New Developer VMs from Microsoft can now be fully licensed

Previously Microsoft released their development stack in Virtual Machines using evaluation versions of Windows however, a recent change in these setups allow you to register your own Windows 10 Pro license in that VM.

Richard Hay, Senior Content Producer

October 4, 2016

1 Min Read
New Developer VMs from Microsoft can now be fully licensed

In the past Microsoft used to make their entire development stack available in virtual machines that could be used to explore the Windows development tools.

These images always used evaluation versions of Windows and had an expiration date when they would stop working. This would require downloading a new version of the virtual machine and starting all over.

This could be especially disruptive if you found the development tools to your liking and you wanted to keep working in this virtual machine.

Well last week Microsoft, based on feedback from users of these virtual machines, released updated versions that do not have any expiration date and you can use your own Windows 10 Professional product key to license the operating system in that VM and continue working with the tools it contains.

Beyond that one change the virtual machines contain everything you need for Windows based development:

  • Windows 10 Pro, Version 1607

  • Visual Studio 2015 Community Update 3 (Build 14.0.25425.01)

  • Windows developer SDK and tools (Build 14393)

  • Microsoft Azure SDK for .NET (Build 2.9.5)

  • Windows Bridge for iOS (Build 0.2.160914)

  • Windows UWP samples (September 2016)

  • Windows Bridge for iOS samples

  • Bash for Windows

The old evaluation versions that will expire still exist and they along with the new licensed option can be downloaded from the Windows Dev Center Virtual Machines page.

Both downloads are available for Hyper-V, VMWare, VirtualBox and Parallels.

But, wait...there's probably more so be sure to follow me on Twitter and Google+.

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About the Author

Richard Hay

Senior Content Producer, IT Pro Today (Informa Tech)

I served for 29 plus years in the U.S. Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer in November 2011. My work background in the Navy was telecommunications related so my hobby of computers fit well with what I did for the Navy. I consider myself a tech geek and enjoy most things in that arena.

My first website – AnotherWin95.com – came online in 1995. Back then I used GeoCities Web Hosting for it and WindowsObserver.com is the result of the work I have done on that site since 1995.

In January 2010 my community contributions were recognized by Microsoft when I received my first Most Valuable Professional (MVP) Award for the Windows Operating System. Since then I have been renewed as a Microsoft MVP each subsequent year since that initial award. I am also a member of the inaugural group of Windows Insider MVPs which began in 2016.

I previously hosted the Observed Tech PODCAST for 10 years and 317 episodes and now host a new podcast called Faith, Tech, and Space. 

I began contributing to Penton Technology websites in January 2015 and in April 2017 I was hired as the Senior Content Producer for Penton Technology which is now Informa Tech. In that role, I contribute to ITPro Today and cover operating systems, enterprise technology, and productivity.

https://twitter.com/winobs

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