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Virtual Machines and GUIDs / Licensing
Hi. I am not finding a definite answer to this question in my google and microsoft searches. I was hoping somebody here could help me out.
I am trying to figure out if I will be able to install and activate Windows 7 on multiple VMs using the same product key on the same physical machine.
I am able to install, activate, and run multiple copies of Windows 7 on separate physical partitions with the same product key due to the fact that they all share the same GUID and thus, from Microsoft's perspective, they are all the same exact copy. Or at least this is how I understand it.
So, if each VM shares the same GUID, it would stand to reason that I would not need a different product key for each Windows 7 VM that I am running. However, I don't know that much about virtualization, so I am unsure as to whether a VM created with the new Windows Virtual PC will have a GUID different from that which is stored in my BIOS.
If somebody could please help clarify this, I would greatly appreciate it, as I do not want to get my product key "black-listed" and I need to get several Windows 7 VM's installed as soon as possible. Thanks.
Just FYI: This is for testing purposes. I can assure you that I have purchased a separate license for every PHYSICAL MACHINE that I own. I am not trying to screw Microsoft here :)
Last edited by powder21; 15 Feb 2010 at 00:41.