Legit Windows 10 in VirtualBox on Ubuntu - Activate?

mrmatteastwood · 19 Aug 2015

Hello folks!

I am dual-booting Windows 10 and Ubuntu, and consequently have a properly activated Windows 10 installed on my PC.

Now, I'm working from home and my company requires that I keep this time-tracking app running while I work. It's a Windows app, but I work in Ubuntu. I need to find some solution to have it running while I do my work, and for that, I'd like to set up a Windows 10 virtual machine in which the app runs while I'm in Ubuntu.

Do you guys know whether I can just use my Windows 10 disc to install and activate Windows 10 in VirtualBox? Will it activate properly?

swarfega · 19 Aug 2015

Thats what I'm about to attempt. I want a virtual copy of 10 so I can test things and add insider stuff. I'm using the upgrade copy of Windows 10 I got free from being an insider.

pparks1 · 19 Aug 2015

It's not going to activate properly. You could download the 90 day Windows 10 eval, and just reinstall it 4 times a year. If you only have to run that one time tracking app on it, that won't be too hard.

For testing guys, get the 90 day eval. Don't have to worry about activation. You can get it from here: Windows 10 Enterprise | TechNet Evaluation Center

mrmatteastwood · 19 Aug 2015

Yeah, I did some more research myself in the meantime, and the gist of it is, if you want to run Windows (any version) in a VM, you need to have a separate license for it.

The tech preview was one thing I considered, but I think I'll go with Wine for that one app, hoping it runs properly. Thanks!

Fafhrd · 20 Aug 2015

Elsewhere on this Virtualization forum I wrote something applicable to your query, Matt - with a few minor changes:

Virtual Machine (VM), Windows Virtual PC Browserstack : Microsoft Edge Dev is a source for a Microsoft Windows 10 VM - although time limited, using a snapshotting method in your VM platform, they need never run out, according to:
http://modernievirt.blob.core.window...rms_1_5_15.pdf.

It is also highly recommended that you implement a rollback strategy for any virtual machines that you download. This could be as simple as holding onto the original archive that you downloaded, or you could take advantage of your virtualization platform’s snapshotting capability so that you can start over with a fresh VM at any time and not have to worry about the guest operating system running out of trial time.

The Platforms available are HyperV, VirtualBox and VMWare on Windows, Mac and Linux. All free and legit.