Windows – use the same Windows 7 license for a virtual machine and native (on the same computer)

licensingvirtual machinevmware-fusionwindows 7

I run OS X as my usual operating system. I've purchased a copy of Windows 7 which I've installed as a guest in VMware Fusion.

Everything's fine so far.

Now — I'd like to also have a native installation of Windows 7 on the same computer. I can do the installation fine, but I'm wondering if the same license will work. Is it going to validate OK when I activate it? Will it "invalidate" the VM instance?

Best Answer

The VM instance of Windows 7 doesn't "know" that it's on a virtual machine. And it certainly doesn't know that it's on the same physical computer as any native installation you may make. So I would expect that you will be unable to activate the native installation of Windows, because your product key is already bound to the hardware configuration of the VM in Microsoft's database.

You'll be able to install it without any trouble, but without activation, the anti-piracy measures will kick in after 30 days or however long the grace period is.

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