Can this even be done?
I've purchased a brand new Thinkpad T540p from Lenovo. I've been using Windows inside of virtual software (first, vmware and later Vbox) for years. I don't want to access windows via dual boot, I want it accessible to me without booting. I don't mind having a dual boot partition but I won't use it much. It's not a requirement.
But it seems like that won't be possible with this system and its Windows 8.1 license. There is no installation disk, nothing you can present to Vbox to set up the virtual Windows.
So what are my options?
1. Return the thing to Lenovo and buy - what? I want a quality laptop that doesn't have these licensing issues.
2. Pay a second Microsoft tax and buy a versions of windows that can be put into a virtual box, if such a thing exists (I've even looked at buying windows from Microsoft and it's not clear to me that it will work - drivers, etc.) and just reformat the thing to all Ubuntu, and install windows there?
3. Give up on the whole idea of one laptop computer running both systems.
And I haven't even mentioned UEFI and secureboot yet!
Looking for any advice of those who have been here.
Please DON'T send me any links pertaining to Windows 7 or even 8.0. 8.1 is a whole new ball game.
I've purchased a brand new Thinkpad T540p from Lenovo. I've been using Windows inside of virtual software (first, vmware and later Vbox) for years. I don't want to access windows via dual boot, I want it accessible to me without booting. I don't mind having a dual boot partition but I won't use it much. It's not a requirement.
But it seems like that won't be possible with this system and its Windows 8.1 license. There is no installation disk, nothing you can present to Vbox to set up the virtual Windows.
So what are my options?
1. Return the thing to Lenovo and buy - what? I want a quality laptop that doesn't have these licensing issues.
2. Pay a second Microsoft tax and buy a versions of windows that can be put into a virtual box, if such a thing exists (I've even looked at buying windows from Microsoft and it's not clear to me that it will work - drivers, etc.) and just reformat the thing to all Ubuntu, and install windows there?
3. Give up on the whole idea of one laptop computer running both systems.
And I haven't even mentioned UEFI and secureboot yet!
Looking for any advice of those who have been here.
Please DON'T send me any links pertaining to Windows 7 or even 8.0. 8.1 is a whole new ball game.