BleepingComputer.com: Install disk question

My nephews Laptop Hard drive has died.... really dead - no chance to get anything off it.
This means that any recovery partition is gone as well.

For info - its a Packard Bell - model EN-TN36

It had Vista 32 bit - home premium - and I guess that means an OEM version.
From my machines etc I have lying around:

- Vista Ultimate upgrade disk (32 and 64 bit disks)
- Vista Ultimate SP1 - OEM 64 bit disk.

I seem to reecall that install disks include code for all versions and you just specify at install time which version you installing, and that would ofc be validated when you put in your windows key.... but im not sure on this. And I am not sure if that extends to OEM versions.

So my quetions....
- Can I use any/either of my existing disks to install Vista 32 bit home premium - such that it will accept the existing windows key he has?
- If not - I guess I can download an Vista 32 bit home premium OEM ISO - and that will work with packard bell?
- I guess his code will not allow me to go 64 bit? is that correct?

Any help guidence appreciated - I would like to know what will work in advance rather that try things out, find it does not work and then have to redo it all.

So whats the position please?

Thanks in advance

Hello Yoji,

Quote

To my knowledge, a retail version of Vista will not accept an OEM key. If your Vista Ultimate, SP1 OEM was Packard-Bell and not another manufacturer's version, It might work with the side label key. I believe the key determines the Vista version that is installed.

Quote

I've never seen one. If you do, let me know. (No torrents please).

Quote

Again, OEM key won't work with retail Vista DVD; whether 32 or 64. A retail Vista Key on a retail Vista install would work on either 32 or 64 bit versions but only one version could be activated. Again, if your OEM Vista Ultimate SP1 64 is a Packard-Bell OEM disc, it might work. If it's from another computer manufacturer, it probably won't.