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    Clean install of Windows 7 on a Scorpio Drive

    Discussion in 'Hardware Components and Aftermarket Upgrades' started by RbtNYC123, Mar 2, 2010.

  1. RbtNYC123

    RbtNYC123 Notebook Guru

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    If I do a clean install of a system builders version of Windows 7 (64 bit Pro) onto a Western Digital Scorpio Black WD3200BEKT 320GB 7200 RPM laptop drive, would I be able to physically install that drive into another laptop (with a 64 bit chip) and have it run normally?

    I am hoping to have one "master' drive that has all my apps and use it on different laptops.

    Could I use it as boot drive on another laptop (or desktop) via a USB external enclosure and have it boot/run normally?

    Thanks!!
     
    RbtNYC123, Mar 2, 2010
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  2. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    Nope, it would have to be reactivated on every machine it's moved to. A system builder's license is intended to be sold to an end user. But if you want it want it to be external to only one machine, that can work. You can boot from the internal drive, or the external one, but you can't use the external as a portable boot drive to go between multiple systems.
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Mar 2, 2010
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  3. RbtNYC123

    RbtNYC123 Notebook Guru

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    Gotcha. Thanks XGX. How about if it were a standard retail version of windows 7 versus a system builders license?
     
    RbtNYC123, Mar 2, 2010
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  4. H.A.L. 9000

    H.A.L. 9000 Occam's Chainsaw

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    It's gonna be the same thing basically. I don't really think there are very many "portable" Windows installations. IMO, I think you might want to consider Ubuntu or Fedora. Those distros of Linux are very user friendly and completely portable from system to system. :)
     
    H.A.L. 9000, Mar 2, 2010
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  5. DakHam

    DakHam Notebook Geek

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    You can clone your "master" hard drive's contents using Acronis True Image Home 2010 onto any other hard drive you like, and each hard drive will be identical in terms of partition, operating system, settings, programs. Essentially, you backup your original hard drive, and restore your backup onto your alternate hard drive(s). I have done this successfully with the trial version of Acronis, moving my entire OS and programs from my old hard drive to my new solid state drive.
     
    DakHam, Mar 2, 2010
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  6. Judicator

    Judicator Judged and found wanting.

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    Yes, but that really only works if you plan to use the new drive in the same computer that you took the "master" out of. If you try to use it in a different computer, you're going to run into some issues.
     
    Judicator, Mar 3, 2010
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