Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM

**Bman** · April 11th, 2008

So as some of you know I just picked up Vista. I got an OEM version of Vista Ultimate 32Bit. Now when I bought it I totally forgot about the whole RAM limit thing of 32Bit. Which is why I got the OEM version since it's cheaper.

Half the reason why I wanted Vista was because I could have more then 4GB (3.2GB) of RAM. First question is, the limit is 100% true with Vista correct? Second, is there anything I can do, call Microsoft for upgrade? Maybe it would be worth my time to sell and rebuy?

What are your ideas?

Help, Thanks.

hansrijf · April 11th, 2008

I think you can buy an "upgrade" to 64 bits cheap from Microsoft. It's about 10 euros in Europe...

**Bman** · April 11th, 2008

Would they send me the new discs?

**Sazar** · April 11th, 2008

Originally Posted by Bman

So as some of you know I just picked up Vista. I got an OEM version of Vista Ultimate 32Bit. Now when I bought it I totally forgot about the whole RAM limit thing of 32Bit. Which is why I got the OEM version since it's cheaper.

Half the reason why I wanted Vista was because I could have more then 4GB (3.2GB) of RAM. First question is, the limit is 100% true with Vista correct? Second, is there anything I can do, call Microsoft for upgrade? Maybe it would be worth my time to sell and rebuy?

What are your ideas?

Help, Thanks.

It's a 32-bit limit.

The limitation exists regardless of the OS as long as it is 32-bit.

Now with SP1, Vista "recognizes" your memory as 4GB (check the screenshots I have posted in other threads and the WEI thread in the benchmarks section) but it still uses only about 3.35GB standard.

If you buy the "upgrade" from Microsoft, they should typically send license and media to you.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...a/default.mspx

Check that for media ordering direct from Microsoft.

**Bman** · April 11th, 2008

Thanks, I probably will use the 32Bit version and upgrade to SP1. Then in the future I will upgrade to 64Bit, since at the moment I might only be able to afford 4GB.

Thanks for the details and the upgrade page.

**Sazar** · April 11th, 2008

Don't forget to join the F@lding team

Even at around 50% on a couple of cores, you will still be able to contribute significantly and not use much power or generate much heat

**Dark Atheist** · April 11th, 2008

its a limit of every 32bit os - in ms case they did it as devs did not write drivers that could handle large mem addresses

**omg its nlm** · April 14th, 2008

What do you need all this ram for?

**Bman** · April 14th, 2008

I do many things.

**falconguard** · April 14th, 2008

Originally Posted by omg its nlm

What do you need all this ram for?

Taking over the internet, world domination, destroying the NY Yankeees, you know the usual.

April 11th, 2008	Top \| #1
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM So as some of you know I just picked up Vista. I got an OEM version of Vista Ultimate 32Bit. Now when I bought it I totally forgot about the whole RAM limit thing of 32Bit. Which is why I got the OEM version since it's cheaper. Half the reason why I wanted Vista was because I could have more then 4GB (3.2GB) of RAM. First question is, the limit is 100% true with Vista correct? Second, is there anything I can do, call Microsoft for upgrade? Maybe it would be worth my time to sell and rebuy? What are your ideas? Help, Thanks.

April 11th, 2008	Top \| #2
hansrijf sh! it stinks Joined: December 2005 Location: Amsterdam, The Netherlands Posts: 277 Reputation: 130 Power: 82	Re: Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM I think you can buy an "upgrade" to 64 bits cheap from Microsoft. It's about 10 euros in Europe...

April 11th, 2008	Top \| #3
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM Would they send me the new discs?

April 11th, 2008	Top \| #4
Sazar F@H - Is it in you? Joined: April 2002 Location: Between Austin and Tampa Posts: 14,888 Reputation: 4110 Power: 313	Re: Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM Originally Posted by Bman So as some of you know I just picked up Vista. I got an OEM version of Vista Ultimate 32Bit. Now when I bought it I totally forgot about the whole RAM limit thing of 32Bit. Which is why I got the OEM version since it's cheaper. Half the reason why I wanted Vista was because I could have more then 4GB (3.2GB) of RAM. First question is, the limit is 100% true with Vista correct? Second, is there anything I can do, call Microsoft for upgrade? Maybe it would be worth my time to sell and rebuy? What are your ideas? Help, Thanks. It's a 32-bit limit. The limitation exists regardless of the OS as long as it is 32-bit. Now with SP1, Vista "recognizes" your memory as 4GB (check the screenshots I have posted in other threads and the WEI thread in the benchmarks section) but it still uses only about 3.35GB standard. If you buy the "upgrade" from Microsoft, they should typically send license and media to you. http://www.microsoft.com/windowsvist...a/default.mspx Check that for media ordering direct from Microsoft. Help to find cures for Alzheimer's, Mad Cow (BSE), CJD, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease, and many Cancers. Folding@Home, is it in you?

April 11th, 2008	Top \| #5
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM Thanks, I probably will use the 32Bit version and upgrade to SP1. Then in the future I will upgrade to 64Bit, since at the moment I might only be able to afford 4GB. Thanks for the details and the upgrade page.

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April 11th, 2008	Top \| #6
Sazar F@H - Is it in you? Joined: April 2002 Location: Between Austin and Tampa Posts: 14,888 Reputation: 4110 Power: 313	Re: Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM Don't forget to join the F@lding team Even at around 50% on a couple of cores, you will still be able to contribute significantly and not use much power or generate much heat Help to find cures for Alzheimer's, Mad Cow (BSE), CJD, ALS, Huntington's, Parkinson's disease, and many Cancers. Folding@Home, is it in you?

April 11th, 2008	Top \| #7
Dark Atheist OSNN Veteran Addict Joined: April 2003 Location: In The Void Posts: 6,373 Blog Entries: 9 Reputation: 1877 Power: 193	Re: Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM its a limit of every 32bit os - in ms case they did it as devs did not write drivers that could handle large mem addresses

April 14th, 2008	Top \| #8
omg its nlm lvl 17 Hax Joined: January 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 1,829 Reputation: 1210 Power: 133	Re: Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM What do you need all this ram for? \| Vista Ultimate \| AMD 4900 \| Nvidia 9600 512 \| 2 gigs Corsair Ram \| Cooler Master Stacker 830 \|Dell 22 Inch Wide screen \|

April 14th, 2008	Top \| #9
Bman OSNN Designer Joined: July 2002 Location: Ottawa, Ontario Posts: 8,722 Blog Entries: 106 Reputation: 1386 Power: 221	Re: Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM I do many things.

April 14th, 2008	Top \| #10
falconguard Carbon based lifeform Joined: February 2004 Location: SoCal Posts: 3,406 Reputation: 2305 Power: 158	Re: Vista Ultimate 32Bit OEM Originally Posted by omg its nlm What do you need all this ram for? Taking over the internet, world domination, destroying the NY Yankeees, you know the usual.

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