Dell Upgrade is 32 bit need 64 bit

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@mgerbasio wrote:

Hi,

I purchased a XPS710 over a year ago. It shipped with WinXP and a Vista Ultimate x32 shipped later. Now I'd like to upgrade to Vista x64. I can't find a way to get an upgrade from Dell or Microsoft. Any ideas?

 

Regards-Michael G.

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If that upgrade was "retail" then you can try Microsoft

 

Vista Ultimate x86 cdkeys are same as x64 cdkeys for retail full versions, not sure if they apply to the upgrades

you can't upgrade directly from a 32-bit OS.  a clean install of the full version (not the upgrade version) is required for you to "upgrade".  getting a 64-bit DVD from microsoft is only possible if you have a retail copy of the 32-bit version.  i believe you can request a 64-bit install DVD from dell since they are starting to ship systems with it... if not, then you can either buy a full retail copy or a full OEM copy.

 

the advantage to the OEM version is that it's less expensive.  the drawback is that you can only install it on that computer, even if you buy a new computer in the future.

 

retail copy will allow you to install it on as many computers as you want as long as it's on one computer at a time.  it's also more expensive than the OEM version.   

 

hope this helps.

The "anytime upgrade" does not apply to OEM versions.  I was thinking of going to 64 bit but as I have an OEM version I would have to purchase the 64 bit version.

Thanks. Guess it is either stick with 32bit or buy an upgrade as I have the OEM Dell 32 bit version of Vista.

 

Regards-Michael G.