Windows 10: OEM license and VM activation

I am about to buy a Dell laptop, which unfortunatelly has Win10 pro pre-installed. I actually need Ubuntu, but at this time only the laptop version with Windows preinstalled is available. I will have to reinstall Ubuntu on top, but, in long term, I will have windows running in one of VMs on the same laptop. I am so not up to date with current windows licensing, so can you please tell if OEM license could be reused for the windows in VM? I presume not, as the hardware will be virtualised?? And if not, what are best options licensing windows for VM? I don't think I will need pro, home would be sufficient.

Thanks

:)

 

Reusing an OEM Windows license in a VM

It has been asked before if you can install an OEM license in a VM and the answer was yes.

However as has been stated the license is only valid on the 1st machine activated on. Even though the VM host is the original computer the VM environment itself is not, activation will fail.

Of course before that you will need the key, there is none supplied because it is in the hosts BIOS and activates automatically. The VM cannot see the host so Windows will not self activate. There are BIOS key extraction utilities so you will need to do
that 1st

Any way you look at it you will need to call Microsoft's activation centre and persuade them to allow you reactivation although it is not on the same machine, I would say your chances are slim, your chance of getting somebody who actually understands what
you are doing is almost as slim. Explaining the non-Microsoft OS in the 1st place is going to be fun.

 

Reusing an OEM Windows license in a VM

You can't transfer the OEM license that is for your Lenovo to a VM.

 

Windows Server 2016 Standard VM Licensing

Hello

I have a physical server that I already installed windows server 2016 on and activated using an OEM license.

If I create 2 VMs using hyper V, can I activate the 2 VMs using the same license key I used to activate the physical server with?

Second question, if I need two additional VMs, can I buy another Oem license, to activate the other 2 newly created ones and have a total of 4 activated VMs ?