I've been out of the technology loop for a long time. I've been so busy making reservoirs and stuff that I didnt have any time to just chill on the net and read. Anyways. I am looking to purchase a copy of the 64bit Vista but im not sure about a few things. First question,... Vista Home or Vista Ultimate? What do you guys think? Is Ultimate worth the extra cash? I have 32bit XP Home right now and I'm fine with it so I dont see any reason why I wouldnt be fine with Vista Home. Whats the deal with the whole "Ultimate" thing? I know I want to go with an oem version because I dont need the support. The disclaimers: Use of this OEM System Builder Channel software is subject to the terms of the Microsoft OEM System Builder License. This software is intended for pre-installation on a new personal computer for resale. This OEM System Builder Channel software requires the assembler to provide end user support for the Windows software and cannot be transferred to another computer once it is installed. To acquire Windows software with support provided by Microsoft please see our full package "Retail" product offerings. Can not be transfer to another computer once installed? This means that it can be used only on one machine right? The word transfer is throwing me off. Makes me think that once I install it to a machine that I cant switch it to another machine. Which is ridiculous to me. Thanks. Oh! Also,... how hard is it to setup a dual boot machine? If I installed 32bit XP Home and 64bit Vista maybe each having their own hdd,... will the machine detect this and ask which to load?
In theory (and legality) an OEM copy of Windows is bound to the one pc it was originally bought for. Usually, though, you can reactivate it without problems, even if your system has changed substantially (*cough* new pc *cough*). Installing in dual boot shouldn't prove to be too difficult. I'd advise you to install XP 32bit first and then Vista 64bit, since the former isn't aware of the latter. Installing both on separate partitions/drives is a good idea, even though both OSes will need to have some files on the "first" partition/drive (the software needed to boot). I'm not sure if Vista Ultimate is worth it for you. Actually, you might perhaps be better off waiting for Windows 7 or installing the beta.
I've transferred my oem version of Vista64 HP from one motherboard to another, my P5B decided to play silly buggers (although works fine now) and it required activating over the phone. An exchange of numbers and letters later and it was all sorted. I have also transferred the same license from one hdd to another - it required re-activating, which it toddled off to some corner of the internet to do and then carried on without so much as flapping an eyelash.
Ultimate is worth the extra cash if you really want one of three things: 1. A ton of encryption features (carryover from Business, not strictly necessary), 2. Dreamscene (loop videos as your desktop background w/o sound), or 3. the ability to type in different languages. I wanted Japanese, so I upgraded from Home Premium to Ultimate. But that's really about it. Oh, yeah... How to Dual-Boot Vista and XP (with Vista installed first) How to Dual-Boot Vista and XP (with XP installed first) - Diosjenin -
Home Premium is what you want, unless you screamingly need the features Diosjenin said above. They ain't actually that useful features anyway, and they don't justify the extra cost IMO.
To add: Ultimate edition adds Business advance backup and account settings. With Ultimate you can do an image of your system using Windows Backup and have it store in about any media you want, even eSATA HDD's or DVD's (yes, Vista has DVD burning support... soon blu-ray burning (NOT reading movies) with SP2 which is coming one day or another). The idea of this is if your Windows requires a re-install, then you can restore from image. Additional Ultimate edition feature: - Each account can have their own language - Texas Hold'em game - Tinker the game with map editor (puzzle type of game) - Bitlock drive encryption I would go with Home Premium, especially that Windows 7 is coming next year. Personally I think leaving XP would be a waist of space, if you know that everything you have software/hardware/peripherals are all Vista 64-bit compatible. (which should be if they are from a good company or made after 2006). But there is no problem. Additional notes: - Once you setup Windows Vista 64-bit, you may want to enjoy 64-bit codecs for Windows Media Player and Media Center. First of all these 2 applications are set to run the 32-bit version by default (to use the standard32-bit codecs). Here are 2 codecs pack. 64-bit package and 32-bit package where both together will NOT create any conflicts, and works beautifully under Vista 64-bit. I have been using it since Vista Release Candidate 1. 64-bit: http://shark007.net/x64components.html 32-bit: http://shark007.net/vistacodecpackage.html What's so special with this codec pack: - No conflict when both codecs packs are installed - Proper uninstall which doesn't screw up your system - Cleanup the crap from another codec pack - Gives Windows Vista video codec for thumbnails (so they will appear) - Comes with 2 tools found after the installation on the start menu where one switches all your Windows Media Player to 32-bit to the 64-bit version, and the other one switches all the file association from the 32-bit to 64-bit. Q: Do I need any DVD codecs like I did under XP to play my DVD's? A: NO! Windows Vista Home Premium and Ultimate edition comes with a pretty good DVD player codecs. Also, it comes with the 64-bit version of the codec (possibly the only 64-bit DVD player codec).
Vista Home Premium x64 OEM is the way to go. I transferred it from one computer to another with no problems at all, I didn't even have to phone Microsoft - it activated again 1st time.
When you change systems with similar hardware there is no problem, as it won't know. For example if you change computer with a system with more RAM, same motherboard chipset, same CPU but faster... it won't know.
Actually, it *will* know, but it might not trigger the re-activation process. Personally I find the whole activation shtick pretty tiresome, but it's a typical approach for Microsoft.
Well it's not like Microsoft has a choice. As a large company they need to satisfy their shareholders and investors.
Damn! So much info! Thanks guys! You rock! I think I will just go with Vists Home 64. If the activation process is at all like the activation process of XP Home I should be fine. i'm going to have to check out Vista 64 first before I do a dual boot. All my hardware is very new so I have no doubts that it wont work with a 64 bit OS. It's just that I might have some trouble excepting that some of my everyday programs might not work. I think it it should be ok seeing that wide use 64bit OS's are right around the corner. We'll see. Thanks again. You guys are awesome.
If it were me, I would go straight for Windows 7, but I am strange like that. One thing to note if you are dual booting Vista and XP, if I remember correctly they use slightly different versions of the NTFS file system which under some circumstance can cause corruption. I know that is rather vague but I can't actually remember much about it.
If it were me, I would go straight for Windows 7, but I am strange like that. One thing to note if you are dual booting Vista and XP, if I remember correctly they use slightly different versions of the NTFS file system which under some circumstance can cause corruption. I know that is rather vague but I can't actually remember much about it. heh, just noticed I double posted, oops. First time its ever happened.
Ah yes! that is true.. Vista uses a new NTFS version... but file corruption should not occur. If you need XP on the fly, you can install Microsoft Virtual PC 64-bit (only runs 32-bit OS) for free at Microsoft website, and then install Windows XP on it. XP activation should pass as the license allows you to do this (Professional version), else whatever just call and say you re-install it, and you are set. In result you have WinXP in a window, where you can drag and drop files (to transfer it on the other OS) or copy and paste between both OS no problem. But I don't think you'll have any trouble with Vista 64.
Don't bother with Ultimate, too much for only a few extra features. Plus with Windows 7 right around the corner, you don't want to throw down a lot of cash on an operating system that is so 2008.
JUst a heads up re: Vista. Install it with all other drives disconnected, otherwise it sticks the MBR wherever it feels like it. I installed with 4 drives in my machine... took some of the others out , then restored from a ghost file only to get BootMGR missing error... took me ages to work it out. Apparently it saw fit to stick the MBR in drive E without telling me.
I am hoping that I'll be fine with only having Vista 64. I only want XP 32 because I know everything works with it. But we'll see what happens. When it comes to OS's,... I like to stay an OS behind because a lot of the time new technology just doesnt work. Staying behind ensures that whatever it is that I'm using will have most if not all the quirks worked out Already purchased my Vista Home Premium 64bit. Should be here by tomorrow if im lucky. I cant wait to try this out. Not only am I new to 64bit but I am new to Vista.
If you are new to Vista, you will feel strange when using it. But force yourself and give it a month, you'll adjust yourself and get to use all the new features and you'll get to love it. Just to name 2 of many: 1- You want to run firefox you just press win key and type: fire > ENTER without waiting for any result to show up and firefox will open.. and stuff like that, as the start menu has a instant search function which it's text filed is always selected when you open the Start Menu, and by typing you search for which application you want to run, and ENTER key to execute. 2- Win key + # will open in order form left to right the quick launch bar shortcuts. For example: Lets say on your quick launch bar you have: Show desktop, IE, Firefox, WMP11. To open Firefox you do Win+3, for WMP11: Win+4 They are many other things like these which can increase your productivity. Also here are some setup instructions: 1- DO NOT optimize Vista like XP, you'll end up with a need of re-install... Vista is completely different over XP. 2- Once you installed Vista 64-bit, before installing some drivers, check out WIndows Update (presuming that your Ethernet card works) and see what driver are available. This is how I setup my Vista: - I install it - I install the motherboard drivers than video card, restart my system (because I want the latest drivers, else no need to do this step, unless the next step doens't find your drivers) - I do windows Update to install to install the rest of my drivers such as webcam, printer, sound card, etc... and well Windows Updates. Enjoy your new OS!
