VM Win 7

I was going to make a VM with a Win 7 disc I have; I am running Win 10. The disc is OEM so Windows rejected the key I hse to reinstall.
Is there a way I can still use Win 7 as the guest without a product key?
I will use YouTube as I have never done this before.

If not, how can I make 7 a dual boot with my Windows 10 already installed?

I lost Bluetooth when I upgraded from Windows 7 to 8 then 8.1 then 10.
I now have a clean installation of ten. Also, would a BT dongle work with Windows 10?

Hi there
First check whether Bluetooth works on the HOST. If not you might have to enable a driver.

Sometimes however if you can install the correct driver directly on the W7 VM you don't necessarily need to ensure it works on the HOST. This will depend on the HOST OS and what you are using as your VM software - usually on this Forum people use VMWARE (player or workstation), VBOX, or HYPER-V each work slightly differently. There are others such as QEMU and the Linux version of HYPER-V - something like KVM I think if you are using a LINUX HOST although VMWARE and VBOX work perfectly on most Linux Distros.

Windows 7 as cereberus pointed out can run for 30 days before activation - so either the command to extend the grace period (re-arm) can be used or simply re-install every 30 days ---- depends on what you need the VM for --if merely testing I don't see any problem with a re-install, however if you want to use it daily then you'll need to source out a retail / valid W7 version.

Note though if you were one of those old Technet subscribers the keys still work and unlike the standard retail versions they could be re-activated quite a few times - around 10 I think.

Extra point here : - finally about drivers -- if your HOST is 64 bit and the GUEST 32 bit you WILL need separate drivers for HOST and GUEST. (Same is true if testing a 64 BIT guest on a 32 BIT HOST which can be done if CPU has INTEL VT enabled or equivalent AMD feature. In this case HOST + GUEST will only be able to address max 4GB RAM however much is physically installed in the machine itself).

Cheers
jimbo

Bluetooth was disabled when I upgraded and accept the loss - done and a dongle is fine, thanks.

I have the discs for 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 which I created as I upgraded.

The pc came with Windows 7 so I have the installation disc with key and other installation discs they tell you to make.

When I download Windows ISO it will not accept my OEM product key and I get that but is there a way I can still use Win as guest.
Maybe change my disc to iso then use key?

My goal is to use some version of Windows as the guest.

So be it; thank you.