Re: Dual Boot to same OS

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"Timothy Daniels" <TDaniels@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote in message
news:EfmdnYyJKtc1ZlnZnZ2dnUVZ_vadnZ2d@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
| "Bat" wrote
| > I have a dual boot configuration on a my partitioned hard drive. The
| > partitions are:
| > C:\ with XP Pro on it
| > E:\ with XP pro on it (exactly the same CD key and all works fine)
| > F:\ used as general space so I can place a file on it, boot to the
| > other OS and retrieve it etc.
| >
| > The reason I've done this, other than to experiment, is so I can keep
| > the F:\ drive as 'clean' as possible and use it for gaming only and
| > drive C:\ for everything else.
| >
| > I've only had this kind of setup for the past fort-night or so and I am
| > pretty happy with it. All the 'bloat-ware' goes on C:\ and only
| > necessary software and drivers go onto F:\ for my games.
| >
| > My question is:
| > My parents have a computer with User Accounts set up on it
| > (Mother / Father) but sometimes, my Father will install
| > something that changes file associations, or something
| > else, on my Mothers User Account side.
| >
| > Assuming they have the hard drive space (they do), wouldn't
| > it be better for me to set their PC up similarly to how I have
| > mine set up and have 2 completely separate OS's, rather than
| > have User Accounts which can interfere with each other?
| > I could use a 3rd partition for them to use as Shared Documents
| > (they sometimes share music files and pictures).
| >
| > Basically, they want separate PC's, but because they can't
| > afford it, I was thinking that a dual boot would be as close to
| > them having separate PC's as they could get.
| > I know some software installations don't detect the drive you
| > are installing from and default to C:\ but that's a minor problem.
| >
| > It works well for my single-user usage but I can't help thinking
| > that the same kind of configuration could work for them, too.
| >
| > I'm planning spending a few days up there next week and any
| > info and experiences shared from people would be greatly welcomed.
|
|
| Dual-booting is a good simple way to keep users out of
| each other's OS, although it's not a security method to
| *prevent* them from getting into each other's OS (because
| each OS will be able to see the file structure of the other
| OS while each is running). It does involve the hassle of
| installing all software twice, though. And here is my caution:
|
| Since the partitions will be on the same HD, don't try to just
| make a clone of one partition onto the other partition. With
| separate HDs, that is the STANDARD procedure to do what
| you want. But standard cloning procedure on WinNT/2K/XP
| is to isolate the clone OS from its "parent" OS when it boots
| for its FIRST time. This is to keep the clone from making
| random (and many times subtle) links into its "parent's" file
| system, resulting in files that you *think* are on the clone
| actually being in the "parent's" file system. That leads to a
| major mess if both get into editing the file that they think is
| just theirs or if the "parent" system is removed. With separate
| HDs, this isolation on first bootup can be accomplished easily
| by just disconnecting the original HD when booting the OS on
| the new HD for the first time. But when the 2 OSes are on the
| same HD, you have to use 3rd-party utilities to "hide" the
| "parent's" partition, and that can get complex.
|
| This recognition by the clone of its "parent" (which only happens
| when it boots for its first time) does not occur for separately
| installed OSes. So as long as you're willing to install the OS and
| the application software on both partitions separately, all will be fine.
|
| *TimDaniels*

Hi Tim,

Interesting reply. Many thanks.

I wouldn't have cloned the XP installation anyway but it's interesting to know not to, on
the same hard drive.

If I can[*] I will do what I have done on my own system and that is, format the drive with
3 partitions, then separately install an XP O/S on 2 of the partitions and use the 3rd
partition for sharing.

[*]My parents do not have an original XP CD. They have a Packard Bell (NEC) recovery CD
with the O/S hidden away on it somewhere (I'm chasing this up on another forum!).

Thanks again :-)

Bat!


.

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