Re: XP multiple install earth to bruce hello?

From: Roger Abell (mvpNOSpam_at_asu.edu)
Date: 01/21/05 

Date: Fri, 21 Jan 2005 12:52:10 -0700

Hi "emathers" of Earth.
I hope you will not mind comments from another, as you
have posted into a public forum.
These I have inlined below . . . 

-- 
Roger Abell
Microsoft MVP (Windows  Security)
MCSE (W2k3,W2k,Nt4)  MCDBA
"nedjinski" <nedjinski@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:25C8C3C0-C839-4CFE-8BD8-A7070EEC5560@microsoft.com...
> Hi Bruce & Simon -
>
> You were very kind to help me out last week with my
> questions about multiple installations of XP on
> multiple partitions.
>
> So I thought I would let you know of my results.
>
> Once I got the concept of the correct sequence it
> wasn't all that bad.
> Starting with clean disks I began the first XP
> installation procedure and made all the partitions I
> wanted to have for the other installs and pagefiles and then installed the
> first copy of XP
> -
>
> once the first install was complete I went ahead and
> formatted all the empty partitions.
>
> My machine looks like this:
>
> Three Primary partitions - One Extended Partition
>
> Primary Partition one - 25gb
> Primary Partition two - 20gb
> Primary Partition three - 20 gb
> One Extended Partition with four Logical Drives -
> each about five gb each to be used as pagefile
> containers, the last just spare space TBD.
>
On multiboot systems, even where the OS versions differ,
I will commonly point all of the intalls to the same location
(partition) for their pagefile and tell each OS the same size
info for the pagefile.   This never causes problem (that I have
ever noticed) and does definitely save some space (I just
which I could, with today's large memory systems, do the
same thing for the hiberfil.sys hibernation file!).
> So far it all seems to be working well. I haven't yet
> activated XP and I assume I will have to activate all
> three installs separately? I hope this doesn't raise
Yes, each must be independently activated, and yes, it will
raise red flags.  If you read the EULA.txt file which define
you license to use you will see that it say you may install
one copy on one machine.  I have run this up the flagpole
at MS and have always received the answer that this means
that a dual or triple boot machine (all XP) needs two or
three licenses.   AFAIK however, MS has not been active
in strictly making this known or enforced.
But, do expect activation issues, and do be aware of your
rights as granted in the license.
> the red flag with MS! BTW is the activation for the OS
> or is it for the System? and what would happen if I
for the OS or for the System ?
Activation is per-bootable build, and the activation info
is stored within that build.
> activated the primary install and not the other two?
> would they be rendered useless after 30 days?
>
yes, useless
> so back to the partitions -
>
> I was under the impression that the different OS's on
> different partitions would be invisible to each other?
why ?  If the partition is mounted with a letter then it is
accessible (to the extent of permissions if NTFS is in use)
> (the concept of three C: drives) But when I open
> Windows Explorer I can see everything on the computer,
> and it appears as though I can move files across
> partitions, etc. So how separate are the installs? and
> if they are "interactive" then whats the point of
> separate partitions/installs in the first place?
>
The non-active installs are just so much storage.
The partitions do not have to have drive letters when
a different partition is booted.  If they are mounted,
then the well-known, built-in accounts and groups are
recognized as these are the same everywhere.  So, the
storage of build2 can be manipulated when logged into
build1 because things like Administrators, Users, etc.
are defined to allow access (in the NTFS settings of
the build2 storage) and any account in use in the boot
of build1 is likely recognized as a member of Users
(for an example)
Why would one have multi-boots when only one can
be owning the hardware (aka: booted, running) at a
time ?  That is up to your needs.  Testing , etc..
Some software like VMWare does have the ability
to present virtual hardware and to allow raw partition
installs to be used.  With this, and much sweat getting
it working with raw partitions, one can boot build1,
log into build1, fire up the virtualization and boot
build2 within it, log into build2, etc. . .
> hope this finds it's way to you and feel free to email me directly in the
> future - emathersatyahoodotcomm

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