You can't do that.

Windows Secure Boot will not allow DD cloning and the Recovery Partition is encrypted so even cloning the entire drive will fail when you try to factory restore a cloned Drive.  The other option would be to install Linux into windows Hypervisor.

If you haven't borked your install I would Suggest AOEMI one key recovery where you make Recovery media and Save the Recovery image onto an external Hard Drive. One click backup OS to local or external storage.  There is no free support for what you are asking for.

There is Paid Support @$165 an hour or more.

https://www.ateamsystems.com/services-support/linux-support-administration/

https://www.aomeitech.com/onekey-recovery.html

https://www.linuxtechi.com/install-ubuntu-16-04-with-screenshots/

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows-server/virtualization/hyper-v/supported-ubuntu-virtual-machines-on-hyper-v

I anticipated secure boot would stop what I was attempting given I wouldn't allow Windows to provide a host environment.

The only thing borked would be leaving Windows in-place.  I immediately formatted that drive and installed Linux as a significantly better choice.  I did call Dell before making the purchase to verify Linux support for that system.  Funny how over the phone they confirm support but cannot put it in print on the invoice.

Now I am wondering, given that I paid for a Windows license with my purchase, if there is a way to get Windows installed in a vm image with that license.  I am guessing downloading the recovery CDs will not work--would that be correct?

Dell doesn't offer Linux drivers for the XPS 8900 on their support page for this model.

Doesn't mean Linux won't run properly, but you'll have to find drivers elsewhere if they're not already built into Linux.

Hi Ron,

Thank you for your reply!  I wasn't looking for Linux drivers.  I was looking for a solution to run the Windows license I purchased (with My Dell) in a hosted environment.

I run Linux as the host OS as I much prefer the better security offered by Linux and would never allow Windows direct access to my hardware.

I was also curious to find out if Dell was prepared to answer this question to allow their Linux customers access to their purchase (specifically the OEM Windows license).

Maybe I don't understand the issues here... :TongueTied:

If Win 10 was installed by Dell when you bought the system, the Win 10 product key should be embedded on the motherboard. That key will allow you to activate a Win 10 install, so you already have an OEM license.

Whether that key will activate Win 10 in a VM hosted by Linux is a different question...

At this point, you'd be better off downloading the latest Win 10 ISO for free from Microsoft, because whatever version Dell installed is outdated. But, again, I don't know if you can install and activate it in a VM environment.