Windows license and external harddrive
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From: Beyond X on 17 Jan 2010 03:25 Before purchasing a large-capacity external SATA or USB harddrive (such as 1 TB) and using it as a system drive, I want to know what will happen to Windows (e.g. XP) license because I intend to move around the system drive between more than one computers. (I understand that MS collects hardware information from the computer in which a Windows is installed and that license is tied to that particular computer hardware architecture. Since an "external" harddrive is meant to be moved from one computer to another, is it supposed to be used as a storage only?)
From: Daave on 17 Jan 2010 18:38 Beyond X wrote: > Before purchasing a large-capacity external SATA or USB harddrive > (such as 1 TB) and using it as a system drive, I want to know what > will happen to Windows (e.g. XP) license because I intend to move > around the system drive between more than one computers. > (I understand that MS collects hardware information from the computer > in which a Windows is installed and that license is tied to that > particular computer hardware architecture. Since an "external" > harddrive is meant to be moved from one computer to another, is it > supposed to be used as a storage only?) External hard drives are meant for whatever you intend to do with them. They can hold data only or images of hard drives or you can use one as a bootable clone. Is your license OEM or Retail? How many PCs do you have? Are they identical, hardware-wise? Do they all have licenses to run (presumably) Windows XP? What exactly are you trying to accomplish?
From: Twayne on 17 Jan 2010 21:46 In news:4B52C96B.8090902(a)pop.com, Beyond X <do-not-mail(a)pop.com> typed: > Before purchasing a large-capacity external SATA or USB harddrive > (such as 1 TB) and using it as a system drive, I want to know what > will happen to Windows (e.g. XP) license because I intend to move > around the system drive between more than one computers. > (I understand that MS collects hardware information from the computer > in which a Windows is installed and that license is tied to that > particular computer hardware architecture. Since an "external" > harddrive is meant to be moved from one computer to another, is it > supposed to be used as a storage only?) Assuming the various computers will be able to boot from the external drive, it will work OK. Note that a lot of systems cannot boot from an external drive, though. Just something to check out. My Dell will, my Gateway won't, for example. As for licensing, assuming you have the same revision XP on all the related computers, you aren't likely to have a problem since they've already been accepted by WGA. A mix of Home/Pro, or different hardware (# drives, peripherals, etc. etc.) at update or program download efforts, where the hardware is checked, could cause some headaches. Also, only ONE of the computers will be licensed at any point in time to be booted into XP; none of the others will be legal, unless you have multiple seats or made prior arrangements with MS or a rep of MS. Personally I think it's going to be a big headache that might be OK for the first couple changes, and then a huge PITA. If I had, say, 5 machines, it'd be pretty stupid IMO to have only one of them usable at any one time. I normally have two running, sometimes a third laptop. It'll be interesting to see how this works out for you; hope you'll report back. HTH, Twayne
From: philo on 18 Jan 2010 06:51 Beyond X wrote: > Before purchasing a large-capacity external SATA or USB harddrive (such > as 1 TB) and using it as a system drive, I want to know what will happen > to Windows (e.g. XP) license because I intend to move around the system > drive between more than one computers. > (I understand that MS collects hardware information from the computer in > which a Windows is installed and that license is tied to that particular > computer hardware architecture. Since an "external" harddrive is meant > to be moved from one computer to another, is it supposed to be used as a > storage only?) First off...unless *seriously* hacked...XP will not boot from a USB drive. eSATA of course is fine as the OS could not possibly distinguish between internal or external. That said...Unless the two computers have identical hardware it's a moot point as XP will (probably) not even boot. In a few rare instances XP will boot but the hardware will have to be re-configured and then of course XP will lose it's activation. Bottom line is you cannot swap one drive between two computers if it's your "system" drive. OTOH: If it's used simply for data...then there is no problem. If you want to use one "system" drive for more than one machine you will need to use Linux. It generally reconfigures without a problem to different hardware... and there are of course no licensing issues.
From: Bruce Chambers on 18 Jan 2010 10:49
Beyond X wrote: > Before purchasing a large-capacity external SATA or USB harddrive (such > as 1 TB) and using it as a system drive, I want to know what will happen > to Windows (e.g. XP) license because I intend to move around the system > drive between more than one computers. Then you're deliberatling planning on violating the EULA? Are you also this dishonest when it comes to credit card contracts, mortgages, etc? > (I understand that MS collects hardware information from the computer in > which a Windows is installed and that license is tied to that particular > computer hardware architecture. Since an "external" harddrive is meant > to be moved from one computer to another, is it supposed to be used as a > storage only?) WinXP is explicitly designed so that it *CANNOT* be installed and run from an external drive, primarily to prevent exactly the sort of software piracy you're contemplating. -- Bruce Chambers Help us help you: http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/kb/555375 They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety. ~Benjamin Franklin Many people would rather die than think; in fact, most do. ~Bertrand Russell The philosopher has never killed any priests, whereas the priest has killed a great many philosophers. ~ Denis Diderot |