Do I need the retail version of Windows 10 to run in a virtual machine?

Cromulent · 28 Jan 2019 at 05:01

I already have a copy of Windows 10 Pro which I use in a virtual machine, but I need another Windows 10 virtual machine. Would I be OK to use an OEM version of Windows 10 or do I need to have the retail version?

malachi · 28 Jan 2019 at 09:25

Cromulent said:
I already have a copy of Windows 10 Pro which I use in a virtual machine, but I need another Windows 10 virtual machine. Would I be OK to use an OEM version of Windows 10 or do I need to have the retail version?

What's the reason? As you probably be better off using the trial versions in a VM.

Django x2 · 28 Jan 2019 at 14:19

You can use any version. You can even use the same Win10Pro disk that served your first VM, if you wish.

Cromulent · 29 Jan 2019 at 02:16

malachi said:
What's the reason? As you probably be better off using the trial versions in a VM.

Game programming for one virtual machine and FPGA programming for another. Both need to run Windows 10 Pro.

Django x2 said:
You can use any version. You can even use the same Win10Pro disk that served your first VM, if you wish.

Ah, cool. Thanks.

h4rm0ny · 29 Jan 2019 at 10:33

Cromulent said:
I already have a copy of Windows 10 Pro which I use in a virtual machine, but I need another Windows 10 virtual machine. Would I be OK to use an OEM version of Windows 10 or do I need to have the retail version?

Legally, you need a licenced version. In practice you can download Windows install media from Microsoft and leave it unlicenced and just tolerate a few things such as occasional reminders and not being able to customise your Start menu. What are your actual needs? What I've found recently is the joy of Docker on Windows. There are Windows images (including Nano) that you can download and fire up and you don't need a licence for that. You can even distribute the images so long as their primary purpose is other than providing Windows functionality.

But if you're doing VMs then yes, Microsoft do not treat an install on a VM any differently than an install on real hardware. And an OEM version will consider the VM's hardware signature to be it's true install fwiw.