Making/using images with virtual machines

[DanatRITE]

Hello,

This is my first visit to the forum and am in need of some information...

I represent a company that implements and supports Retail Management Software and am in search of a faster way to facilitate installs. I am wondering if it is possible to setup a virtual machine with exactly what we need to install and then create a drive image of it so that all we have to do on later installs is to mirror that disk image to the new computer. Is this possible with virtual machine? Also is there a way to change the windows product key legally?

Thank you in advance for any insight you can provide me.
Dan

 

[Santei]

Hello, Dan.

Why do you want to use virtual machine?
Why don't you just create an exact image of real HDD(with OS and all apps), and then restore it as many times as you need?

Santei

 

[DanatRITE]

We want to use a virtual machine because of the ease of setting it up and the ease of making changes to our setups on it. However, we have thought of doing just what you suggest and if we can't find a way to use the virtual machine to do it we may end up doing that. Is there a way around the windows key legally if we do use the image for multiple machines?

 

[linney]

Microsoft Virtual PC 2004 45-Day Free Trial Edition

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/...d6-5098-4c64-9ca7-a30f225859f6&DisplayLang=en

With Virtual PC 2004, the created virtual hard drive (that Virtual PC loads to run the virtual operating system) can be copied to and loaded on any other machine that has installed and is running Virtual PC 2004.




This mentions a program to just swap Product Keys.
Undo Upgrade?
thread779-934075

Changing your Product ID after installation
faq779-4300

HOW TO: Change the Product Key at the Time of Activation

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810892&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

http://ask-leo.com/how_do_i_legalize_my_windows_xp_installation.html

You could try Microsoft Suport and see what they say is the best option?