OEM key able to be used on VM?

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  1. Posts : 318
    Dual-boot Win 7 & 10, both Pro 64-bit, now with a Hyper-V VM of Win 11
       #11

    My host is Win 10 Pro 64-bit version 21H1, on my seven-year old personal Dell Optiplex PC at home

    I created my first-ever VM from the standard iso for Win 11 Pro 64-bit.

    Then, to "activate" my Win 11 VM, I used a Win 7 Pro 64-bit OEM key from a picture of a sticker that one of my IT guys sent me, which he got from an older PC at the company that is no longer running Win 7 or anything else using that key.

    (I tried this from suggestions from NavyLCDR and Bree here in a different forum thread.)

    It worked.

    Thank you, Bill Gates, but your microscopic generosity here does not make up for the endless horror-show that is Word. You still owe me.
      My Computer


  2. Posts : 3,453
       #12

    glnz said:
    My host is Win 10 Pro 64-bit version 21H1, on my seven-year old personal Dell Optiplex PC at home

    I created my first-ever VM from the standard iso for Win 11 Pro 64-bit.

    Then, to "activate" my Win 11 VM, I used a Win 7 Pro 64-bit OEM key from a picture of a sticker that one of my IT guys sent me, which he got from an older PC at the company that is no longer running Win 7 or anything else using that key.

    (I tried this from suggestions from NavyLCDR and Bree here in a different forum thread.)

    It worked.

    Thank you, Bill Gates, but your microscopic generosity here does not make up for the endless horror-show that is Word. You still owe me.
    It's got nothing to do with generosity - just poor enforcement of the EULA.
      My Computer


  3. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #13

    Superfly said:
    It's got nothing to do with generosity - just poor enforcement of the EULA.
    And I suspect their poor enforcement of the EULA is due, in part, because the more activated installations of Windows 10/11 they can get credit for, the more they make from sources other than the OS itself, such as advertising.
      My Computer


  4. Posts : 3,453
       #14

    NavyLCDR said:
    And I suspect their poor enforcement of the EULA is due, in part, because the more activated installations of Windows 10/11 they can get credit for, the more they make from sources other than the OS itself, such as advertising.
    Affirmative Lt Cdr.
      My Computer


  5. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #15

    Hi there

    A little bit of incorrect info on the EULA seems to be being diseminated on various posts. the actual rule is :

    The EULA merely requires that only 1 copy of Windows using a particular license key can be running -- there's nothing in the EULA that stops you making 793 VM's if you like -- all having the same valid license key -- the requirement is that only 1 of these can be run on any particular machine at one time.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  6. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #16

    5
    1
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 18,424
    Windows 11 Pro
       #17

    jimbo45 said:
    Hi there

    A little bit of incorrect info on the EULA seems to be being diseminated on various posts. the actual rule is :

    The EULA merely requires that only 1 copy of Windows using a particular license key can be running -- there's nothing in the EULA that stops you making 793 VM's if you like -- all having the same valid license key -- the requirement is that only 1 of these can be run on any particular machine at one time.

    Cheers
    jimbo
    Jimbo,
    Can you explain this wording in the EULA, then, please?

    "(iv) Use in a virtualized environment. This license allows you to install only one instance of the software for use on one device, whether that device is physical or virtual. If you want to use the software on more than one virtual device, you must obtain a separate license for each instance."

    If I have 793 VM's on my computer, do I not have 793 VM's installed for use on my computer? If I want to use WIndows on more than one virtual device (such as I want to use the software on 793 VM's), the EULA says I must obtain a separate license for each instance. Nowhere does the EULA mention running or not. It says installed for use. Why would I have 793 VM's if they were not there "for use?"

    Can you show us in the actual EULA, rather than opinion, where the EULA states anything about RUNNING a single instance? Further up in the EULA is this:
    "Multiple versions. If when acquiring the software you were provided with multiple versions (such as 32-bit and 64-bit versions), you may install and activate only one of those versions at a time."

    Notice the words are install and activate - says nothing about running. Is it OK to have 793 copies installed and activated with the same product key (license) as long as I don't mix 32-bit and 64-bit installations?

    According to your theory, I can have 10 different computers at my house, all installed with the same Windows 10 initially activated with the same product key (one license), and that complies with the EULA so long as I have only one computer turned on at a time. I must disagree.
      My Computer


  8. Posts : 11,247
    Windows / Linux : Arch Linux
       #18

    Hi there @NavyLCDR

    Without getting too much into "Court speak" or Saloon Bar jury talk one instance surely means 1 Windows system . You obviously can't then install another one until you remove the ist one. You are of course allowed to archive / backup versions so it seems clear to me that if you create another version of Windows e.g different language, different applications, different users and install that as a VM on a machine it's perfectly legal provided it's licensed.

    If then you create say Windows Pro preview release which is a different build of your Windows system and it has the license activated e.g digital license then that's 100% legal. If it's the same as the original Windows system then it's clear you can run ONE or the OTHER but not both concurrently. There's no problem in booting either - but the second version can't be run while the ist is active. Seems clear enough to me.

    Cheers
    jimbo
      My Computer


  9. Posts : 15,441
    Windows10
       #19

    jimbo45 said:
    Hi there @NavyLCDR

    Without getting too much into "Court speak" or Saloon Bar jury talk one instance surely means 1 Windows system . You obviously can't then install another one until you remove the ist one. You are of course allowed to archive / backup versions so it seems clear to me that if you create another version of Windows e.g different language, different applications, different users and install that as a VM on a machine it's perfectly legal provided it's licensed.

    If then you create say Windows Pro preview release which is a different build of your Windows system and it has the license activated e.g digital license then that's 100% legal. If it's the same as the original Windows system then it's clear you can run ONE or the OTHER but not both concurrently. There's no problem in booting either - but the second version can't be run while the ist is active. Seems clear enough to me.

    Cheers
    jimbo
    Before digital licences, every installed version required a separate key to licence Windows. It was irrelevant that you could not use these versions simultaneously.

    Once digital licences were introduced, you can multiboot same edition of Windows with only 1 digital licence.

    So now you have an absurd situation whereby you cannot comply with EULA even if youwanted to.

    This situation arises as digital licencing is per pc not per installation.

    So whilst what you are saying logically makes sense, it is strictly not legitimate unless you physically remove multiple instances i.e install one, remove it, install other, remove it etc. which is ridiculous!
      My Computer


 

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