Windows 7 VM - Licensing Question - Suggestions
I have an environment with about 150 users... about 50 of these users are salespeople. The users all are currently using Windows 7 x64 Pro for their daily use. Our salespeople demo our software to all our customers via a Webex session. The problem I am running into is that we have about 6 different products that we are constantly updating for all the salespeople. I want to get out of the updating game and was thinking about creating a Windows 7 VM. It would only have OUR corporate software with no network access, AV or other productivity software. The idea is that the Salespeople share setup a Webex Session and share the VM screen to demo our products and all machines are uniform and un-customized without putting restrictions on the Sale's PC's. Then when updates are performed to the master VM we can then overwrite the existing VM and all users have latest products. The question I have is in respect to licensing of Windows 7. I contacted MS and the informed me that I can use the same Win 7 Key that the host has but the VM will not have internet access for the activation. I am really just looking for suggestions/solutions that I haven't thought of yet. Certainly I'm not breaking new ground here.
June 13th, 2012 11:25am

When you create your VM, temporarily connect to the Internet to activate. Once activated, disconnect. I have done similar on an isolated, internal network.
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June 13th, 2012 11:32am

I was told that a Windows 7 VM would detect the hardware changes and want to be reactivated. Is that not correct?
June 13th, 2012 11:46am

Hi, I remember that the product key could activate the VM only one time. But I still suggest you contact Microsoft Customer Service for assistance on activation problem. If the hardware changes are not great, it will not be required to reactivate. Microsoft Customer Service and Support http://support.microsoft.com/kb/295539 Ivan-Liu TechNet Community Support
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June 15th, 2012 3:23am

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