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You can take advantage of a neat feature of VirtualBox, Snapshots, to execute Key Generators or any other software of potential risk under Windows XP. Snapshots allow you to save the status of your virtual machine as well as the virtual disk in use. You only have to take a snapshot before running the possibly-malicious software in your virtual machine, and then revert to the saved state when the job is done.

In detail:

• With your virtual machine running go to Machine → Take Snapshot...


• Enter a name for your snapshot (e.g. before running keygen) and press Ok.


• Proceed with the execution of the key generator.


• Write down the generated key. If you want to save the generated key in a text file, make sure that the file is on the host computer, or else it will be lost in the next steps! You can always use a piece of paper, too.


• Power off the virtual machine.


• Go to VirtualBox's main window and go to the Snapshots tab of your virtual machine.


• Right-click on current state and choose Revert.


• Discard the snapshot you previously created.


• Start the virtual machine.

The virtual machine is now in the same state as it was before the execution of the key generator.