to Ultimate now can I switch Ultimate to the new computer? If so
> can
> I go from Ultimate 32bit to Ultimate 64bit?[/color]

What version of premium? Retail or OEM? Retail can be transferred to a new
computer. The Ultimate upgrade is retail so that can be moved but if the
Vista Home Premium is OEM, it's tied by the license agreement to the first
computer on which it's installed and can't be moved, so you'd need a
different qualifying OS to use the Ultimate upgrade on the new computer.

That aside, Ultimate, either upgrade or full retail. comes with both the x86
and x64 DVDs. Either one can be installed with the same product key but you
cannot have both installed at the same time.

If x86 Vista is installed you can then install x64 version, using the
upgrade product key but it cannot be done as an in place upgrade, only a
custom install. The upgrade is started by booting the DVD, it checks that
there is a qualifying OS installed, then offers the custom installation
option. No data or programs are migrated. The old installation is wrapped
up in the windows.old folder.

--
Rock [MS-MVP User/Shell]