Is Windows Safe to Use for Beginners in VMWare?

[3MeUm]

Hello! I am new to the community and would like to address these concerns to you:

There are a lot of Youtube videos telling viewers to get free product keys when using old versions such as Windows XP. Are their ways to use Windows in my VMs again with product keys?

My second concern is if ever actions will be taken against me. I'm really sorry for using a VMWare Unlocker to access Mac OS and a free Windows XP Product Key 4x that worked. I am upset and ashamed at what I did and would like to ask you on how to go about this.

Any response is appreciated!

P.S., I planned on using VMWare to look into possibilities for my future career, but I was let down by my actions mentioned in the post. I searched in Quora as well and asked for an IT Expert's help.

[wila · Accepted solution]

Hi,

Not sure why you are asking here... we're mostly all other users of VMware's products. We're not employees of VMware nor legal advisors.

Obviously using illegal product keys for Windows XP is ... not allowed or recommended.
Same for running the unlocker in order to be able to run macOS guests.

Should you do this? My advice would be no, but who am I to tell you what to do?
Is it so illegal that it can get you in trouble? Probably not, but that's very much a "it depends" answer as each country has their own rules about that.

Will you get help down here if we know that you are trying to do something illegal? Normally not as it is against the rules of the forum. The forum is hosted in the US and will follow the rules of US justice and the rules set by VMware.

For running Windows guests.. use trial versions of Windows. Those will expire after a while, but if you're testing than that probably doesn't matter.

For macOS guests you need a macOS host in order to be able to run it legally.
If you want to bring your Workstation install back to original (before unlocker), then uninstall VMware Workstation, reboot the host and re-install VMware Workstation.

That's about all I can tell you about it.
What you do with all that info.. is your choice.

Best of luck,
--
Wil

[Technogeezer · Accepted solution]

@3MeUm Also note that unlike older versions of Windows, Windows 10 and 11 will run without activating it with a license key. Windows will nag about not being activated, and it won't allow you to personalize the installation (wallpaper, themes, etc) but it will still run. I would do that rather than rely on cracked license keys you'll find on the Internet.

If you're concerned about a future career, I wouldn't be bothering with any Windows client release earlier than Windows 10. Windows 8.1 and earlier no longer receive any support or updates from Microsoft.

[scott28tt · Accepted solution]

Your Windows concerns are for a Microsoft forum.

As you have violated the EULA for Workstation and for MacOS, you should legally revert the hack changes, and you cannot discuss EULA violation scenarios here.

[3MeUm]

Thank you for guiding me through this confusing topic! I already deleted VMWare twice to revert the hack changes. Mac OS X is not appearing in the list of Operating Systems already. 

My only purpose is to store pictures, music, and exploring offline features for each OS. More or less testing older versions of Windows. I'll try my best to take your answers into consideration. 😊

Attached here is the unhacked version of VMWare on my PC. I am using Windows XP to Windows 8.1.

If ever I want to ask for Microsoft-related concerns, I'll refer my concerns to another forum. Best of luck!