Windows 10: VM Win 7

I was going to make a VM with a Win 7 disc I have; I am running Win 10. The disc is OEM so Windows rejected the key I hse to reinstall.
Is there a way I can still use Win 7 as the guest without a product key?
I will use YouTube as I have never done this before.

If not, how can I make 7 a dual boot with my Windows 10 already installed?

I lost Bluetooth when I upgraded from Windows 7 to 8 then 8.1 then 10.
I now have a clean installation of ten. Also, would a BT dongle work with Windows 10?

:)

 

Win 7 Installation with VM Ware

I have VM ware installed on my Win 10 PC and within VM Ware I installed Win 7 using an unused license. I am about to reformat my entire SSD and reinstall Win 10 and everything else that I have on PC. Do I have to uninstall Win 7 in the VM ware setup
or do anything special so that I can reinstall Win 7 in the virtual machine?

 

Special upgrade circumstances

1. I currently have WIN 7 Pro with an VM XP SP3. Will this upgrade keep my VM SP3?

2. I can run x32 programs (Office 2003 pro and VB6) in WIN 7 Pro. Will I still be able to run these programs in the WIN 10 OS?

Thanks

 

1) windows 7 unactivated in a vm will stop working properly afer 30 days.

You can rearm trial mode up to 8 timesband get a maximum of 270 days but real PITA.

2) many web guides how to dual boot windows 7.


3) No idea why bluetooth does not work - can you even see Bluetooth adaptor in device manager? A bluetooth dongle should work fine.

 

Hi there
First check whether Bluetooth works on the HOST. If not you might have to enable a driver.

Sometimes however if you can install the correct driver directly on the W7 VM you don't necessarily need to ensure it works on the HOST. This will depend on the HOST OS and what you are using as your VM software - usually on this Forum people use VMWARE (player or workstation), VBOX, or HYPER-V each work slightly differently. There are others such as QEMU and the Linux version of HYPER-V - something like KVM I think if you are using a LINUX HOST although VMWARE and VBOX work perfectly on most Linux Distros.

Windows 7 as cereberus pointed out can run for 30 days before activation - so either the command to extend the grace period (re-arm) can be used or simply re-install every 30 days ---- depends on what you need the VM for --if merely testing I don't see any problem with a re-install, however if you want to use it daily then you'll need to source out a retail / valid W7 version.

Note though if you were one of those old Technet subscribers the keys still work and unlike the standard retail versions they could be re-activated quite a few times - around 10 I think.

Extra point here : - finally about drivers -- if your HOST is 64 bit and the GUEST 32 bit you WILL need separate drivers for HOST and GUEST. (Same is true if testing a 64 BIT guest on a 32 BIT HOST which can be done if CPU has INTEL VT enabled or equivalent AMD feature. In this case HOST + GUEST will only be able to address max 4GB RAM however much is physically installed in the machine itself).

Cheers
jimbo

 

Bluetooth was disabled when I upgraded and accept the loss - done and a dongle is fine, thanks.

I have the discs for 7, 8, 8.1 and 10 which I created as I upgraded.

The pc came with Windows 7 so I have the installation disc with key and other installation discs they tell you to make.

When I download Windows ISO it will not accept my OEM product key and I get that but is there a way I can still use Win as guest.
Maybe change my disc to iso then use key?

My goal is to use some version of Windows as the guest.

 

The Windows guest OS must be licensed to run fully. For Windows 7 it will run without a license ... but will nag you to register each time you log in, and will post a message on-screen saying that this Windows installation is not valid. But it will still work.

 

Windows 10 happily runs unactivated without any expiry date but you would not be able to personalise the VM. There is a chance it will activate using the 7 key.

You can download windows 7 iso using link to techbench iso downloader.

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