Sold a new PC with 6GB RAM... and 32-bit OS

esuhl

One of my friends has just bought a new PC from a high street shop. He has had it for about a week now. The PC has 6GB RAM, but was supplied with a 32-bit version of Vista. I told him that he won't be able to use the full 6GB because of the way that 32-bit OSes address RAM and he wasn't too happy!

He was wondering what his legal rights are in this case. Would anyone know whether the PC would be considered "fit for the purpose" under the Sale of Goods Act? Surely advertising 6GB RAM, without making it clear that it will not be used is a bit dodgy!

prowla

esuhl wrote: »

Sold a new PC with 6GB RAM... and 32-bit OS

By a two-bit company?

bigmacca81625

it is fit for purpose though, it works!

PC's often come with parts that you won't be able to use unless you buy extra equipment, i.e. a firewire port or printer port.

Software comes free with the pc and as with any pc, to get the best out of it, you may need to upgrade certain stuff, in this case windows. Maybe tell him to take it back? If you threaten them your going to court they may just buckle regardless

DatabaseError

the 32 bit license key sold with the PC is/should be valid for the x64 version...just get hold of a disk and re-install

bigmacca81625

DatabaseError wrote: »

the 32 bit license key sold with the PC is/should be valid for the x64 version...just get hold of a disk and re-install

i very much doubt it, with vista nowadays, the key is registerd to your GUID which wil;l change if you change your OS. Plus the keys are generated for each different version, if what you say is right, that means it would also work for the ultimate, premuim, and business. Its not that unsecure, theyve developed some lovely ways to keep people out

tomsolomon

Or just install Ubuntu 64bit edition...

Marty_J

PC manufacturers have been ripping off consumers for ages now by advertising 4 GB (or more) systems that only come with a 32 bit OS.

There's not much he can do about it though; there's no law that says a computer has to be able to use all of its RAM.

kwikbreaks

How much memory is Vista saying it has?

If it doesn't say 6GB (and I doubt that it will) there is a cast iron reason to return it as being "not as advertised".

Getting a trading standards bod to understand that although it has 6GB Vista can only use part of it would be a lot harder than advertised as 6GB but it says here it only has nnGB.

If it does say 6GB then I reckon it will be down to how good the shop's customer relations policies are because forcing them to take it back will be more trouble than it's worth.

bigmacca81625

it will only say 3.8gb of ram, the maths processing of a 32bit os wont allow it to recognize the full potential, however not as advertised isnt fair

it still has 6gb of ram regardless of how you look at it, software in general is optional, you can get a pc with no OS and 6gb of ram. ITs not down to the sales staff to tell you that the software will work better if you upgraded

[Deleted User]

Tried contacting the OEM and requesting the media to install x64?

As long as it has 6GB installed, Trading Standards will be unable to do anything. Windows Vista will display how much is installed regardless of how much can actually be used. The BIOS during POST will also state how much is physically installed, therefore I don't think you would have any legal recourse.

bigmacca81625

anewhope wrote: »

Tried contacting the OEM and requesting the media to install x64?

As long as it has 6GB installed, Trading Standards will be unable to do anything. Windows Vista will display how much is installed regardless of how much can actually be used. The BIOS during POST will also state how much is physically installed, therefore I don't think you would have any legal recourse.

Vista wont show 6gb if its only 32 bit, thats why i upgraded to 64 myself! it will only show 3.8, its all about the maths!!!!!