can you install multiple win xp on the same machine?

[smartermoney]

I love to play with new software and tweak my desktop. some of this goes to reg hacks ect. But i allllllso do my schhhoolwork on it almost every night. I am starting to get tired of installing xp pro every few months to "clean" my system out. Is there a boot loader that can let you install multi of xp pro and choose which one to boot to? i could then have a good clean install with some progs for school and games without installing all the time. I have several copies of xp pro (thanks to the sweet anandtech deals) so no prob in have different install #'s. I know i could have a different HD for each os and use the MB bios to boot to either one but i wnadered if something is easier?


On a side note. I want to have a server. I hate moving files, music and movies around so i built one with the killer amd 64 mb and chip combo that was on a while ago. It is a AMD 64 3200+ with an asus k8v deluxe. 3 250gb hd's. But here is my Q. I have the following software i could use (all M$ from action pack sub)
speaking of action pack sub, I was sent a replacement cd for #3, was that to replace the release candidate version or the real premium edition?
Server 2003 Small business edition premium
server 2003 small business edition release candidate
server 2003 web edition
server 2003 standard edition
server 2003 enterprise edition

I would like to play with using it as a web server to post a web site i have the domain to :family pics and stuff so i need it to do that also.
i have 3 machines running on the network and 2 laptops also.

i tried to install the sm edition but it was asking Q's about stuff i have never dealt with before.

 

[Slogun]

I'm pretty sure you can set up multiple partitions on a single hard drive and install any OS you want on each partition.

Alternatively you can install a PC emulator program such as Microsoft virtual PC.

On a side note, I don't believe you would be breaking any licensing agreement with microsoft by installing the same CD key on mulitple partitions on the same machine. It's an interesting concept.

 

[gaidin123]

I'd definitely recommend VMware for installing virtual machines and breaking them. It's a great tool but, like Slogun's recommende MS Virtual PC, both will require a lot of RAM in proportion to the number of extra OSes you run. I'd also recommend putting the virtual machines partitions on a secondary hard drive. They can get hit pretty hard and the slow down is much less when the images aren't on the same partition as your real OS.

Gaidin

 

[Navid]

I have multiple primary partitions (3) of the size 3.6GB at the begining of my drive.
I always have only one of them visible.

I use Drive Image 2002 from PowerQuest (now Symantec).
I create an image of my XP drive on C and store it on my second hard drive.
Then, I restore this on the other primary partitioins. At any point in time, only one of the three is visible. I hide the other two using Drive Image. So, I can boot into whichever I want.

I have moved the my documents folder to another partition. I have moved the IE favorites to another partition. I have moved my emails to another partition. I have done all of these moves before creating the image of C.
So, now, when I make any of the three boot partitions visible and boot, I will have access to all of my documents and most of my programs and my IE favorites.

I have done this for a similar reason to what you mentioned.

Since at any point in time, the XP is active only on one computer, I am not violating the XP license.

 

[smartermoney]

I'd definitely recommend VMware for installing virtual machines and breaking them. It's a great tool but, like Slogun's recommende MS Virtual PC, both will require a lot of RAM in proportion to the number of extra OSes you run. I'd also recommend putting the virtual machines partitions on a secondary hard drive. They can get hit pretty hard and the slow down is much less when the images aren't on the same partition as your real OS

i ahve m$ V pc in my action pack sub.
i have 1gb of ram, is that enough?
what do you mean "I'd also recommend putting the virtual machines partitions on a secondary hard drive"
give me an example
my system has 2 74gb raptors in raid 0 split into 2 partitions....
than i have 3-250 gb drives in lots of partitions

 

[Smilin]

Keep your OS, VPC and whatnot on the Raid 0.

Configure Virtual PC to put it's .VHDs (hard drive files) on one or more of the 250s.

If you have an action pack I believe you have 10 licenses for XP. Action packs are designed for exactly what you are trying to do: ONE person running multiple OSs on single or multiple machines.

smartermoney, use 2003 web edition in one of your VPCs to do what you want.

 

[Netopia]

For doing the sort of stuff you are doing, I use XOSL. Using XOSL you can have somewhere around 30+ different OS's all on the same hard drive without any problems. The most I've ever had was 12 or 13 though, so I can't absolutely verify the 30+ number.

It's located here.. Even if you don't need it for this, I'd suggest that everyone at least take a loot at it... it is a truly interesting piece of freeware!

Joe