Hi, I have an activated W10 install in Parallels VM on my Macbook Pro. I'd like to remove the VM and use the license on another computer.
If it matters, the VM was originally a Windows 7 install, and I did the in-place W10 upgrade.
Any secret to doing this? Thanks!
My thought/s would be that a clean install would be necessary and that the Win7 Product Key will be necessary.
Additionally, Activation may be an issue as that key will be in Microsoft's database as assigned to a particular hardware and show as a second computer when used on the other computer.
If Win7 was a Retail version it could be used once more on a Replacement computer but not 2 at the same time. The OEM version was tied to the hardware it came on.
You can transfer digital licences between devices using the activation troubleshooter but it does not allow transfer between a virtual machine and physical machine.
Moving the OS is possible but OP will need original 7 key to activate it. Strictly oem 7 key cannot be reused but it seems hit or miss if it works.
Thanks for the replies. Yup, Win 7 is retail, used on a PC I assembled. I have the original disc w/product key. In fact, that box is one of the ones I'm considering upgrading to Win 10. But upgrade or clean Win 7 install + upgrade, it sounds like I'm good, provided I take down the VM. Pls correct me if I'm wrong, and thanks again!
Hi folks
old Windows keys (legit retail w7 / W8 /W8.1 all editions except enterprise still work if you want to install W10 from new again.
For moving a VM --this could work
1) image the VM with macrium i.e run it within the VM.
2) define a new VM with whatever VM software you want to use
3) restore the backed up image to the new virtual disk defined in your VM
4) macrium allows restore to different hardware -- won't be a lot different in the case of a VM.
4) when powering on the VM for the first time say you MOVED rather than COPIED it -- this should preserve activation.
Note I've done this several times with VMware VM's -- but it's worth having a go even with a parallels vm that you have restored to a windows machine -- the virtual hardware for para virtualised machines will surely not be too different whether vbox, VMware or even HYPER-V.
If it doesn't work you won't have lost anything.
Cheers
jimbo
Great, thanks!
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