Windows 7 - License for Windows 7 in VM?

The only thing they do allow is for somebody who purchases Windows 7 Professional, Enterprise (which required a VL) or Ultimate is a license to allow them to run Windows XP Mode on their machine in a VM. Microsoft is all about making money.

If I find I really need this I will purchase a Windows 7 retail license.

On my previous job I had access to MSDN licenses, but I don't now.

Hi there
Windows licenses in Virtual Machines is a rather moot point -- in theory you will need a license for EACH Virtual machine --but in practice since you build your Virtual Machines using essentially identical (or similar) Virtual hardware you can actually make a number of identical virtual machines using ONE copy of Windows.

You will need to activate ONE version of windows even in a Virtual Machine.

OEM versions cannot be activated but full retail or technet copies can be.

Create your VM with roughly the Virtual hardware you need and then activate it. Now this Virtual Machine can be "cloned" as many times as you like and it will actually allow reasonable "Virtual Hardware" changes before requesting a new activation.


XP mode is another issue -- you *might* be able to extract the XP image and run this as a native VM under vmware / vbox. Some people have done this --I haven't tried yet as I was really DISAPPOINTED with XP mode --great idea but badly implemlented.

Cheers
jimbo

One other option which may be of use in a development environment, and it would be wholly dependent on the development cycle involved - you can legally run a copy of Windows 7 either actual or virtual for up to 120 days before it needs to be activated, using the re-arm system.

Hi Barman -- true but if you actually USE your VM for work then the rearm every so often is a pain in the rectum.

I use an XP VM for a Canon 1240 scanner, an old HP Blueprint plotter, some Minidisc recording software, Outlook Express email client and some other Pre Press type of applicatons.

I don't think I'd want to go through the rearm / re-install again --especially for some of the legacy hardware I don't have the drivers any more -- and can't get them as the devices are no longer made.

For some people your solution is fine.

The real problem with licensing I suspect is that Windows doesn't know whether it's running on a real or Virtual Machine.

I hope the NEXT version of Windows will allow you to run as many Virtual machines as you like so long as it's on the SAME computer you licensed Windows for.

This will need a change to the Intel / AMD instruction set as well as to most PC's.

The old IBM mainfames came equipped with an instruction STCPUID which stored the CPU ID in a protected area in ROM. When the OS was loaded (Old MVS/370 etc) the OS would check the CPUID that it was licensed for and if OK would continue the boot (or IPL - Initial Program Load as it was known in those days).

Something like that would do and also prevent "Infinite cloning" of Virtual Machines too.

Cheers
jimbo

Hi Jimbo,

My suggestion here was not one for long term but more for short term development projects, where in my case normally ended with the os being re-installed anyway - The rearm is a short term workaround and always will be