Question about the Windows 7 Product Keys

[Liberty]

Are Windows 7 Product Keys tied to bit type as well as the version (Home Premium, Professional, etc)?

If one buys, say, Windows 7 Professional 64-bit, but decided to fall back to Professinoal 32-bit, does the Product Key work?

I have only used 32-bit XP and Vista, but am looking at switching to 64-bit with Windows 7 (new PC purchase) and I wasn't sure if the Product Keys are tied to the bit type you are using. Obviously, they are tied to the version (Home Premium, Professional, etc).



I've had the impression with the Windows 7 Beta/RC that a Windows 7 Ultimate Product Key, for example, will work on the 32 or 64-bit version, but wasn't sure.

I've poked around on the Internet and this forum and haven't found a clear answer.

Thanks in advance for your feedback.

 

[Orbital Shark]

As far as i know, Windows 7 will ship as both x86 & x64 so 1 key should work for both....But don't quote me on it, it would be a smart choice

 

[Lee]

Not sure if that will be the case with Win 7, but Vista 32 and 64 required different keys (even with both coming in the same box (Vista Ultimate)).

 

[Liberty]

Direct quote I received from Paul Thurrott (www.WinSuperSite.com) when I asked about Windows 7 Product Keys and if one works with both bit versions for the same edition:


"A Windows 7 product key will work with both the 32-bit and 64-bit version of the product edition you purchase. So if you bought Windows 7 Professional, the product key would work on either 32-bit or 64-bit versions of that."

 

[RST101]

Paul Thurrott hmmm.

 

[Legacy Code]

Solved X64 question. - Vista Forums

I have asked the same question for Vista , and the answer i got was product keys work on both flavours of the OS, I'm assuming that it will be the same for W7.

 

[bobkn]

Not sure if that will be the case with Win 7, but Vista 32 and 64 required different keys (even with both coming in the same box (Vista Ultimate)).

No, or at least not for me.

I bought a Vista Home Premium upgrade version. I ordered the X64 disk separately from Microsoft. The key from the X86 version worked with the X64 disk.

 

[Liberty]

Since Paul Thurrott has direct inside contacts inside Microsoft and is briefed, etc, I have no reason to question what he said on such a simple matter.

So, to recap, a Windows 7 Product Key issued for an edition (Professional, Ultimate, etc) works on both 32 and 64-bit versions of that edition.

 

[Jacee]

The key will work on both editions, but you can't use X86 on one machine and X64 on another.

It's one key, one edition, one computer.

 

[holo88]

wonder how long it'll take for the 5000 sign-ups of kids asking us for keys?

 

[Arkhan]

Retail (boxed) full and upgrade copies of vista came with a single licence key that worked with both the x86 and x64 discs in the box.

The windows 7 RC keys work for both x86 and x64, so it's a pretty safe bet that keys for a given version will work for x86 or x64 though of course we won't know for certain until RTM 7 ships, and people try it with real keys!