Ticket Options

Question Profile

Question Details

TICKET ARCHIVE -> Fusion VM ware and Vista Activation

Doug Mitchell - Mar 5, 2008 - 7:40 am

I installed Windows Vista via Boot Camp, on my 2.8 ghz iMac. Everything worked to perfection and I completed the Activation. I have since purchased Fusion VM and installed it. When I run this program and start up my virtual machine I am told that the Activation Code is not valid as it is assigned to another computer. Can I solve this problem or do I eventually lose access to Windows in this environment.

ScottW - Mar 5, 2008 - 8:07 am

Doug,

Microsoft has licensed Vista in such a way that only Vista Ultimate is allowed to be installed inside a Virtual Machine. That doesn't mean if you have it installed on Bootcamp, that it will run on Fusion as well, it just means that legally speaking, Microsoft will allow only Vista Ultimate to be installed under VMware/Parallels.

That said, and legal "whatever" set aside, Vista is only allowed to be installed on one system. The Fusion software becomes, in essence, a new "system" and as such, it will ask to be activated. If you activate it, then go back to bootcamp, it will ask to activate it again.

For your information, Vista performs horrible under Fusion and Parallels, compared to say running Windows XP. You will notice performance loss running Vista under Fusion, than just under Bootcamp directly. You will not almost no performance difference if the OS was Windows XP.

Windows XP will do the same thing on activations if we switch back and forth on some version, while the Corp edition or perhaps the Professional edition, won't ask you if you switch back and forth.

Unless you have a real need to boot into bootcamp directly, I'd do away with bootcamp and just run everything under Fusion or Parallels (including Vista) and then you don't need to worry about it.

Scott

Doug Mitchell - Mar 5, 2008 - 12:18 pm

Thanks Scott,

I contacted the Activation Desk at Microsoft and explained the situation. They were most helpful and gave me a key to activate Vista Premium Home edition using VMware Fusion. It is now running fully activated under both environments. I agree that Vista does not run too well under a virtual environment. I normally use it buy starting it up on its own.

ScottW - Mar 5, 2008 - 2:44 pm

Awesome, this is good to know. I figured Microsoft would just make you buy another license or so I have heard. Anyhow, very good.

Thanks for the update.

Scott