Linked by Thom Holwerda on Tue 25th Sep 2007 12:28 UTC, submitted by stonyandcher
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All Microsoft distributed Vista DVD's have every version of Vista on them - x86, and x86-64
No they don't, I have an official MSDN x86 only ISO of RTM right here, and I have a friend who bought a retail copy of Vista "x64" and his media only has x86_64 install options.
As far as I know, there is no *official* all in one disc shipping both x86 and x86_64 install options.
All Vista media does include all *editions* of Vista, but not all *architectures*.
You could use the same DVD to install both licenses, but you cannot take the 32-bit x86 license and use it to install the Vista Ultimate 64-bit x86 version.
Wrong again, I have a license for Vista Business Edition (Essentially the same as Home Premium with a few minor differences) provided to me for free via university.
The download link provided is an x86 ISO, but I had no problems using the CD key (Which is unique to me, all students have different keys, I checked) and installing and activating an x86_64 install using my friends "x64" media.
Since they are distributing the software this way, expect that there will at some point, likely in the next year, a crack that will allow you to install one of the other versions - or perhaps even upgrade from one version to another.
Cracks have bee readily available for Vista activation since *before* RTM and the current generation of cracks will 'activate' any edition in either x86 or x86_64 flavors. Microsoft themselves make it possible to install any edition of Vista from any media without inserting a CD key during install...just leave the field blank.




Member since:
2007-08-22
All Microsoft distributed Vista DVD's have every version of Vista on them - x86, and x86-64, as well as everything from Home to Ultimate. However, you only get a license for one of those editions.
For example, you'll get a Vista DVD, and a license for Vista Ultimate 32-bit x86, or you'll get a license for Vista Ultimate 64-bit x86 (x86-64). You could use the same DVD to install both licenses, but you cannot take the 32-bit x86 license and use it to install the Vista Ultimate 64-bit x86 version.
Nor could you take the Vista Home Edition license and use it to install Vista Business Edition - or Vista Ultimate and use it to install Vista Home Edition.
Since they are distributing the software this way, expect that there will at some point, likely in the next year, a crack that will allow you to install one of the other versions - or perhaps even upgrade from one version to another. It wouldn't surprise me if the cracker network already had such a crack; but eventually it'll be out in the open.