… but I’ve already forseen the unwanted meet for some time 
.
My elder daughter does need to run educational software from school. And my wife wants to run education software for our younger son. And making all that running under different emulation environments does eat my time, and result is not always good. And also children start to want games…
Issue 1. Need hardware to run more or less modern windows on.
For last 6 years, my home network consists of a more or less powerful headless server, and 3 terminals to access that. Terminals are definitely too weak for windows. And server is needed in 24/7 mode so sorry no windows there.
Likely solution for this is – one of 3 terminals is actually dying (it is doing so already for months but still works, just hangs sometimes) and needs a replacement, so I can just replace it now and use more powerful hardware.
Issue 2. Windows host or windows VM?
While windows VM feels preferable for a such a deep-linux person as myself, I tend to think that dual-boot host is better here. If the very reason of allowing windows into this house is – make it easy to install and run random windows software, then doing so in VM environment is explicitly against the goal.
Issue 3. Use unlicensed windows or buy a license?
Although absolute majority of windows users here is Russia use unlicensed windows, it is somewhat unfair to promote free software and use unlicensed windows at the same time. And windows home basic license is not that expensive after all.
The setup that makes me less uncomfortable than others is:
- obtain powerful enough hardware, and install that instead of failing terminal,
- obtain windows 7 home basic license
- install dual boot linux + windows, and under linux install windows VM
- when needed, try windows VM first, and in case of any issues, immediately reboot into windows host.
What I can’t find out for some time already is – does microsoft retail license allow to have both host and VM installation on the same computer? These will be physically different installations, but on the same computer, and will never run at the same time. License wording does not give exact answer on this.
I wanted to ask on Microsoft’s support forum but failed to register there. After asking me quite a few things it claimed that there is some temporary problem and suggested to retry later. I retried later and got the same.
I then asked here but looks like nobody knows.
At least I want to know, what will happen if I will try to activate windows in VM after I’ve activated windows (with the same key) on host. Will this render both installations “non-genuine”?
Also I’d appreciate any comments on the whole situation 
