Windows 10: Virtual Box & Activation

I've installed Windows 10 in VirtualBox before upgrading to Windows 10 from 8.1 on my 2 PCs. How can I activate the clean install test copy of Windows 10 in the VM? I have a retail product code for Windows 8 but this doesnt work. I also don't want to affect the activation when I do upgrade my PCs. I could install Windows 8 in the VM using my retail key then upgrade the VM copy to Windows 10 - but what would happen when I upgrade my main PC since Microsoft would see two activation requests for the same key?

:)

 

Windows 10 Activation

I use Windows 10 within a Virtual Box environment. Today I installed a new SSD drive, and moved the Virtual Box Windows 10 environment to my new SSD drive (I have removed the old drive).

Now I get a message that I need to activate the Windows 10 within my Virtual Box environment. So I go to settings and try to activate Windows 10, but the message displayed tells me that I cannot activate the Windows 10 because it has already been activated
previously.

What do I do now? I do not have my old drive, and cannot activate the Windows 10 on my new SSD drive.

 

What does Windows is still setting up the class configuration for this device. (Code 56) mean?

There appears to be two third party virtual network adapters installed, Virtual Box and Easy Tether, which could be at issue.

If you want to try the upgrade again I would suggest the following:

Uninstall Virtual Box and Easy Tether - restart the computer afterwards and open the Device Manager and expand "Network adapters" and make sure the VirtualBox and EasyTether network adapters are not present.

Update the Realtek network adapter driver to the latest available from Realtek (presently 10.0.23):

Realtek

Uninstall McAfee and use Windows built-in antivirus (Windows Defender) and firewall for the upgrade.

After the upgrade you could reinstall Virtual Box, Easy Tether and McAfee.

 

Hi there

You must have an Activated version of the old OS in order to get an activated copy of W10. You CANNOT initially do a CLEAN install of W10 -- you MUST do the UPGRADE first then the Clean install will work. You have to apply all the latest updates to the OLD OS too before upgrading.

When doing the initial W10 upgrade DO NOT ENTER ANY KEY. !!!!!!

A VM is equivalent to a REAL machine as far as licences are concerned so you will have to have TWO licences.

What though does work -- you can clone the VM several times since it's Identical hardware !!!.

To solve your dilemma -- I'd upgrade your REAL machine first. Once that is working -- forget VBOX - use VMWARE player (Free) -- the easy way to create a VM is to use the FREE conversion tool which will create a VM from your running system. (The OLD OS). Now do the upgrade again.

Alternatively upgrade your OLD system first to W10 - do your clean install and NOW create a VM from the new W10 system using the same tool.

VMware vCenter Converter: P2V Virtual Machine Converter | VMware United Kingdom

You might also be lucky in that the VM might be Activated -- however even if it isn't you can use W10 for a while until Ms sorts out the whole activation nonsense.

Cheers
jimbo