Vista Ultimate 32 bit and 64bit

[cheater99]

Hi, im thinking of getting a 64 bit processor (amd athlon 64 6000+ x2) and I've got some questions about vista. I have a 32-bit promotional copy of Vista Ultimate (license only lasts for a year and i'm not sure how many installs i can do, i've already used 2) and i'm wondering whether or not the key that i got with this can be used on a 64-bit version of windows vista, I've read that retail keys can be used on either 32bit or 64bit but i'm not sure if my promotional copy can.
If it cannot, can i use my 32-bit version of windows vista ultimate with the 64-bit processor i plan to buy? I've heard you can but not sure, i don't want to buy all the kit and not be able to use it!
Thanks

[fo3nix]

It probably can't be used with the 64-bit version, no. Microsoft won't like that.

But also note that Windows always has issues with the 64-bit versions. Not all software is available for it, even things such as the official MSN client (i.e., Microsoft's own).

Yes, you can use 32-bit software on your 64-bit processor -- it has a 32-bit compatibility mode.

Also, note that the only point in using 64-bit software is if you need to access more than 4GB of RAM.

[vehelpfulguy]

Windows is in a transition state from 32 bit to 64 bit (the same as it went from 16 bit to 32 bit a few years ago).

While most people still use 32 bit Windows there is a gradual move to 64 bit Windows. However this will take a few years and at the moment it is not worth the "average" user moving to 64 bit Wndows.

This is partly due to lack of driver support, and lack of applications that run on 64 bit.

The one problem with 32 bit Windows is that it wont suport more then 4Gb of memory and many people (particularly on servers) want to use more than 4Gb.

Although Microsoft have said the next version of Windows will be available in 32 bit, my guess is the one after that will be 64 bit only (as well as many of their larger applications like Exchange or SQL Server).

So the move is to 64 bit Windows, but at the moment I think it is a tad too early.

[vehelpfulguy]

>If it cannot, can i use my 32-bit version of windows vista >ultimate with the 64-bit processor i plan to buy?

Also note that almost all the CPUs that have come out in the last few years (Intel and AMD) have been 64 bit, and they have all been running 32 bit Windows quite happily.

[ACtheTROLL]

what they said ....

as far as I'm aware only photoshop can fully access 64 bit instructions.

I'm ashamed (after defending vista) to say however that this last week - my quad core vista ultimate became a quad core XP machine (both 32 bit)

the big disadvantage is that I can't keep up with the thing now .... it goes rather faster than it did .... so vista will be shifted to a virtual machine