new computer

[Snowreap]

Don't buy Windows Vista Ultimate 64 OEM!!! OEM Vista is tied to the motherboard so if you replace the motherboard or it burns out then you are SOL.
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What you want to buy is Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade. DO NOT BUY A OEM VERSION!!! Windows Vista Ultimate Upgrade has both the 32 bit and 64 bit versions of Vista Ultimate. The dvds install the exact same Windows Vista as you would get from a regular version of Vista Ultimate. The only thing that is different is that you get a upgrade code instead of a regular activation code. What you can do is to install Vista from the disk and then upgrade to the exact same version of Vista from the same disk.

OEM Vista is tied to your system, so if you build a new system (for example, what I just did for my wife) the license won't transfer. but if your motherboard burns out and you replace it (especially if you replace it with an identical motherboard) that's allowed. so it's not quite as dire as all that. my wife's next machine won't be able to use this license, but that's fine, because I'll be using this machine when my wife's done with it, so *I'll* get to use this license.

as for the upgrade version, last time I checked there were separate 32-bit and 64-bit versions, and if you bought the 64-bit upgrade and tried to use it to upgrade from 32-bit you would find that it didn't work. I'm glad to hear they're packaging both versions together now, and I will certainly try to keep it in mind for next time (assuming there is a next time -- the next machine I build might very well get Windows 7).

-ken