Archived from groups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware.storage (
More info?)
"Joe Doe" <None@mail.utexas.edu> wrote in message
news:None-451081.18080606052005@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu...
> In article <1114555784.117032.305390@o13g2000cwo.googlegroups.com>,
> "psongman" <psongman@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi, I just bought a WD hard drive on ebay with Windows XP already on
>> it. Now, I want to either add this to my old computer which is already
>> running Windows 98SE or to one I can get with no OS. I searched the
>> Googling archives but can't seem to find a definitive answer. Please
>> assist me in this quest, so I can be up and running by the weekend.
>> Thanks for listening, psongman
>
>
>
> Windows XP generates a hardware hash of ten system components present on
> the original computer at the point at which it was activated. When it
> boots it polls to see if the hardware has changed and if it has changed
> substantially it will force you to reactivate. Since this drive
> originated in a different system it will most likely fail this step. If
> you have access to the original XP license you will be legally allowed
> to reactivate. Getting a modern OS is a small price to pay for its
> convenience:
>
> I am at a University and because of campus licencing I have full legal
> access to XP for very low dollars. I bought a copy but I did not put it
> on even though it was essentially free because I did not want to deal
> with product activation numerous updates & other concerns etc.
The particular XP you can get a license for
cheaply may not even require activation.
> I recently put it on and am amazed at how well my system
> behaves. For example, I can record video (TV) on an ATI
> All in wonder Radeon and keep a live internet connection
> (dial up), update virus definitions and not drop a single frame!!
Yeah, I do that every evening, digital TV to hard drive.
> This is on a lowly Athlon 850 with AIW Radeon 9600XT and 649 MB
> ram. In 98SE on the same system I would drop frames in a similar
> scenario. Clearly, the OS is managing the multitasking environment
> very well. Given this knowledge I would be happy to pay full retail
> for XP and kicking myself for not making the switch earlier.
Yeah, I've had no regrets and even run it on the dinosaur in the kitchen.