I backed up a number of laptops to virtual machines before they are to be re-purposed, in case I need the data at some later time. While the Physical to VM processes worked fine I am encountering issues on some of the VMs. When I boot them I get an error message saying I MUST activate windows in order to login. This is expected because the hardware changed (from physical hardware to virtualized hardware). I click the OK button and expect to be prompted with ways to activate, windows sits there for quite a while then tells me that "Windows has already been activated". I click OK at that message and get take back to the beginning where I am asked to activate Windows.

I have done some fairly intensive googling but haven't been able to find a real solution.

EDIT: The laptops with the issues are 2 Sony Vaios, I believe that they have the OEM version of the OS originally installed by the factory.