Is it naive to think I can reuse my old hard drive?

Chomeur

If I buy a Shuttle barebones computer, Windows is an optional extra. It's about £90. Would I be able to use the disc that came with my old computer and save myself some money?

gonzo127

depends on the type of license it was issued with, most systems only have a OEM licience which basically means it is tied to that specific computer, the only ones you can legally transfer from computer to computer are retail versions

Mondez

What if due to parts failure, you over time replaced every component in a system? It would not longer be the original system, but does that mean that the OEM license should suddenly stop working or being valid? At which point does it cease being the original computer? When there is 95% of the original? 50%? From a practical point of view, you can quite easily use the OEM activation, you just need to call microsoft and tell them you have replaced a faulty motherboard and it started asking for activation and that it is installed on only one machine. They will give you an activation code without any hassle.

Chomeur

Update on this - I've bought a new Shuttle which I've put together. Still have to put Windows on it.

Even though I've now got a new computer I'd still like to keep an external hdd casing and use it with my old drive as a backup drive. Up to now I've been making backups on a CD-ROM every few weeks.Using an external drive sounds as if it would be less of a chore. I guess I need to find some software to do this for me.

Here's a link to the casing I bought from Maplins http://www.maplin.co.uk/3.5-inch-ide-sata-usb-2.0-combo-enclosure-48213. This company http://www.kenable.co.uk/product_info.php?products_id=1276 seems to sell if for half the price +p&p. I don't mind paying extra on the high street vs the Internet, but that difference seems excessive. So I suppose I should take it back to Maplins - I still have until Wednesday to do so.

Chomeur

Now got Windows on it.

Regarding the need for a back up, thinking further, my computer has space for two internal drives, so why don't I just put the old one in alongside the new one and keep a copy of everything on each of them? There must be some software that will do this for me. My concern really is hard drive failure and if one of the drives fails, then I know that I need to replace it.