Several years ago when I was still living in the land of Windows, I joined a Microsoft program called TechNet. At the time it was a program for IT professionals (and other geeks) to try out installations of different Microsoft operating systems and applications. Members could download full versions of various operating systems (Windows 7 Home/Pro/Ultimate, Windows Home Server, Windows XP, Windows 3.1, even good old DOS), and various apps (Office 2010, Office 2007, Office 2003, and assorted versions of OneNote, Publisher, Visio, etc.). Users could request up to 10 product keys for each product, and each key could be used around 10 times before making the activation servers mad. The best part was that the keys never expired. Microsoft abruptly ended that program a few months after I joined, but I managed to secure downloads and a handful of keys for a variety of products before that happened.

I happily live in Linux Mint these days, and have been for a few years. There are, however, a couple of old Windows apps that I still fire up on occasion. I could probably accomplish 90% of what I want using Linux alternatives, but that last 10% or so is still tied to a Windows-only feature or add-on. The primary Windows apps I still use are CorelDraw X5 (vintage 2010), and CoolEdit Pro 2 (vintage 2001). And so I occasionally fire up a Windows virtual machine from within Linux.

Any operating system – Windows, Mac, Linux – benefits from a periodic fresh install. But this is especially true of Windows. Windows 7 is officially going “end-of-life” in a few months (January 2020), and so I have no idea how long into the future Microsoft will continue to activate/authorize new installs of Windows 7.

So, in order to hedge my bets, I’m making some virtual Windows 7 machines using some of my remaining product keys, and ensuring that everything is authorized/activated. Once the installs are completed, I won’t be going online with these machines, so the fact that Windows 7 will get no more security updates after January won’t be an issue. I’ll disable Internet access but keep local shared folders enabled between the virtual machine and the Linux host.

In addition to some machines for later installs of CorelDraw, etc. if needed, I’m setting up a machine for Microsoft Streets and Trips 2013. Even though it won’t be as up-to-date as using an online map, it seems like a good idea to have relatively current street map info in the unlikely event of a widespread or prolonged Internet outage.

Let the geek-fest commence…