Each hard disk drive (even a USB-Stick) has a volume ID (like a Serial Number). To view the current Volume ID of a drive, you can just perform a dir <drive>: and the volume Serial Number is shown on the second line down, e.g.

 

Volume in drive E is system
Volume Serial Number is BC09-8AE4

 

The Serial Number can be changed using tools, and if a drive is imaged, the volume ID will be imaged as well.

 

Pros/Cons

+ Always available and always working

+ Works in single user and network environment

- After reinstallation of Windows, the volume ID changes

- Volume ID’s are always the same whenever a image tool is used to set up a drive

- Allows several installations on the same machine

 

Recommendation

•Good for applications used by home users because the criteria are always available

•The only choice, if the license file is stored on a memory stick