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Two Boot Os On Two Drives

Discussion in 'PC Hardware' started by NEILMAC, 2006/12/02.

  1. 2006/12/02
    NEILMAC

    NEILMAC Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi,
    Just a thought and wondered if it was possible.
    Can you have two hard drives with two separate OS in one PC so as when you start up you can choose which drive is going to boot. It would be like having two PC's in one.
    If possible how can this be set up?

    All help welcome:D :D
     
    NEILMAC,
    #1
  2. 2006/12/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    It's possible - dual boot, but do remember that you will need two licenced copies of the OS if they are the same. The XP EULA permits the installation of one copy of XP on one computer only and although you can install a second copy from the original install CD you will not be able to activate it.

    Method - boot from the XP CD and follow the on screen prompts for a new installation and point to the second drive. A boot menu will be created allowing you to select which OS to boot to when the computer is booted up.

    If you wish to install two different OS's, say 98 and XP, the older OS, in this case 98 must be installed first. It is nigh on impossible to install 98 on a computer already running XP - can be done, but very difficult.

    In the past I have quad booted to XP, XP x64, 98 and Vista beta spread over 3 drives.
     
    PeteC,
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  4. 2006/12/03
    NEILMAC

    NEILMAC Inactive Thread Starter

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    --------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Hi,
    Thanks for that PeteC.
    Just to clear one point up, if I am installing two separate HD units why must XP be installed first when you will be selecting two different drives anyway:confused:
    Can you advise if there is any running problems with this setup please.

    Thanks.


    NEILMAC.............
     
    NEILMAC,
    #3
  5. 2006/12/03
    Steve R Jones

    Steve R Jones SuperGeek Staff

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    Steve R Jones,
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  6. 2006/12/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Steve has answered the first part.

    The two drives on which you install an OS do not operate completely independently - the boot.ini is written to one drive covering both OS's.

    Any problems - no - I am currently running XP Pro SP2 and Vista Ultimate RTM as a dual boot.

    Be aware that you need to install program software to each drive - again the question of EULA's and activation crops up so two copies of the software are needed (there are exceptions where the EULA allows for the installation on a desktop and a laptop on the basis that only one installation will be used at any one time and you might get away with a single copy in that scenario) and the fact that FAT32 drives do not see NTFS drives.
     
    PeteC,
    #5
  7. 2006/12/03
    TonyT

    TonyT SuperGeek Staff

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    Also, you can install a bootloader like GRUB or others. This eliminates the need to fuss w/ boot.ini.
     
    TonyT,
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  8. 2006/12/03
    NEILMAC

    NEILMAC Inactive Thread Starter

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    Hi, Ok thanks everyone I am going to buy another hard drive and give it a shot.:D

    NEILMAC................
     
    NEILMAC,
    #7
  9. 2006/12/03
    PeteC

    PeteC SuperGeek Staff

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    Good luck :) - let us know how it goes.
     
    PeteC,
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