Windows license and external harddrive

[Beyond X]

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?)

 

[Daave]

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?

 

[Twayne]

In

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

 

[philo]

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.

 

[M.I.5¾]

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?)

If you move the drive to a different PC, it may trip the windows
reactivation. From the list of criteria at least 7 items must remain
unchanged out of the list. The list goes:

MAC address of network card (counts as 3 changes)
CD-ROM type
SCSI card type.
Hard drive type
Volume Serial Number of Bootable partition
Graphics card type
Memory Size (in ranges)
Processor type
Processor Serial Number
IDE adaptor type.

If the PCs are all identical, then the MAC address and processor serial
number are the only items likely to change which would appear to be OK
(leaves 7 unchanged items (assuming no SCSI interface)). However, it would
only require a single upgrade on the list to trip reactivation.

 

[Bruce Chambers]

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://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

 

[philo]

Then you're deliberatling planning on violating the EULA? Are you
also this dishonest when it comes to credit card contracts, mortgages, etc?

Sheesh man


he was asking a question and got his answer.

If he was planning on doing something dishonest I hardly think he'd ask
first

 

[Dirk T. Verbeek]

Bruce Chambers schreef:

Then you're deliberatling planning on violating the EULA? Are you
also this dishonest when it comes to credit card contracts, mortgages, etc?

Your real name must be Bill Gates or Steve Balmer.

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.

It might be designed that way, it probable is.
And it's rather mean.
You buy a licence to run an OS, why should the seller have the right to
tell you on which computer you use your paid for licence?
As long as it's a single instance at a time it shouldn't be any business
of them!

Better migrate to something free and by doing so have the experience of
a virus-free world.

 

[M.I.5¾]

Bruce Chambers schreef:

Your real name must be Bill Gates or Steve Balmer.

It might be designed that way, it probable is.
And it's rather mean.
You buy a licence to run an OS, why should the seller have the right to
tell you on which computer you use your paid for licence?
As long as it's a single instance at a time it shouldn't be any business
of them!

In Europe this is arguably the situation. Microsoft have always claimed
that it isn't but have so far declined to test their claim in court.

 

[Tony's Thoughts]

I think windowsPE can be run from a flash drive why not try it on your
external drive.
Just google it and give it a try.

 

[ANONYMOU S]

Then you're deliberatling planning on violating the EULA? Are you also
this dishonest when it comes to credit card contracts, mortgages, etc?

Religious bigot is on it again. His membership of the Pig Society must be
coming for renewal soon.