License for Windows 7 in VM?

CootCraig · 27 Aug 2010

I just ordered an HP ENVY 17-1010NR with Windows 7 Home Premium 64-bit. I would like to install a clean Windows 7 on the hard drive and then use a Windows VM as my main workstation. Can anyone tell me if the Windows 7 license allows this?

FWIW, I am a software developer and have been running multiple VMware player VM's on a Vista 64 box for work.

pparks1 · 27 Aug 2010

Not without purchasing another license. Of course, as a software developer you might have something like Technet or more likely MSDN which would allow this.

CootCraig · 27 Aug 2010

Thats too bad. What about running Ubuntu on the hard drive and then running Windows 7 on a VMware player, does the Windows 7 license allow this?

pparks1 said:

Not without purchasing another license. Of course, as a software developer you might have something like Technet or more likely MSDN which would allow this.

Dark Nova Gamer · 27 Aug 2010

CootCraig said:

Thats too bad. What about running Ubuntu on the hard drive and then running Windows 7 on a VMware player, does the Windows 7 license allow this?

pparks1 said:

Not without purchasing another license. Of course, as a software developer you might have something like Technet or more likely MSDN which would allow this.

This page may help you slightly.

Neowin.net - Virtualizing Windows may violate your license requirements

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Though to be honest, I wouldn't truly worry any 'End User License Agreements'. As long as you are running it on one PC at a time (this includes VM's) you should be golden.

ken9122 · 27 Aug 2010

DarkNovaGamer said:

Though to be honest, I wouldn't truly worry any 'End User License Agreements'. As long as you are running it on one PC at a time (this includes VM's) you should be golden.

I agree

pparks1 · 27 Aug 2010

CootCraig said:

Thats too bad. What about running Ubuntu on the hard drive and then running Windows 7 on a VMware player, does the Windows 7 license allow this?

Yes, because you would be using the 1 license you are entitled to. Unless of course that license is OEM and then it's tied to the actual physical machine and cannot be moved to another machine.

CootCraig · 27 Aug 2010

I have some trouble grasping this. I would wipe windows 7 from the hard drive, install Linux and VMware player, and then install windows 7 on a vm using the activation key for the OEM license on the laptop. So there would be only one copy running on the OEM hardware. I am assuming that the windows 7 would be legal and could be activated. Agreed?

pparks1 said:

Yes, because you would be using the 1 license you are entitled to. Unless of course that license is OEM and then it's tied to the actual physical machine and cannot be moved to another machine.

Darician · 27 Aug 2010

Technically, this would be a sort of loophole as you are still technically on the same physical machine. It just so happens you're running a virtual one on top of it. I don't think there would be a problem with it but again, this is one of those really grey areas.

pparks1 · 27 Aug 2010

CootCraig said:

I have some trouble grasping this. I would wipe windows 7 from the hard drive, install Linux and VMware player, and then install windows 7 on a vm using the activation key for the OEM license on the laptop. So there would be only one copy running on the OEM hardware. I am assuming that the windows 7 would be legal and could be activated. Agreed?

I don't even think in this instance that it actually qualifies...as technically the virtual hardware being presented does not match the physical real hardware in the box. Plus, once a VM is up and running, you can easily move it from machine to machine without it seeing a hardware change....so in the event that you went to another machine your VM license would still be activated and valid...which is not allowable with an OEM copy.

CootCraig · 27 Aug 2010

I'm not going to attempt this - I'm usually a stickler for following licensing, although sometimes I don't understand. In any case, I think I'm better off leaving the laptop hardware to Windows 7. I am disappointed Microsoft does not allow one Windows 7 VM on the native instance though.

I plan to use VMware player hosted on Windows 7 to run a number of Linux instances.

Thank you for all the thoughtful responses.

pparks1 said:

I don't even think in this instance that it actually qualifies...as technically the virtual hardware being presented does not match the physical real hardware in the box. Plus, once a VM is up and running, you can easily move it from machine to machine without it seeing a hardware change....so in the event that you went to another machine your VM license would still be activated and valid...which is not allowable with an OEM copy.