Is it possible to check the validity of an xp install on a drive if you hang it off another machine with a usb to sata adapter? in other words, I hooked up a drive supposedly with a questionably legal XP install on it and would like to check to see if I need to report it to Microsoft or not. is that possible and how if so? Thanks, Chuck

Not that I am aware of. Usual method is to go to the wga site while in that OS and it will check it Imagine the power if you knew how to internet search

Why report it? If you think it is an illegal copy just delete it. Microsoft will tell you the same. Also, unless you have the computer that it came out of, the copy is right at useless. Any real value at this point is the drive itself if it's of any size.

The copy of WinXP would only be legal in the computer it was sold with if an OEM computer. So obviously there is no way to check it outside that computer. What makes the installation legal is if it was sold legally and the installation is on the computer it was registered to. The only exceptions to this are if the CD is a full version and you have the COA and key.

Thanks to all, this machine has some problems I have to get it past before I can ever even verify if it is legal or not. I also have not heard back from the owner to see how/why she thinks her machine is not legal, so I am still waiting for that. But in the meantime I can't even get video at all at the moment. one step at a time here with this custom built p.o.s. more soon. maybe. Thanks again, Chuck