How does parallels handle hardware IDs? The reason I'm asking this is because of this scenario: All of this is in relation to Windows 10. Let's say I buy a new copy of windows, OEM or Retail, and put it in Parallels. So it's all nice and legal. My macbook shorts out, but I still have a copy of the VM backed up. Can I simply copy this VM to another macbook, or likewise copy it back onto the new one with the replaced board, and run it business as usual? Or is Windows going to deactivate because the hardware changed? Further, if I have an OEM copy and this happens, and it turns out it will deactivate: Am I left with any option besides buying another OEM copy? Will their support even recognize this situation and allow me to activate? And lastly, can I actually back up the VM to a NAS? I'm planning to get this for myself personally (the pro, $99/year) so that I can run a simple Windows 10 VM, in coherence, to use Visual Studio when I need it. I don't use it a *lot*, but I use it enough. Most of my work is non-windows based web-development. Thanks!
Hey Thomas, Yes, you can Back up your Windows virtual machine and copy it over to another Mac. It is legal, because once you move your Parallels Desktop from one Mac to the other, the license in the first Mac will get deactivated. So,in case of a mother board replacement or computer replacement, Parallels Desktop will be active only on one machine.
Just to make sure we're on the same page, I'm not asking about the parallels license. 1) I have Parallels with Windows 10 installed on mac A. 2) Mac A's motherboard fails and has to be replaced and/or the whole computer has to be replaced. 3) The backup of the parallels Windows VM gets restored on another computer or board. When Windows detects that it's installed (or suddenly booted) on different hardware than it was when it activated, Windows will deactivate. So, my question is: Will windows detect the restored parallels backup as new hardware (IE: Does it see the actual mac's hardware IDs) and deactivate the windows activation? Or, does windows just get fed some generic hardware IDs by parallels and not think it's on a new system.
