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louis14
Contributor
Contributor
‎03-30-2023 09:24 PM

move of OEM vm license

Maybe a stupid question because I don't understand the real working of a .vmdk file.

Can I move the vm folder of an OEM (windows) vm to another PC with vmware workstation pro? Will the vm run w/o license problems on the new PC?

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3 Replies
louis14
Contributor
Contributor
‎03-30-2023 11:49 PM

FYI.

I use on the new PC the same vmware workstation version as on the original PC (where I uninstall the vmware workstation)

I choose for "vm moved" not "copied".

I ask this question because I am going to buy a windows 11 license on my current PC w vmware and I want to know whether I can move the vm later to my new PC..

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louis14
Contributor
Contributor
‎03-31-2023 12:52 AM

I've read about it and someone says the OEM guest vm moved to the new PC will be activated and run but it's not legal; against the rules of microsoft.

Is this right?

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michelkeus_stwg
Enthusiast
Enthusiast
‎03-31-2023 01:23 AM

Hi Louis,

The problem with OEM licenses is that they are tied to the hardware (specifically the motherboard). So while it is legal to use an OEM license in a Virtual Machine, officially that requires 2 separate licenses (1 for the host and 1 for the VM) but both will be tied to the same underlying hardware.

Technically you can move the VM from an old PC to a new PC and it would work, but for the VM the license will stay behind due to the hardware-tied nature of the license. Had the VM been a retail version of Windows then this would not have been a problem as a retail-variant does not have this "hardware-lock".

Some reference information can be found here:

Hope this sheds some light on your predicament.

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