📎 AI Summary:
The thread revolves around a user seeking advice on backing up and installing Windows 8.1, aiming to retain compatibility with older programs and games despite using Windows 10. Contributors discuss options like creating bootable ISO files, using system image backups, and virtual machines to run older OSes, with recommendations for reliable backup software such as Macrium Reflect and Acronis TrueImage. The overall sentiment emphasizes the importance of using proven tools and methods for backup and virtualization, and the user expresses a preference for virtualization solutions like VirtualBox or VMware to avoid hardware limitations, while also questioning licensing reuse of Windows product keys across multiple virtual machines and PCs.
The thread revolves around a user seeking advice on backing up and installing Windows 8.1, aiming to retain compatibility with older programs and games despite using Windows 10. Contributors discuss options like creating bootable ISO files, using system image backups, and virtual machines to run older OSes, with recommendations for reliable backup software such as Macrium Reflect and Acronis TrueImage. The overall sentiment emphasizes the importance of using proven tools and methods for backup and virtualization, and the user expresses a preference for virtualization solutions like VirtualBox or VMware to avoid hardware limitations, while also questioning licensing reuse of Windows product keys across multiple virtual machines and PCs.
if you build a new system later and remove this one then yes a retail key with go across to the new system... you may have to ring Microsoft if this keeps swapping about within a short time but they will sort that out
all (non-server12r2 data) retail keys are 'one key for one system'... real or inside vmware, Vbox or hyper-v does not matter.
however you can make working backups of that system as many times as you like and thats still considered one system for your retail key + you can move the system from one motherboard (real) or host system (virtual) so for example;
- you have a v-box w8.1 with retail key and you purchase a new wx laptop to hold it next year... the vbox w8.1 is allowed to move across to this new wx laptop (host)
- or perhaps you want to try installing Adobe photoshop on it but don't want to risk everything... make a backup before installing Adobe then if the system blue screens you can still roll back to before the install. make another backup whenever you make a major change and then store all these backups on a nas so even if some crackhead steals your host laptop you can still recover the V system when you purchase a new host laptop.
How do I transfer my key from one PC to another or from one Virtual Machine to another Virtual Machine.
