Windows 7: Windows Enterprise and Licensing rights in Virtual Machines

Hi all
according to the licensing info on Windows 7 Enterprise it allows :

License rights to run up to four additional copies of Windows in virtual machines

Now can these 4 additional copies be the Windows 7 enterprise version itself - or any Windows 7 version.

If its Any Windows 7 version then would these extra versions be available FREE or could you use existing install disks from physical machines.

With the Enterprise version you don't have the problem as its already licensed.

Cheers
jimbo

According to this document from Microsoft (http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j...WatFNyBU_6DhNg)


As long as you have licensed Windows 7 Enterprise edition AND have a CURRENT software assurance agreement on that software, you can install and run 4 additional copies of the OS. These do NOT need to be Windows 7 Enterprise edition, they can be any prior version of Windows...including Windows Vista Business and Windows XP PRO

In the event that your Software Assurance contract expires you can continue to run the Windows 7 Enterprise copy on the physical machine...but the Virtualization Use Right to run 4 other VM's does not


Unfortunately, all of the above is not really applicable to retail customers....as this option is only available to volume license customers with active software assurance contracts. As a stand alone end user, you cannot obtain or license a copy of Windows 7 Enterprise edition for home use.

Hi there
As a technet subscriber a Windows 7 enterprise system IS available.

Cheers
jimbo