Will OEM Key Work if I Go from 32 bit to 64 bit?

[KHE920]

I have a HP 60-230US laptop w/ 3 GB RAM and Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit. I bought it new. From my understanding, this means I have an OEM key, right?

I want to Windows Vista Home Premium 32 bit and install Windows Vista Home Premium 64 bit on the same computer (after upgrading to 4 GB RAM and an SSD--if that even matters), would the OEM key work for the 64 bit version?

From what I've read so far, the answer seems to be "yes," but I thought I'd give it another try because I've read some conflicting information.

 

[volcanoscout]

It should work fine. If it doesn't, you may need to call MS and get them to deactivate and reactivate the key.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

Yes it will work , the OEM keys aren't bit specific , they are good for both.

 

[Alabalcho]

You don't need 64 bit Windows with just 4gb of RAM. There is no upgrade from 32 bit to 6r bit, you have to reinstall everything.

Finally - if you are doing the upgrade, skip Vista altogether, go straight to 7 or 8.

 

[KHE920]

Alabalcho,

So I could just put in the 4 GB of ram and it will work on 32 bit Windows?

I thought 32 bit can't handle more than 3 GB?

I don't want to pay anymore for an OP, so I'd rather just reinstall with 64 bit of the version I have.

 

[volcanoscout]

32-bit won't see more then 4GB. You've probably heard "3GB" in reference to how much might be available for use outside of system requirements.

 

[Alabalcho]

So I could just put in the 4 GB of ram and it will work on 32 bit Windows?
I thought 32 bit can't handle more than 3 GB?

It depends on the BIOS, but you should see at least 3.5GB under Windows.

 

[Dark Lord of Tech]

32 bit won't see more than 3.75.

 

[FALC0N]

Ok, the reason everyone is giving you a different number is it depends on hardware. A 32 bit OS can address up to 4GB. Problem is it also uses that same address space for hardware. The greater the hardware addressing needs of the system, the less RAM it will be able to access.

 

[KHE920]

Just wanted to report that it was very easy to switch from 32 to 64 bit vista home premium.

The product key that worked is the one on the sticker on the bottom of my laptop and not the the key-finding software found.