Why not use snapshots/save states so the VMs start back up right away? This is what I do with QEMU.

ProblemExplorer 2 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Doesn't Windows do some drama if its not activated and has been running without a license for more than 48h or similar?

I don't use windows but have to run windows 11 VM to access special devices. I don't want to bother with licenses, although I have them, and creating a new incus QEMU VM from scratch everytime from an ISO takes ~5m, freeing me up from worrying about all the activation and license drama.

If the activation and license setup was easy/automated in QEMU, I would imagine snapshots would be way easier. I would prefer not needing to connect to the internet.

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c-hendricks an hour ago | parent [-]

> Doesn't Windows do some drama if its not activated and has been running without a license for more than 48h or similar

Your info might be like decades out of date, since windows 10 it's just been an overlay and locking out some appearance customizations (you can still set them via other means though).

	▲	ProblemExplorer 24 minutes ago \| parent [-]
		Ok, so you're saying I can run windows 11 without a license or activation for months on end?

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ArgumentMoney81 40 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

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