Would I be able to reactivate native copy if Ubuntu or VM crashes?

My first post, please forgive me if reusing old threads is frowned upon here.

I have a slightly different situation. My ThinkPad came with Win7 HP 32. I later installed Ubuntu alongside Windows. I've gotten tired of rebooting in Windows just to use Office, so I started using Virtual Box within Ubuntu, and installed Windows 8. However, not only do I hate 8, but I want my own personal copy for all my programs and whatnot.

I'd like to leave my original (native) Windows copy still installed, but deactivate it (remove the product key as I saw in another thread). I'd use it only if a) Ubuntu or the VM crashed or b) if I need to use specific programs/hardware that are only compatible with Windows that will not work with the VM. So I'd deactivate the original copy, leave it installed, then activate the VM.

Would I be able to reactivate the native copy if Ubuntu or the VM crash?

This is an OEM copy.

Thanks for the information!

As an aside, another motivation to getting a Windows VM is to simplify my file organization and make it more efficient. I'd like to wipe out the Lenovo recovery partition and use it to store files, then share that drive as mounted in Ubuntu with the Windows VM. Also share one Dropbox folder with the VM. Currently I have Dropbox in Ubuntu and Windows and I basically have two of everything on the same hard drive... not efficient.

Well, I had an epiphany the other day and realized that I should take advantage of my college giving away copies of Windows 7. I'll just leave the native installation alone and use their copy for the VM.

However, if anyone has an answer for future reference....

A virtual machine (hereafter referred to as "VM") is best thought of as an entirely separate and independent computer from its host. A VM comprises an entire computer ecosystem and it has all the characteristics that an actual physical computer will have.

These include, among others:
* OEM license copies cannot be transferred from PC to VM, VM to PC, nor between VMs because a VM is considered an entire and separate computer in its own right.
* VMs each require their own licensed copy of Windows (or whatever OS you're using) just as a physical computer would.
* VMs each require their own set of security measures if applicable as VMs are completely independent of their host and are considered entire and separate computers.

In basic terms, what you can and/or should do with a separate physical computer you can and/or should do with a VM, and what you can't and/or shouldn't do with a separate physical computer you can't and/or shouldn't do with a VM.

So even if I were to deactivate the native copy, I could not later go to activate it in a VM? The OEM copy will only allow itself to be installed on that one hardware configuration no matter what?

Indeed, an OEM copy is restricted to only ever run on the first computer it is activated on. In this case, your OEM copy of Windows 7 is activated for use with your laptop, it will not activate inside a VM as a VM will be considered the equivalent of a different physical computer.

Thanks for the info!