Windows 7 licenses and virtual machines
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I've recently bought Windows 7 Ultimate Retail. I haven't product activated yet. Does anyone know whether it's possible to activate the same copy on a host PC and several virtual machines that are hosted on the same physical machine? I'm not sure what hardware the activation checks for - would it check the host hardware and allow it or would the virtualization mess up the activation? Is it legal or would each VM need a separate license? I haven't tried yet as I'm worried about the activation failing then having to phone MS etc. The virtualization would be done via VMWare Workstation.
Why not just try it and see? Can't you just activate it on the host PC first, and then activate the VMs afterwards? The physical activation should work, and if the virtual activations fail, you still have the valid physical host running.
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Why not just try it and see? Can't you just activate it on the host PC first, and then activate the VMs afterwards? The physical activation should work, and if the virtual activations fail, you still have the valid physical host running.
I could I guess I just don't want it to activate for the VM and then cause me problems on the host afterwards or something.
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I've recently bought Windows 7 Ultimate Retail. I haven't product activated yet. Does anyone know whether it's possible to activate the same copy on a host PC and several virtual machines that are hosted on the same physical machine? I'm not sure what hardware the activation checks for - would it check the host hardware and allow it or would the virtualization mess up the activation? Is it legal or would each VM need a separate license? I haven't tried yet as I'm worried about the activation failing then having to phone MS etc. The virtualization would be done via VMWare Workstation.
Based on my sample set of 1*, it seems like it fails the activation code with the second one. I had set things up mostly as you describe, and ended up having to call into their phone activation system, promising that I only had a single install. For connoisseurs of fine horrid user interfaces, I highly recommend the phone activation system. Where else can you be forced to read dozens of numbers out loud, just to get a few dozen more numbers to type in, all while being cajoled by a "stern, but friendly" voice telling you, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you say that number again?" every few seconds.
-------------- TTFN - Kent
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I could I guess I just don't want it to activate for the VM and then cause me problems on the host afterwards or something.
I don't think that activations work that way - once activated, always activated, sort of thing - but i can understand your concerns. It seems like Kent has an answer for you anyway.
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I've recently bought Windows 7 Ultimate Retail. I haven't product activated yet. Does anyone know whether it's possible to activate the same copy on a host PC and several virtual machines that are hosted on the same physical machine? I'm not sure what hardware the activation checks for - would it check the host hardware and allow it or would the virtualization mess up the activation? Is it legal or would each VM need a separate license? I haven't tried yet as I'm worried about the activation failing then having to phone MS etc. The virtualization would be done via VMWare Workstation.
Doesn't really answer my question about installing the same copy on host and guest, but found the below related to copying and cloning VMs that people reading this thread may be interested in... http://blogs.zdnet.com/Berlind/?p=517[^]
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Based on my sample set of 1*, it seems like it fails the activation code with the second one. I had set things up mostly as you describe, and ended up having to call into their phone activation system, promising that I only had a single install. For connoisseurs of fine horrid user interfaces, I highly recommend the phone activation system. Where else can you be forced to read dozens of numbers out loud, just to get a few dozen more numbers to type in, all while being cajoled by a "stern, but friendly" voice telling you, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you say that number again?" every few seconds.
-------------- TTFN - Kent
That sounds bad. I've never had to use it but have enough trouble with Orange's mobile phone credit top-up thing, since they started asking you to say "Yes" and "No" to everything rather than just pressing the * and # buttons.
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That sounds bad. I've never had to use it but have enough trouble with Orange's mobile phone credit top-up thing, since they started asking you to say "Yes" and "No" to everything rather than just pressing the * and # buttons.
I had to take the phone from my mom because of one of these. Her accent is thick enough that the dumb machine couldn't understand her until around 4-5 attempts.
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I've recently bought Windows 7 Ultimate Retail. I haven't product activated yet. Does anyone know whether it's possible to activate the same copy on a host PC and several virtual machines that are hosted on the same physical machine? I'm not sure what hardware the activation checks for - would it check the host hardware and allow it or would the virtualization mess up the activation? Is it legal or would each VM need a separate license? I haven't tried yet as I'm worried about the activation failing then having to phone MS etc. The virtualization would be done via VMWare Workstation.
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I've recently bought Windows 7 Ultimate Retail. I haven't product activated yet. Does anyone know whether it's possible to activate the same copy on a host PC and several virtual machines that are hosted on the same physical machine? I'm not sure what hardware the activation checks for - would it check the host hardware and allow it or would the virtualization mess up the activation? Is it legal or would each VM need a separate license? I haven't tried yet as I'm worried about the activation failing then having to phone MS etc. The virtualization would be done via VMWare Workstation.
As far as I know, you need a new key for each computer (virtual or actual) that you install it on. MSDN subscribers have access to OS ISO installs that are set up for multiple activations (typically 10) each, and can be used the way you describe (up to a total of 10 differend VM/PC installations, but the MSDN subscriber licencse specifies that thes are intended only for testing and are not to be used for "ordinary" business or personal tasks. Given that restriction on the MSDN copies, I suspect that ordinary retail copies allow only one activation, and you need a different license key to install on each VM.
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As far as I know, you need a new key for each computer (virtual or actual) that you install it on. MSDN subscribers have access to OS ISO installs that are set up for multiple activations (typically 10) each, and can be used the way you describe (up to a total of 10 differend VM/PC installations, but the MSDN subscriber licencse specifies that thes are intended only for testing and are not to be used for "ordinary" business or personal tasks. Given that restriction on the MSDN copies, I suspect that ordinary retail copies allow only one activation, and you need a different license key to install on each VM.
One other handy hint (for using it in the VMs - assuming that the VM's aren't kept for months).... You can used Windows 7 for up to 30 days before you have to activate it. I've tried it. eg. You could install it in a VM and run it for 29 days before deleting that VM and creating a new VM and getting another 29 days. I'm not sure if this is within the spirit of the licence, but I believe it works, certainly you don't have to activate for the 1st 30 days.... See: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136859/Windows\_7\_will\_run\_120\_days\_for\_free\_Microsoft\_confirms Mike
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Based on my sample set of 1*, it seems like it fails the activation code with the second one. I had set things up mostly as you describe, and ended up having to call into their phone activation system, promising that I only had a single install. For connoisseurs of fine horrid user interfaces, I highly recommend the phone activation system. Where else can you be forced to read dozens of numbers out loud, just to get a few dozen more numbers to type in, all while being cajoled by a "stern, but friendly" voice telling you, "I'm sorry, I didn't catch that. Could you say that number again?" every few seconds.
-------------- TTFN - Kent
Hmm, last time I used their phone activation service it was automated, you just type the numbers on the phone and then machine read another set of number to you.
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apparently the answer is yes, you can have up to 4VM if using ultimate or enterprise. http://serverfault.com/questions/53380/can-a-windows-7-ultimate-product-key-be-used-for-virtual-machines-as-well[^]
3x12=36 2x12=24 1x12=12 0x12=18
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One other handy hint (for using it in the VMs - assuming that the VM's aren't kept for months).... You can used Windows 7 for up to 30 days before you have to activate it. I've tried it. eg. You could install it in a VM and run it for 29 days before deleting that VM and creating a new VM and getting another 29 days. I'm not sure if this is within the spirit of the licence, but I believe it works, certainly you don't have to activate for the 1st 30 days.... See: http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9136859/Windows\_7\_will\_run\_120\_days\_for\_free\_Microsoft\_confirms Mike
Yeah might work for some people, I tend to like to make several snapshots of the system with different service packs and combinations of software installed and that kind of thing though. Fortunately there aren't too many updates for Win 7 yet and guess that approach would work alright for a bit of last minute testing of software on different setups.
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I've recently bought Windows 7 Ultimate Retail. I haven't product activated yet. Does anyone know whether it's possible to activate the same copy on a host PC and several virtual machines that are hosted on the same physical machine? I'm not sure what hardware the activation checks for - would it check the host hardware and allow it or would the virtualization mess up the activation? Is it legal or would each VM need a separate license? I haven't tried yet as I'm worried about the activation failing then having to phone MS etc. The virtualization would be done via VMWare Workstation.
I installed the 64-bit version as a test, and it only complained after 2 months that I should activate. Given the little time it takes to install (I assume this is a test box), just format and reinstall :)
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