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Advise on installing XP to a 2nd HD

Discussion in 'Windows XP' started by SCFrance, 2006/10/01.

  1. 2006/10/01
    SCFrance

    SCFrance Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    I've owned my Gateway for a few years now and the system has become "polluted." I am going to reload Windows to cure the problem, but want to do it as painlessly as possible. I have a second HD that I normally use for backing up my data that is the same make and model as the primary HD. I am thinking of installing Windows on the second HD and just swapping the boot drive back and forth in the BIOS as I have time to work on the PC until I have the new HD set up to my satisfaction. At that time I would just physically swap the 2 drives, so that my new boot drive would be the 'C' drive position. This is a PC that my wife uses in her home office, so if I mess it up… well… let’s not go there. What I need to know is if this plan of mine is going to work and if anyone out there knows of any problems I might run into.
     
    SCFrance,
    #1
  2. 2006/10/01
    dkline

    dkline Inactive

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    I know of a whole heap of problems you could run into if you mess up your wife's computer. But like you said, let's not go there.

    Sorry I can't offer any good advice, but I'm sure someone here will.
     
    dkline,
    #2


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  4. 2006/10/02
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    SCFrance - Welcome to the Board :)

    I do not think that the solution you propose is workable - not with both drives connected at the same time. You will probably run into problems with the MBR (Master Boot Record) and the boot.ini and could end up in severe matrimonial trouble :)

    Before proposing an alternative solution I must point out that you can only install your copy of XP on one computer - basically that's a single copy on one computer. You will be able to install a second copy, but will not be able to activate it while the other copy remains on the drive AFAIK and you may well have to activate over the phone to MS. It is a grey area as MS used to give instructions for making a parallel install of XP, but now seem to have withdrawn them.

    That said the method I would propose is this ....

    Install the second hard drive as slave to the existing master and perform a parallel install of XP as outlined in one of the two articles listed below ....

    Microsoft's Windows XP Home Parallel Install step by step

    Microsoft's Windows XP Professional (Pro) Parallel Install step by step

    When the install is completed you will see a menu on boot from which to choose which operating system to fire up - i.e. you will have a dual boot system. You will then be in a position to load up the new installation with software and data and, when complete you can edit the boot.ini so that only one OS is recognised and reformat the drive.
     
    PeteC,
    #3
  5. 2006/10/03
    SCFrance

    SCFrance Well-Known Member Thread Starter

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    Thanks Pete...

    I'll give it a shot.
     
    SCFrance,
    #4

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