I'm having issues with the OEM licence code on a Windows 7 Machine in that when installing using the OEM Dell Windows 7 disk, VMWare does not seem to allow the installer to see that there is an OEM key embeded in the bios.
For history, the machine in question is a Dell Precession T1700, that has a Windows 8 Pro OEM licence, which came with Windows 7 Pro Downgrade preinstalled by Dell.
Within our research department, we always have a Linux host, and install WIndows in a virtual using VMWare Player.
Previously on machines that came with a Windows 7 sticker on them, I;ve been able to install and enter the key as specifed then activate windows afterwards, even if done over the phone.
Now I cannot do that as the OEM install disk, that works fine installing on the machine directlly correctlly knows it is a Dell PC and doesn't ask for a key or activation.
I have fond information that says to add the option SMBIOS.reflectHost = TRUEto the VMX file of the virtual prior to install but this does not seem to work.
I've also tried grabbing the key for windows 7 after installing directlly and then trying this in the vitual and this will not work as windows complains that this key is not valid for activation.
I've also tried running this in the trial of Workstation to no avail.
I've resigned myself to the fact that I will have to buy a VL key for windows 7 to do this now.
Does anyone have any experience of this or have any way round this?
Marc