Windows 7: how many virtual machines can you run

I have a windows ultimate 64 system.

How many windows xp and windows 7 virtual machines can i set up without purchasing any additional OS. (in other words just with what comes with windows 7)

I am not sure I understand what you mean?

• How many virtual machines can you store to your hard disks?
  • As many as you want to, only limitation being available hd space. As long as you have available hd space to store a virtual machine, you can create a new one.
• How many virtual machines can you run simultaneously, at the same time?
  • As many as you want to, only limitation being the available RAM on your host. If you have let's say 4 GB of RAM, there's nothing to stop you from running for instance 10 virtual machines at the same time if each of them is assigned 256 MB of RAM; this would still leave 1.5 GB to the host to use.

Of course you need a valid license for each virtual machine, only exception being the Windows XP Mode which does not require a license. To install and run XP Mode you need Windows 7 Professional, Ultimate or Enterprise.

Kari

I see how my question is confusing. By example, i cannot go an load my windows 7 disks on other peoples systems. i will run into license issues. are there any license limits to how many times you can load windows 7 on your own machine, running at the same time?

One product key = one install. You can not for instance use the same product key you used to activate your Windows 7 to install it to an additional computer or virtual machine. You need a separate, valid license (= product key) for each computer, be it a real, physical computer or a virtual machine.

Kari

Can i reload the same product key for a limited time,for a short period of time without activation in order to test new software?

You do not need to enter a product key when installing Windows. You have 30 days time to enter it and activate.

Kari

u can download trial versions of server products which are set to time expire after 180 days.
but generally as said above 1 licence = 1 install.

if you purchased Windows 7 Professional or Ultimate, you are entitled to run 1 copy of Windows XP mode virtually on your machine. That's it. When you want to use Windows XP, Vista or Windows 7 as virtuals, you need to obtain licensing or use trials.

As others have said, you get 30 days and you can do the reset 3 more times to get a total of 120 days without activating on Windows 7. So, that should cover you for some time. You would then simply reinstall at the end of the 120 days and start again.

post entered twice (stoooooopid AZERTY keyboard) so I've deleted this entry

-j

Hi there
I'll forget XP mode for this dicussion since this needs to be installed on a specifically licensed version of Windows 7 so you will have problems running more than one copy anyway unless you have multiple licences for Windows 7.

Now running an XP Virtual Machine using software such as vmware player / vmware server / vmware workstation / Virtual box or even QEMU is a different ballgame.

If your Virtual Hardware / Virtual BIOS is IDENTICAL then you can create / clone as many copies of your VM as you want since the activation is only needed ONCE.

Now what the legal implications are I don't know since the Virtual Machines are IDENTICAL you are technically running the same machine.

MS is a bit cagey on this one -- in fact MS is a bit cagey on the whole idea of running Virtual Machines at all on normal Consumer desk / laptops.

I would suspect that you are fine so long as you only run ONE VM at a time but of course whose to know. The virtual hardware / BIOS is identical so you won't have probs with activation.

Just do whatever your concience dictates. -- If you need to run more than one concurrently of course change the computer name.

I can't really see this as being a problem since most people use VM's for testing - but if you were to say have 4 or 5 XP virtual machines running genuine Productive work CONCURRENTLY with the same key then that IMO is against the EULA.

I certainly wouldn't see (whatever the lawyers say) testing 3 or 4 concurrently as a problem.

Cheers
jimbo