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Possible Duplicate:
How does Windows 7 licensing work for running the OS as Virtual Machines?

To sum things up:

  • I have bought Windows 7 Professional (OEM license)
  • It's installed on my laptop
  • Am I allowed to create virtual machines, using any freely available virtualization software, and use Windows 7 Professional with the same license key on them as well? Does it make a difference if it's an OEM license or not?
  • I would use the laptop to run the virtualization software.

Why?

  • To try out software on a virtual instance and not risk cluttering my main OS install
  • It might be a nice way to separate concerns

In my experience there are a lot of rumors and speculations concerning license issues. Please do not answer based on a feeling. I'm interested in answers from people who have investigated this, by carefully reading the license agreement or by contacting Microsoft.

Community
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Deleted
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1 Answers1

21

The answer is no.

From the Windows 7 licence agreement available at www.microsoft.com, section 3 "ADDITIONAL LICENSING REQUIREMENTS AND/OR USE RIGHTS":

d. Use with Virtualization Technologies. Instead of using the software directly on the licensed computer, you may install and use the software within only one virtual (or otherwise emulated) hardware system on the licensed computer.

Note the "instead of" part. If you use the licence to install Windows in a VM, you may not use it for a second Windows installation on the physical computer.

This applies to both OEM and retail licences.

Indrek
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