Windows 10: Is this migration path sane and the best way to go? Win 10 install to Win 10 Virtual Machine.

I have one last PC still running Windows 10. Its system board does not support TPM, it can't go to Win 11. I am retired with a limited budget. As Win 10 support only last for the next three years, the OS that runs this last PC will be some distro of Linux before that date occurs. There is no other option. BUT there are things on the Windows Desktop I can't run under Linux. So the idea is to move my installed Win 10 OS to a virtual machine where I can run those few things I need access to on occasion primarily archival material that can't be converted such as 2TB in two PST files with 30 year

:)

 

Migrating Windows to another virtual machine

I have an iMac running Parallels with Win 10 Pro in a virtual machine. This Win 10 Pro was an upgraded for free from Win 7 Pro a few years ago. I think it was an upgrade only path, which I presume means that I cannot download a fresh Win 10 Pro and install that. i.e. I need the earlier Win 7 installed.

Due to some issues with Parallels on this virtual machine, I would like to install Win 10 Pro on another Parallels virtual machine. So, I would need a Windows 10 image file.

My question is, can I get this image file from somewhere? Would I need to put my existing serial number in there? Will that disable my old Windows 10 installation, meaning I cannot then migrate over all my data and apps?

 

Win 10 boots...

People have Win 10 installed?

 

Update from win 8 to win 10 failed - If I install on Virtual machine will it help to activate?

Hello,

my update process from 8 to 10 failed 2 times already.

AS far as I understood, to be able to use my Win 8 CD key on WIN 10 I have to upgrade, and not simply clean install win 10 and use the WIN 8 CD key to activate.

I try to avoid a full reinstall before being sure I can upgrade to win 10.

If I install the WIn 8 on a virtual machine like Oracle VirtualBox with my CD key on my PC (not other), activate it, and then update it to win 10, will then I be able to make a clean win 10 install on my PC and activate it? Will the data for the PC stored
on Microsoft activation servers be the one of my PC?

Or it will be different, as virtual Box simulates the devices, the activator will consider my original PC different than the virtual machine, and my WIN 8 CD key will now only be usable for win 10 in the virtual machine installed on my PC?