Vista Home Basic Install

Hey all,
I have a laptop with Vista Home Basic that I need to re-install the OS on. It has the 32bit version that I have no install cd for. The machine has the label with the authentication code on it to use when installing. What is the proper way to go about getting an install cd without having to pay for another full cd since it is already had a legal copy on the machine? I have a Vista 64bit disk but the machine had 32bit copy. I haven't tried it but I don't think the 32bit auth. code will work with 64bit disk??
Thanks for any help you can give.

What's your computer? There's probably an hidden partition on your hard-drive which contains the o/s. Read your documentation or give us the brand and model of your computer.

What?The?--i would think the 64 bit DVD would work with the 32 bit Product Key. But is your existing hardware/software compatible with a 64 bit operating system?

Glussier,
The repair partition was hosed, no good on startup repairs or system restores, etc, etc.
Welshjim,
It's a Acer Aspire 3100 and I believe the 64bit will work on the machine. I guess I could try that route.
Thanks

You are limited to 32-bit as the cpu is a single core.
AMD Sempron™ 3200
http://www.cpu-world.com/CPUs/K8/TYP...20Sempron.html

Ok,
I saw here where it says "supports 64bit OS". ??
http://support.acer.com/acerpanam/no...e3100sp2.shtml
I think I may have found a friend of a friend that may let me borrow a 32bit disk. Still waiting on reply on that one.

Well, I looked up the cpu, and it is a single core.
You can try the 64 bit, but i would expect it to fail.

Try and see what the Vista advisor says.
http://download.cnet.com/Windows-Vis...-10625983.html
Might want to read the info too.

Train,
I am going to wait and see if I can get hold of the 32 bit version. The page you linked shows it's a single core but it also says 64bit. I do not want to question you as far as being incorrect because i'm sure you have quite a bit more knowledge about the whole subject than I. I can say that I do not really understand all the ins and outs of the difference between the 32 and 64 bit. Is there a good site that I may be able to educate myself a bit more on this subject? I will do some googling here but thought maybe if you knew a good site it would save me some time wading through pages that may or may not have good info on them.
Thanks a bunch.

We can start here.
http://windows.microsoft.com/en-us/w...sked-questions
some more.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/cont...-explained.htm

I noticed the 64 bit also. But to get the most out of 64 bit, you need a dual core or better.

Thanks all,
I did get hold of a 32 bit copy, now all installed, updated. That went well. Thanks Train for the links. Bookmarked them for when I have some reading time.
Have a safe holiday weekend everyone.

You are welcome. Glad to be of help.