Using VMWare to archive an old machine causes activation problems

Question

I have a number of users who are migrating to new machines. I decided to try and use VMWare Converter + VMWare Player to try and image the old machines just in case they forget to migrate any files or settings.

I've created an image, but when trying to run in VMWare Player, Windows wants to activate and complains that the product key is invalid. Is the process not going to work, or am I doing something wrong?

Is there a better approach to archiving the old machines if this way won't work?

Thanks, Jon

Answer 1

What you're seeing is valid.

The VM machine is presenting windows with new hardware and a new CPU ID. Windows activation is doing its job because more than 5 pieces of hardware have changed.

Are you moving the machines off a computer made by Dell, HP, Toshiba, etc? If so, their OEM product key is normally tied to their specific hardware, normally by an value in the BIOS.