Activating Windows on multiple imported VMs - proof of theory


  1. NavyLCDR
    Posts : 18,433
    Windows 11 Pro
       New #1

    Activating Windows on multiple imported VMs - proof of theory


    So I just completed an experiment and did get the results I expected.

    1. I created a VM in Hyper-V on an Intel laptop. I did not attach any drives to the VM.
    2. I exported the VM from the laptop and imported it in Hyper-V on an AMD desktop computer.
    3. Then I attached VDisks to each VM, on the laptop I installed Windows 10 Pro with the generic product key. On the desktop I installed Windows 11 with the generic product key. I signed in to both with a local account only.
    4. I checked activation of both VMs and neither VM was activated.
    5. I activated the Windows 11 VM on the desktop computer by entering a Windows 8 Pro product key.
    6. On the Windows 10 on the laptop VM, I ran slmgr /ato (online automatic activation). It activated with no change in product key.
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  3. cereberus
    Posts : 15,499
    Windows10
       New #2

    The VM copied to new pc will have same hardware ID as version on original PC. Due to way W10/11 licences are tied to hardware id, the MS Servers cannot tell difference of vm being on one pc or another. So once one is activated, you can activate other.

    Of course, this is not legal.
      My Computer
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