Oracle VM VirtualBox?

izzop · 6 Sep 2010 at 21:52

Hi,

Have just downloaded VirtualBox and was wondering how I stand on licensing with regards to Windows?

I'm going to give it a go on my laptop, which is running Windows 7 OEM. If I create another Windows 7 box can I use the copy supplied with the PC to carry out the install?

Likewise I have a few OEM copies of Windows XP lying around, can I use one of these to carryout an install on VirtualBox?

Regards

LizardKing · 6 Sep 2010 at 23:14

For each virtual machine you need a individual license, oems should be ok as long as there not activated.

robinbredin · 6 Sep 2010 at 23:29

izzop
Oracle VM VirtualBox?
Hi,

Have just downloaded VirtualBox and was wondering how I stand on licensing with regards to Windows?

I'm going to give it a go on my laptop, which is running Windows 7 OEM. If I create another Windows 7 box can I use the copy supplied with the PC to carry out the install?

Likewise I have a few OEM copies of Windows XP lying around, can I use one of these to carryout an install on VirtualBox?

Regards

OEM software are tied to the motherboard they came with, so it will be ok with the win 7 software, but not with the XP.

izzop · 6 Sep 2010 at 23:32

LizardKing said:
For each virtual machine you need a individual license, oems should be ok as long as there not activated.

So, trying to use the disk that came with my laptop won't work?

I'll give it a go, as surely it'll be on the same PC/Motherboard?

Also, if I have a retail copy of Windows and run a 64bit install as normal and 32bit in VirtualBox, just a thought?

izzop · 6 Sep 2010 at 23:34

robinbredin said:
OEM software are tied to the motherboard they came with, so it will be ok with the win 7 software, but not with the XP.

You answered my next question before I had a chance to type and post it!

Cheers

Burnsy2023 · 7 Sep 2010 at 08:35

robinbredin said:
OEM software are tied to the motherboard they came with, so it will be ok with the win 7 software, but not with the XP.

XP is no different in licensing terms to 7. And you are licensed for one concurrent install only, so technically you'd need to buy another retail licence.

SiriusB · 7 Sep 2010 at 12:02

izzop said:
Hi,

Have just downloaded VirtualBox and was wondering how I stand on licensing with regards to Windows?

I'm going to give it a go on my laptop, which is running Windows 7 OEM. If I create another Windows 7 box can I use the copy supplied with the PC to carry out the install?

Likewise I have a few OEM copies of Windows XP lying around, can I use one of these to carryout an install on VirtualBox?

Regards

You need a new license for the VM Windows. Either OEM or Retail will work, but obviously the license should be legal.

LizardKing said:
For each virtual machine you need a individual license, oems should be ok as long as there not activated.

Eh? He will have only 30 days use if he doesn't activate. Not much use if it is needed long-term.

robinbredin said:
OEM software are tied to the motherboard they came with, so it will be ok with the win 7 software, but not with the XP.

His Windows 7 is OEM too AND being used already, at least that's the impression I got, so no it's not OK!

izzop said:
So, trying to use the disk that came with my laptop won't work?

Some OEM disks only work on the manufacturers hardware. Dell is usually a big culprit of this.

I'll give it a go, as surely it'll be on the same PC/Motherboard?

Nope. It might be a VM but it is still a different computer. Unless I missed something with MS's licensing, you cannot use a single Windows license on a physical and virtual machine at the same time, just as you can't use it on two physical machines at the same time.

Also, if I have a retail copy of Windows and run a 64bit install as normal and 32bit in VirtualBox, just a thought?

Not sure what you are asking here...

You can run 32- or 64-bit OS your virtual machine, regardless of the host OS.*

[I am pretty sure you can have a 32-bit host and 64-bit guest in VirtualBox, but you may want to double-check in case I made it up!

]

Burnsy2023 · 7 Sep 2010 at 12:09

I don't think OEM licences are allowed on virtual environments.

Burnsy2023 · 7 Sep 2010 at 12:10

SiriusB said:
[I am pretty sure you can have a 32-bit host and 64-bit guest in VirtualBox, but you may want to double-check in case I made it up! ]

You can't use the same licence though. You can use 32 OR 64bit. Not both.

SiriusB · 7 Sep 2010 at 12:12

Burnsy2023 said:
You can't use the same licence though. You can use 32 OR 64bit. Not both.

Ahh good point. Forgot to mention that!

memyselfandi · 7 Sep 2010 at 13:58

SiriusB said:
[I am pretty sure you can have a 32-bit host and 64-bit guest in VirtualBox, but you may want to double-check in case I made it up! ]

You can run a 64bit guest under a 32bit host with VirtualBox although I think it does depend on your CPU having IntelVT support, (I run 64bit RHEL5 in a VM under 32bit XP at work).

All the above comments about how he wouldn't be licensed are correct though.

SiriusB · 7 Sep 2010 at 14:50

Thanks for confirming that! I am pretty sure I had a 64 bit guest on my old Vista 32 bit install, but I couldn't check to make sure!

LizardKing · 7 Sep 2010 at 15:32

SiriusB said:
Eh? He will have only 30 days use if he doesn't activate. Not much use if it is needed long-term.

I meant in the sense that they have not already been activated/installed prior to using the key for the virtual machine.
And of course the oem disk/key must be non vendor specific.

Burnsy2023 · 7 Sep 2010 at 15:42

LizardKing said:
I meant in the sense that they have not already been activated/installed prior to using the key for the virtual machine.
And of course the oem disk/key must be non vendor specific.

OEM licences shouldn't be used in virtual environments. You simply cannot comply with the system builder licence if you do so.