This is a variant on a post i made previously.
I'm in the process of buying a new laptop.i intend to use it for work, so i configured it with XP pro. however I have a genuine version of MS vista ultimate(OEM) 64 bit. if it were a retail version, it would have shipped with both the 32bit and 64 bit dvds.

my plan is to create a 40gb partition and install the vista on it.theoretically, i should be able to work and (when i feel like) play with vista. however, 64 bit windows is trouble some. i've been doing some thinking.it appears(I'm not sure) that a vista ultimate serial numbers will work for both 32bit and 64 bit editions. i picked up a pirated vista ultimate cd in pc village. My plan is to install it with my 64 bit OEM  serial number.  

so do yall think that would work? has anyone tried it? (if i had a retail version of vista, it would be no question-but i don't really understand this OEM. . .)

My man it will not work. U cant use another serial n0. of a software to work with another. ordinarily u can install the pirated vista on your laptop it will work but remember u cant update and u will have problem in installing some hardwares

actually, you can

http://board.iexbeta.com/index.php?showtopic=69712

I need to do 1 of 2 things-

get hold of a vista ultimate 32bit OEM

or alternatively, confirm, that my vista dvd is d full retail(not upgrade) version.

see, u said u purchase a pirated copy? just mail me later and i'll send u an activation crack. the next minute you're online you'll be downloading updates like mad.
my HP530 business laptop shipped with vista ultimate home basic.i just simply upgraded it with a pirated copy to ultimate and ran my crack!