Microsoft Windows or Office prompts for activation when swapping between booting directly from a Boot Camp partition and using it in VMware Fusion. This occurs because Microsoft Windows, Office, and other applications require an activation when installed for the first time on a new computer, then again after making changes to the computer hardware (such as adding a new hard drive or network adapter).
Note: The virtual hardware of the virtual machine is different from the Mac's hardware. Even if Windows or other applications have been activated in Boot Camp, they must be activated again when that Boot Camp partition is used in Fusion. However, if the Boot Camp partition is imported later into Fusion as a virtual machine, activation is not required.
This article provides information to help you ensure that Windows and your applications stay activated when switching between Fusion and booting into a Boot Camp partition.
Note: The total number of allowed activations depend on the software package and the licensing agreement for the software. If you have previously activated this software on another computer (or in a Boot Camp partition), or if you exceed the number of activations allowed, you may have to contact the manufacturer to request an additional activation or license.
Booting a Windows operating system alternately via Boot Camp and VMware Fusion present considerable differences in hardware to the operating system, and this triggers product activation. This is corrected by installing VMware Tools after booting Windows using Fusion.
Notes:
To install VMware Tools after booting using Fusion:
If Windows or Office continues to request activation after following these steps, see Activating Windows or an application needs to be performed repeatedly (1026218) and Troubleshooting activation prompts for a Boot Camp partition in Fusion (1004917).