Buying a copy of Windows 10 to run in a virtual machine?

Cromulent · 19 Nov 2016 at 16:55

On my current computer I have Windows 10 Home edition which I got for free when they were offering Windows 10 for free from Windows 7 users. I want to run a copy of Windows 10 in a virtual machine to keep all of my development stuff separate from my gaming stuff and Office 2013 stuff.

The thing I am worried about is if I buy an OEM copy of Windows 10 Home edition and run it in a virtual machine will it cause problems with only having one machine it is registered on? I might want to do things like increase the number of CPU cores associated with the machine or up the RAM when I get around to upgrading my whole PC some time next year.

I just don't want to get in the position of buying Windows 10 Home edition OEM and finding that it won't work when I reinstall it in a new virtual machine at a later date.

Has anyone else done this at all? For reference I'll be using VMWare Workstation Pro 12.5 to run the virtual machine.

Edit: I could buy the retail edition rather than the OEM version but OCUK only seem to sell a USB pen drive version for that and not a DVD which makes it hard to install in a virtual machine.

malachi · 19 Nov 2016 at 17:49

You will need a separate license for each vm install.

https://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/Pages/support-faq.aspx#fbid=gnt390Zyg1R

Q. Can I install OEM software on a virtual machine (VMware)?

A. You can install OEM software in a virtual environment as long as you have a separate license for each instance of the software. It is fine to use the OEM version as long as it is properly licensed. To be clear, a separate version of the software must be installed for both the “standard” and “virtual” installations.

But you can install the Windows 10 90 day trial and restore it back after.

Cromulent · 19 Nov 2016 at 17:56

malachi said:
You will need a separate license for each vm install.

https://www.microsoft.com/OEM/en/Pages/support-faq.aspx#fbid=gnt390Zyg1R

Q. Can I install OEM software on a virtual machine (VMware)?

A. You can install OEM software in a virtual environment as long as you have a separate license for each instance of the software. It is fine to use the OEM version as long as it is properly licensed. To be clear, a separate version of the software must be installed for both the “standard” and “virtual” installations.

But you can install the Windows 10 90 day trial and restore it back after.

Ah. Thank you very much. So as long as I have a license for the base computer OS and one for the virtual machine I will be running everything will work fine? That is good news.

I'll order an OEM copy of Windows 10 Home edition for my development needs then.

marc2003 · 19 Nov 2016 at 18:12

I wouldn't buy a copy. See if it installs and activates first. Because all VM software will have identical "virtual" hardware, chances are someone has already licensed it legitimately meaning you get to use it for nothing - because the hardware matches.

I discovered this myself when I installed windows 10 PRO in VMware some time ago. I downloaded an ISO and didn't enter any product key during setup.

(screenshot from an old thread)

Cromulent · 20 Nov 2016 at 15:30

marc2003 said:
I wouldn't buy a copy. See if it installs and activates first. Because all VM software will have identical "virtual" hardware, chances are someone has already licensed it legitimately meaning you get to use it for nothing - because the hardware matches.

I discovered this myself when I installed windows 10 PRO in VMware some time ago. I downloaded an ISO and didn't enter any product key during setup.

Ah. Cool. I'll install it from the ISO and see if I need it or not. Thanks for the that it might save me some money. But if I do end up having to buy a copy it isn't the end of the world.

Hyburnate · 20 Nov 2016 at 15:37

It may be worth mentioning you can actually pick up a Windows license for less than a tenner.

The1nonly1 · 20 Nov 2016 at 16:15

Hyburnate said:
It may be worth mentioning you can actually pick up a Windows license for less than a tenner.

Where from? Trust me details?

ED209 · 20 Nov 2016 at 17:17

For less than a tenner? its not going to be a legit copy at that price!

Hyburnate · 20 Nov 2016 at 17:20

Microsoft partners can get refurb licenses and that's how they do it.

e; I've never had any issues.

Cromulent · 20 Nov 2016 at 18:05

Hyburnate said:
It may be worth mentioning you can actually pick up a Windows license for less than a tenner.

Yeah if you could trust me the details that would be great. I've never heard of that from a legitimate source.

Hyburnate · 20 Nov 2016 at 18:07

Just look at the bay, it's 1/7th of the price.

Edward78 · 20 Nov 2016 at 18:59

Hmmm, ebay, that sounds fishy...

nutcase · 20 Nov 2016 at 20:41

Just because it activates doesn't mean it is legal.

Hyburnate · 20 Nov 2016 at 20:42

Did I say it was legal? More fool you, but I don't fancy spending £80 on a license

It isn't my problem if it activates, Microsoft can deal with the source of the problem.

On Holiday · 20 Nov 2016 at 20:43

Yeah, not legit, I've read enough of the SPLA rules to know that.

Anyway, you should have options to copy host BIOS strings to VM.. i.e. if the host machine is running Windows 10 then use the same code. Less sketchy than a cheap Windows key that's probably already activated elsewhere

llamadal · 20 Nov 2016 at 21:56

It's software that's going to be used nearly every day for years, just pay the best genuine price you can find.

Hope ms find every dodgy key and disable them all.

gareth170 · 20 Nov 2016 at 23:35

Hyburnate said:
Did I say it was legal? More fool you, but I don't fancy spending £80 on a license

It isn't my problem if it activates, Microsoft can deal with the source of the problem.

suggesting someone to buy a key that maybe not legit/legal is very poor, tbh. also openly on a public forum.

Cromulent · 21 Nov 2016 at 00:13

Hyburnate said:
Did I say it was legal? More fool you, but I don't fancy spending £80 on a license

It isn't my problem if it activates, Microsoft can deal with the source of the problem.

Oh. I don't want to do anything illegal. I'll just buy a proper copy of Windows 10 from OCUK in that case. At least that way it will continue to work for me which I need to do my work.