XP PRO multiple partitions...same computer

I did a Google and only came up with situation where are multibooting with XP and other OS's.I would like to know if I can install XP PRO in more than one partition(created with Partition Magic) on..the SAME computer.Obviously,I would activate the first one but how would I deal with a second XP PRO from same CD again on the same cptr.

Second question(w/o changing thread title!)...

After a HDD failure some years ago,I often(should do more..often)use Drive Copy to copy entire contents of used HDD to a backup.Can you copy an entire HDD containing XP PRO to a second HDD when the backup would only be used with the original computer?The question is,of course,not whether you can COPY the entire drive but what happens v.v. XP PRO when the backup HDD might have to be used?


Tks for any comments.

 

Yes you can dual boot XP on another partition in exactly the same way as you would dual booting W2K or 9x/ME with XP. You would have two choices at the end of the BIOS post and be able to set one partition to be the default boot.

As far as activation goes, I'm not sure of the legalities, as the hardware will be the same, but would think you may need a second copy of XP as the first install has already been activated?

The same may go for a second HD copy? But technically the second drive should be PNP if you install it, providing it's a full XP install.

 

..the issue is activation over and over and...

OK, tks for comments.Well, the issue is not whether XP can technically be reinstalled but the possibility that MS piracy fear's gone amuck could require that someone spend the high dollars twice to activate a second install in a second partition on the same computer. Based on limited experience,MS does know even when some hardware is changed so I assume except for a desire to sell 2 copies of XP Pro,they COULD recognize that what was involved was not piracy but a second install in a second partititon on same cptr.

I don't know if MS could/would authorize a second activation but if it would mean a call to their outsourced support in India,I think I'd be better sticking with one partition install!!

As to the use of Drive Copy to copy one hard drive to another as a safety backup,I don't think it SHOULD be an issue either since there is a way to determine if the backup when used would be on the same cptr as initially used.

Saying what should or should not be so obviously doesn't mean that from MS standpoint it is not a "big deal. "

 

I haven't tried it but my guess is that you would be able to activate a second windows installation so long as it's on the same PC. As long as the hardware is the same, there should be no reason you can't. I'd say go for it. I doubt you'll have any problems. What's the worst thing that can happen? If it doesn't except it, you'll be locked out of the new installation in 30 days. In that case, you can format the partition and get rid of it. That said, I've been wrong before.

 

I just took a second look at the EULA for XP. You may be able to do what you want, but unless I misunderstand this, it may be a violation of the EULA for XP. From XP's EULA:

You be the judge. Anybody else have any ideas here?

 

Rather than keeping a second drive with a full Windows install around (it may get bunged up not work when you need, not to mention it seems like an inefficient use of resources), why not use Symantec's Ghost and burn an image to CDs?

 

Reply to Zander

Well, there is some confusion in my mind as to the quotation you include.

You can only install a single copy on a computer but you can't be using more than two processors at a time.I can only use one partition at a time and my MB only has one "processor "(CPU).Two processors at a time;what does this mean?

I suspect a lot of things are possible but getting to the "right" MS spt person to inquire might be a challenge especially if nowadays they're in India.


Requiring one to buy two expensive(even update versions) XP PRO CD's to run XP one partition at a time where XP is installed in more than one partition
may satisfy MS greed but it wouldn't be "very "(!!)user friendly

Adobe Photoshop is similarly user unfriendly now with activations for CS.

 

To J Heibeck

Just noticed your suggestion re a Symantec pgm.Is this essentially a complete copy of all that's on a given HDD?The question would still remain what happens when you might need to use this image;would XP have to be activated again with a new purchase even if the "de-ghosting" was on the same cptr?Power Quest had "Drive Image," but now Power Quest is part of Symantec/Norton.

 

In reading your post, I question the reason to have one drive boot the same OS on different partitions? If the HD fails both partitions will undoubtedly fail. I have lost my hard drive because I don't leave it alone. When I lost everything just once I went out and purchased a second drive $70, 100GB. What I did was install the XP on both drives and now if it fails all I do is change the master to the slave and the slave to the master. I am up and running in 5 minutes. I can then unload the files I want from the crashed OS. I have never had the drive physically crash only the OS. I guess from my last statement if you keep a bootable disk with fdisk on it you could just change the active partition. As for activation I have reinstalled XP on my computer about 10 times and never had a problem with it. 1 OS on 1 Computer.

 

To J Heibeck---2

Just checked,current product Ghost 9.0 can't be used with any OS but XP or W2K Pro.I likely would have multiple partitions including 98SE which was Ok with prior product but apparently not with the only avail Ghost now(9.0)

 

To OldSalty---

Perhaps I should clarify situation. I use Partition Magic to create primary or logic partitions.I use Boot Magic to boot..ONLY...ONE OS partition at a time.I am not booting up more than one partition at a time.

Before forgetting,well I DID lose an HDD about 10 years ago and in a different but somewhat catastrophic situation actually lost ability to boot any but first of several OS partitions early THIS year because apparently the partition table became corrupted.I purchased a recovery program from ACR in Georgia for about $300 and at least recovered all files/directories .

I have built a number of desktops and main one I am using now(as I work on my latest separately)has two 98SE partitions + a 95B(for reasons beyond this space)on one HDD and another 98SE on a separate HDD all of which can be booted up one at a time using Boot Magic configuration.I also use many so called logic partitions for data/files ,and an external 80G Maxtor backup.


I edited this posting after re-reading your message.OK,as to the reason for using the same OS more than once on the same HDD.

One reason which I included and then took out of my posting twice is that with sincere apologies to all who find such sites offensive,I prefer when I visit so called adult sites to do surfing in a separate partition from my main one because in MY experience most of the viruses(albeit detectable with daily Symmantec/NortonAV updates) and hijackers occur as a result of "visits" to such sites.Incidentally,Pest Patrol is useful in finding hijackers.

It IS possible for an OS to become corrupted,for lack of a better word,so I may keep a separate OS in case the main partition OS has problems and until I check out the problem.

I hope this edit clarifies the situation further.Incidentally,I am BIG on redundency;I have both cable modem and DSL modem svc and sometimes check slowness issues by comparing these at a given time.

I have another desktop which uses an SATA main HDD + a secondary old fashioned parallel type.I have 98SE,W2kPRO and XP PRO on the SATA drive(both W2K and XP to see how different each OS functioned)

 

I did it this way once, albeit unintentional;

I used Acronis True image to make a drive copy of the boot drive to CD's. Then I used TI to restore this image to an alternate partition, in this case a second partition of the same size as the source partition.

Much to my surprise, when I booted up I found that XP had detected the second copy and arranged for dual boot automatically. I had to do nothing. It worked fine with no problem about activation since it was esentially the same system and installation.

It wasn't my intent to establish dual boot but it insisted. I used it for a time but finally dumped it for lack of interest. It also tended to get a bit confusing as to which system I had done what to.

I hope that is of some value to you seashore.

 

Tks+ ..further clarification...

First,thanks to SurderDude2 for the suggestion,I'll check out that software.

Secondly,some of the reasons why I use multiple partitions even with same OS are shown in my reply to "OldSalty. "Perhaps I am by nature someone who puts things into neat compartments.


Tks to all for interesting comments.

 

Some motherboards\computers have two processors. Simple as that. The EULA can be read a number of ways. That's why I said you be the judge. If it were me and I wanted to do what you're trying to do, and as long as it's on the same computer, I wouldn't worry about it. I see nothing unethical about it myself. Just my two cents worth.

 

This article from Steven Binks newsletter is similar to what has been posted as well as virtual install issues. Looks like MS are scratching there collective heads over this one. I only hope they keep scratching indefinitely!

http://bink.nu/?ArticleID=2750

 

To Paul:

Thanks for the link.

Well,life was much easier in the old days as almost anything is.I said back in '73 when gasoline was as "high" as 44 cents per gallon for regular I wouldn't patronize a particular station if gas went over that but...

Individuals who in fact are only using pc's for personal non business purposes could easily become innocent victims of licensing aimed at business users and sometimes paranoid piracy fears.I've been working on my latest desktop for a while so haven't finalized things but I like the idea of partitioning(I use Partition Magic) even using different partitions with the same OS for different purposes.

98SE is easy to use w no activation issue,but latest motherboards are not as "happy "with this as with XP or the like what with enhanced modes.

Seashore(near Atlantic City,NJ)