Which Vista Version?

[MattX]

So I'd like to get Vista when it comes out, and I wanted to confirm a couple things from those that know better than me --- a) I currently have 4 GB of RAM in my rig, and XP only recognizes 3GB - VISTA recognizes alot more than 4, correct? b) I'd like to build another rig for a home network sometime in the near future (waiting on a stock to hit big, should hopefully be soon), will the "full" version allow for installs on multiple machines, and if so how many?

 

[imported_kethdredd]

No you can't install a copy of Vista on more than one machine, you have to buy a seperate license for each machine.

 

[MattX]

Oh, one more thing, my current machine is running XP (obviously 32 bit), but I would like to upgrade to Vista's 64-bit version - could I use the simple Vista "upgrade" version to go from 32-bit to 64-bit, or do I need the full version to completely replace it?

 

[Nothinman]

a) I currently have 4 GB of RAM in my rig, and XP only recognizes 3GB - VISTA recognizes alot more than 4, correct?

You either need a 64-bit version of Vista or PAE to enable the extra addresses since right now they're in use by PCI devices you need to map them above the 4G mark to let the OS see them. I don't know for sure if PAE will help Vista32 or not.

b) I'd like to build another rig for a home network sometime in the near future (waiting on a stock to hit big, should hopefully be soon), will the "full" version allow for installs on multiple machines, and if so how many?

Doubtful.

 

[JackBurton]

Originally posted by: Nothinman

a) I currently have 4 GB of RAM in my rig, and XP only recognizes 3GB - VISTA recognizes alot more than 4, correct?

You either need a 64-bit version of Vista or PAE to enable the extra addresses since right now they're in use by PCI devices you need to map them above the 4G mark to let the OS see them. I don't know for sure if PAE will help Vista32 or not.

The 32bit version of Vista will see all 4GB (People have already verified this), but that is the limit. Anymore and you'll need the 64bit version.

 

[MattX]

Thx, the RAM issue helps cement my decision on the 64 bit version (which i'd like to get anyway, since my proc is an X2), but will I be able to upgrade my 32 bit XP to 64 bit Vista w/just the upgrade version of Vista? If I have to buy a new full-version copy for my next PC build then I'll buy just the upgrade to 64 bit for my existing machine if I can.

 

[Doom Machine]

the last ms announcement i read was that vista will ship with both 32 and 64 bit dvd's but that may change

 

[Nothinman]

the last ms announcement i read was that vista will ship with both 32 and 64 bit dvd's but that may change

There's no doubt about that, but his question was whether or not he'll be able to upgrade to Vista64 from XP32.

 

[RebateMonger]

I can't imagine 64-bit Vista being a "practical" operating system for at least a year after Vista is released. Unless all you do is run Office and browse the Internet, I suspect that getting reliable drivers and utility programs for the 64-bit OS will be more trouble than it's worth.

Hope I'm wrong......

 

[Doom Machine]

ms mentioned 64 bit wont be very practical to home users, other articles mentioned that there have been no performance increases including boot times were alot slower and it took alot longer to install plus as far as the gaming market of games currently in production for rlease over the next 3 years are not using any 64 bit coding.
likely most manufacturers will release both types of drivers for each product and many applications will have both versions but nothing is expected to perform any better except in areas where huge amounts of number crunching data are used

overall i'd just wait till its released and read some reviews as there will be a flood of info about vista during release

 

[Nothinman]

I can't imagine 64-bit Vista being a "practical" operating system for at least a year after Vista is released. Unless all you do is run Office and browse the Internet, I suspect that getting reliable drivers and utility programs for the 64-bit OS will be more trouble than it's worth.

And that's the funny thing, for drivers there shouldn't really be any changes when going from 32-bit -> 64-bit unless the drivers made some really stupid assumptions.

 

[RebateMonger]

Originally posted by: Nothinman
And that's the funny thing, for drivers there shouldn't really be any changes when going from 32-bit -> 64-bit unless the drivers made some really stupid assumptions.

Isn't 64-bit Vista going to require "Signed" drivers? That, alone, will delay the release of many drivers for the 64-bit OS.

 

[Nothinman]

Isn't 64-bit Vista going to require "Signed" drivers? That, alone, will delay the release of many drivers for the 64-bit OS.

I was talking functional differences, lots of XP drivers are signed currently so requiring them for Vista is a pretty small change IMO.

 

[Rilex]

Vista 32bit has the same limitations as XP SP2 has in regards to 4GB of physical memory; it is limited to roughly 3.6GB. This is mainly due to poor drivers. Also, your hardware must support remapping PCI addresses above the 4GB barrier, otherwise again, you'll get somewhere in the 3GB range.

/PAE has absolutely nothing to do with this. PAE is for addressing more than 4GB RAM, which of course consumer 32bit versions of Windows cannot.