- Messages
- 282
- Location
- Sunnyvale, CA USA
On a serious note, I've done some more digging and I think this post covers things accurately:
How the new Windows 8 license terms affect you - Ed Bott
How the new Windows 8 license terms affect you | ZDNet
Here is the interesting part:
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"If you purchase the software separately, in a package or as a download, the rules are much more liberal. Note that the text for the following rules is identical for retail upgrades and for System Builder software that you install on a PC you build yourself, or in a virtual machine, or on a separate partition. Emphasis in the following sections is in the original:
There is no limit on the number of times you may do this type of transfer, providing you follow the rules I describe later in this section. That means hobbyists who like to tinker with PCs can relax. If you buy a System Builder copy, you can move (not share) that license from an old PC to a new one."
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So if I read this correctly, having removed Win 7 OEM when I upgraded to Windows 8 I am now free to transfer Windows 7 to my personal VM.
That means I didn't have to delete the VM after all.
But, when all is said and done, running Windows 8 or Windows 7 in a VM does not really seem practical compared to a Linux distro.
Linux is so much more light-weight, and it installs and boots a lot faster.
I've tried a few Linux distros, I've decided to keep the Linux Mint Mate 14.1 in a VM. It's easier than setting up a dual-boot system, and I'd probably only run the VM if I wanted to check out some obscure or unreliable Internet resource without risking the host machine.
How the new Windows 8 license terms affect you - Ed Bott
How the new Windows 8 license terms affect you | ZDNet
Here is the interesting part:
-----
"If you purchase the software separately, in a package or as a download, the rules are much more liberal. Note that the text for the following rules is identical for retail upgrades and for System Builder software that you install on a PC you build yourself, or in a virtual machine, or on a separate partition. Emphasis in the following sections is in the original:
You may transfer the software to another computer that belongs to you. … You may not transfer the software to share licenses between computers.
In other words, you can remove the Windows 8 upgrade from an original PC and then install it on another PC, assuming the new PC has a license that qualifies it for an upgrade. Likewise, you can completely remove the PUL System Builder software from a self-built PC, a VM, or a partition and then install it in a new physical or virtual PC.
There is no limit on the number of times you may do this type of transfer, providing you follow the rules I describe later in this section. That means hobbyists who like to tinker with PCs can relax. If you buy a System Builder copy, you can move (not share) that license from an old PC to a new one."
-------
So if I read this correctly, having removed Win 7 OEM when I upgraded to Windows 8 I am now free to transfer Windows 7 to my personal VM.
That means I didn't have to delete the VM after all.
But, when all is said and done, running Windows 8 or Windows 7 in a VM does not really seem practical compared to a Linux distro.
Linux is so much more light-weight, and it installs and boots a lot faster.
I've tried a few Linux distros, I've decided to keep the Linux Mint Mate 14.1 in a VM. It's easier than setting up a dual-boot system, and I'd probably only run the VM if I wanted to check out some obscure or unreliable Internet resource without risking the host machine.
My Computer
System One
-
- OS
- Windows 8.1 Pro with Media Center (64-bit)
- Computer type
- PC/Desktop
- System Manufacturer/Model
- Custom-build
- CPU
- Intel Core i7-2600K @ 4.3 GHz
- Motherboard
- ASUS P8P67 PRO Rev 3.0
- Memory
- 16 GB G.SKILL Ripjaws X DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (4 banks 4GB DIMM DDR3 8-8-8-24 5-32-12-7 1T 1.5V)
- Graphics Card(s)
- NVIDIA GeForce GT 440
- Sound Card
- Firewire Focusrite Saffire Pro 14
- Monitor(s) Displays
- LG W2353V
- Screen Resolution
- 1920x1080
- Hard Drives
- 2 of Seagate Barracuda XT ST32000641AS (2TB ea.);
1 of Seagate Barracuda Green ST2000DL003 (2TB);
1 of Hitachi Deskstar HDS722020ALA330 (2TB);
2 of Seagate Desktop ST4000DM000-1F2168 (4TB)
- PSU
- Corsair AX850 Gold
- Case
- Cooler Master HAF 932 Advanced
- Cooling
- ThermalTake Silent 1156
- Keyboard
- Logitech K520
- Mouse
- Logitech M310
- Internet Speed
- 7Mbps
- Browser
- Chrome
- Antivirus
- Kaspersky
- Other Info
- Event Studio Precision 6 powered audio monitors;
Boston Acoustics CS Sub 10 Powered Subwoofer;
NI Kore controller;
NI Maschine controller;
M-Audio Axiom 61 keyboard controller; expression pedal; sustain pedal;
... and tons of audio software ...
I also keep two USB 3 thumb drives (A: and B:) attached with boot recovery and security stuff that I can boot into from BIOS in case of emergency