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Answer:
The lazy answer is to just direct you to Microsoft's licensing page so that you can read your options, understand the limitations and buy the version that works best for you :) Alas, we are nice people here so we've done the work of digesting the legal mumbo jumbo and summarizing the information into a simple, non-geeky guide.
After you've decided on which edition to buy, you need to evaluate your options:
a) Full Version
b) Upgrades
c) OEM
a) Full Version
With the exception of Home Basic, the full version license allows for both the 32-bit and 64-bit editions. Your purchased Windows Vista DVD holds the 32-bit edition and contains a voucher that lets you redeem the 64-bit edition online for free.
You can do a full install or upgrade, and even transfer to another PC as long as only one installation exists, i.e. you cannot run a single license on more than 1 PC.
b) Upgrades
You will need to have a previous version of Windows to be eligible to purchase a Windows Vista upgrade DVD. If you own a 32-bit edition of Windows then you can only purchase a 32-bit upgrade DVD and not the 64-bit one.
Customers with the following versions of Windows qualify for the upgrade - Windows XP Professional, Windows XP Home, Windows XP Media Center, Windows XP Tablet PC, Windows XP Professional x64 and Windows 2000.
Again, you are allowed to transfer to another PC as long as only one installation exists.
c) OEM
OEM versions come pre-installed in a new PC. You can also purchase an OEM copy if you are upgrading a non-peripheral component - defined as components that are required for the PC to work, e.g. motherboard, CPU, memory, hard drive and graphics card.
The license lives and dies with the PC, i.e. you are not allowed to transfer to another.
Also, you are only allowed to replace/upgrade up to 5 non-peripheral components after which your PC is considered as "new". The flip side is every hardware change requires a reactivation of your Windows Vista license.
All Pre-Purchase FAQs:
- What are the Windows Vista editions?
- Which version of Windows Vista should I buy?
- Should I buy Windows Vista now?
- Can Apple's iMac or MacBook run Windows Vista?
...Back to FAQs
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