Simple script to make a Virtualbox VM hidden enough to install SolidWorks

SolidWorks_Spoof.sh

#!/bin/bash

__get_random_string () {

    openssl rand -hex "${1}" | cut -c "1-${1}"

}

__my_vm='W10'

VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBIOSVendor" "American Megatrends Inc"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBIOSVersion" "2.1.0"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiSystemVendor" "ASUSTek Computer"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiSystemSerial" "$(__get_random_string 9)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/SerialNumber" "$(__get_random_string 20)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/FirmwareRevision" "$(__get_random_string 8)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/ModelNumber" "SEAGATE ST3750525AS"

exit

Thanks!

SW18, Win8.1:

#!/bin/bash
#https://gist.github.com/W-Floyd/7ccf5e4f074939e403bed483f82a4042

__get_random_string () {

    openssl rand -hex "${1}" | cut -c "1-${1}"

}

__my_vm='Windows8.1'

#my stuff
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBIOSVendor" "Dell"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBIOSVersion" "1.23"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBIOSReleaseDate" "1/1/2001"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBoardVendor" "Dell"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBoardProduct" "DellBo"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBoardVersion" "1.1"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiSystemSerial" "A23456789"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/SerialNumber" "091118FC1221NCJ6G8GG"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/FirmwareRevision" "FC2ZF50B"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/ModelNumber" "Hitachi SSD 2.1"
#eof my stuff

VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBIOSVendor" "American Megatrends Inc"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiBIOSVersion" "2.1.0"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiSystemVendor" "ASUSTek Computer"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/pcbios/0/Config/DmiSystemSerial" "$(__get_random_string 9)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/SerialNumber" "$(__get_random_string 20)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/FirmwareRevision" "$(__get_random_string 8)"
VBoxManage setextradata "${__my_vm}" "VBoxInternal/Devices/ahci/0/Config/Port0/ModelNumber" "SEAGATE ST3750525AS"

exit 

Worked for me.

Nice! Thanks for sharing! 😁

How has your solidworks in virtualbox experience been? With bigger and more complex parts and assemblies, the virtual machine struggles to keep up (11 minutes to rebuild a change). I've been looking into jumping ship to KVM/QEMU/libvirt. Would you happen to have any advice on that front?

It was never that good to be honest. I haven't used it in a VM recently, but I only did so when I didn't want to reboot for some small jobs. Would love to revisit it some day though.

It depends on installed windows and VB settings. I do not use SolidWorks for big projects, although quite often. My current VM (W7) works slower than previous (W7 or W8, don't remember) - same machine, same software. Didn't have time to check why. I use Thin/Utrasmall or whatever versions of windows (torrents), so it might be that (a lot of fun trying to change licence number =/ ). Anyway try different Windows *source*.

Also You need to turn OFF KVM, that's what SolidWorks checks: https://serverfault.com/questions/727347/solidworks-activation-license-mode-is-not-supported-in-this-virtual-environment