asked on

Windows 2012 VM WIndows 7 PRO

Hello,

DELL PE T330 Server, Windows 2012 R2 Standard, Hyper-V

I want to install 2 VM, one VM with Windows 2012 R2 and the other VM with WIndows 7 Pro

Serialisation of the WIndows 2012 VM will be included on the WIndows 2012 Server Standard Licence (2 VM). No Problem

Regarding serialisation of WIndows 7 PRO, can I take a WIndows 7 PRO (DELL DVD OEM) with a serial number of Windows 7 (from any old DELL PC) to serialize?

Thank you

Muhammad Mulla

By serialization, I assume you mean activation.

An OEM license is not the correct license to activate and VM as it should only be used to activate the hardware it was sold with.

Gad SAADIA

ASKER

Yes I mean activation

SO I have to buy a new licence of Windows 7 Pro.

Can I buy a WIndows 7 PRO OEM? and activate it on the VM? will it work?

Thanks

Muhammad Mulla

An oem license may work, but they are meant to be sold with oem hardware.

So strictly speaking, even if the VM activates, you may not be licensed.

*** Hopeleonie ***

If it is just for one license, you should buy a retail version. Otherwise you will not accept the Microsoft Agreement. If you need more licenses, have a look at Volume licenses.

rindi

No, you aren't allowed to use OEM Desktop OS's as VM's. You need a retail, non OEM version. Besides that, if you are going to use RDP to connect to your VM, you won't be able to use the Aero display of Windows 7. That means the Graphical performance won't be very good. If you need that you would have to use Windows 7 Ultimate or Enterprise, those versions support Aero over Remote Desktop.

Gad SAADIA

ASKER

Thank you for your answers
Are there the same limitations with Windows 10 PRO (OEM not allowed, retail yes allowed) ?

rindi

As far as I know, yes, but I'm not 100% sure.

ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION

Lee W, MVP

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Mike Taylor

Hi,

Just confirm your last point and re-enforce Lee's point: No you can't use OEM DVD on anything *anything* other than physical hardware meant for the DVD. The O and E mean just that: original equipment.

If the kit you are building is temporary and NOT production then MSDN is a better route if you have it.

Mike