Using Digitalriver Student Upgrade finally, can I use the 64 bit key?

[RJ12]

Hello guys,
Back when the Windows 7 Student Discount was going on my parents bought the upgrade for there computer. Unfortunantley they got the 64bit version instead of 32bit. As I know, you cannot upgrade directly to 64bit from 32bit. They want to do a direct upgrade so they can keep there software. I have a Windows 7 32 bit CD and I am going to let them use it to upgrade there PC. Can I use the 64bit key with the 32 bit CD? I just wanted to know because I know you can with Retail keys, but can you do it with digitalriver's key? Is it identical to a retail key?

 

[RJ12]

I am now starting to think that this does not belong here, I don't know where it should go so I will move it to General Discussion, please move it if needed

 

[gregrocker]

Under the EULA you are entitled to use either 32 bit or 64 bit with each license, no matter where you bought it.

If you should have to do the phone activation (as sometimes happens), mentioning the parents if you are the student could complicate things. Too much information

 

[Vratar]

Hello guys,
...Can I use the 64bit key with the 32 bit CD? I just wanted to know because I know you can with Retail keys, but can you do it with digitalriver's key? Is it identical to a retail key?

Short answer: YES! (as long as it is the same "flavor" - Home or Professional), but see the Caveat below...

Long Answer: I just went through a very similar situation. I bought the 32-bit version (Professional) through the Student Discount offer in October, loaded it on my machine, and was using it until just a few days ago. This week, I bought new gear to build a new machine, and I wanted to move up to the 64-bit version.

So, I downloaded the x64 software (Professional) from the Digital River site, and used it for my new build. During installation, the key I bought with the x86 version DID take, and I was able to finish.

The only issue I ran into was with activation. Online activation did NOT work -- I was half expecting this, since I had already used the key before. So, I went through phone activation. If you end up doing this, you won't have to worry about giving too much information; it is all automated with voice recognition. Here's how it works:

1) When online activation fails, it will give you several options for next steps. Chose phone activation.

2) Your system will give you a long code and a phone number to call.

3) Call the number. The voice prompts will ask you to read off the code you got in step 2.

4) They will ask you a question: "How many systems is this software running on?" Just say "one" (I assume this will be true), and move on to the next step.

5) The voice system will read off a long code for you to type in. It reads off five numbers at a time, and you can have it repeated as often as you need. When you are done, click Next, and you should be good to go!

The whole process took me less than 10 minutes, and I was up and running with no issues.

CAVEAT: I do NOT know if the Digital River key will work with a retail version of the software. I downloaded my x64 SW from the Digital River site, so I was using a student edition both times. If you want to do the same, go to the following site, and there are links to the ISO files:
Microsoft responds to Windows 7 student upgrade SNAFU with direct ISO download