Making Multi-Operating-Systems work

[WaiWai]

Making Multi-Operating-Systems work

I'm a newbie to this sort of ideas.
I would like to setup 2 windows:
- Wins XP Pro (SP1)
- "Wins 98" or "Wins XP Pro (SP1)" again

Purpose of second operating system:
Common purpose:
- I use it to test software, drivers, updates and so on. So even if they crashes my system, I can simply reformat them and start over it again.

Wins 98:
- I might wish to install it because I can play old games
- but you know, Wins 98 is faulty. And the security issues worries me

Wins XP Pro (SP1):
- Just wonder if it's possible - to install the same operating system twice
- It is safer than Wins 98.

Questions:
- Just would like to know more why people set up more than 1 operating system(OS).
- is it possible to get this done:
- 2 OS share the same programs (so the program needed to be installed once)
- but at the same time, 2 OS can install their own programs
- the same questions (ie possibility of sharing some, and not sharing some) are asked for the following files:
... - system settings (eg mouse, keyboard, display)
... - internet settings
... - personal data (eg my documents, pictures etc.)

Thanks a lot.

 

[WaiWai]

deleted

 

[powerMarkymark]

You could use Microsoft's Virtual PC to install multiple versions of Windows.


Here is a good review of that software.

Fred Langa mentions that it is ideal for those people who wish to test software in different, safe environments.

HTH

Marc

 

[KB]

On my computer I have installed Windows XP twice, one a gaming OS, the other a development OS. Just create two partitions, then install to C and then D. You can do this with 98 and XP or install both as XP as I would recommend. If you want 98, I would install 98 first.

The two OS's can share some programs, like Mozilla firfox, but not others like Microsoft Word, because Office requires registry entries to be installed in that OS's registry. For this same reason they can't share internet settings and mouse settings, you just have configure them both the same way.

 

[WaiWai]

I think the difficulty rises if I wish to share 2 different OS.
How can I know if a program can be shared or not? Is there any easy way to know?
I'm using Mozilla. Just wonder if it needs to write some registry entries.

 

[WaiWai]

And I would like to know the difference between this 2:
- multi-boot by virtual PC software VS
- multi-boot by installing 2 different OS in 2 partitions

What're their strong/weak points?

Is there any website which talks about the details of them, and about how to manage multi-boot systems?

 

[Navid]

I do boot into two XP installations. My reason is that I use one for my everyday use, which includes gaming and trying new utilities that I download and any crazy thing you can imagine. The other XP is for when I want to log into my office and work from home. This one needs to be a stable OS with no beta software or crazy stuff on it.

I have Partitioin Magic 7 and Drive Image 2002. i got each for about $35.00 2 years ago.

I created three primary partitions, each 3.7GB. I have a logic partition in the extended partition, which is Drive D. I install XP on the first primary partition. I then move the "My Documents folder" to drive D. I move my emails, my addres book and my Internet explorer favorites to the "My Documents" folder.
Then, I install all my favorite programs. I install all the programs on drive D.
After I have installed all the programs that I need, I make an image of drive C and store it for later.

Then, I restore that image to the second partition.
Then, I make the first partition hidden using Drive Image and boot to the second partition.

Now, when I want to work from home, I boot into the second partition. This does not happen everyday. I may need this occasionally.
Most of the time, I boot to the first partition.

I use the third partition for playing with linux.

What is nice about this setup is that each XP only sees itself on drive C. It is not aware of another OS on the other partition. So, there is no chance of accidentally modifying the system files of the other OS.

The advantage of putting all the program files on D is that C is relatively small. So, the image file size is quite reasonable (1GB). I can restore it in just 3 minutes.

 

[WaiWai]

I don't know much about image.
Some questions:
- What do I need to image? (is that all system folders, ie documents and settings, program files, windows?)
- how much, or the percentage of, the size of the drive image is reduced (comparing with my original drive whihc is being imaged)?
- If after image, I find some programs bad and wish to get rid of them. How to do? You know, it is not a good idea to re-image the same drive.
- If after image, I have fixed some registry entries or edit some files. How can I update my image?


Now since you just copy the C drive (ie you copied documents and settings, and windows folder), after you restore the image, do you need to install every program back?

Do you need to have a separate program file for each OS?

Would you mind to tell me why you try Linux (curiosity speaking)?

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: WaiWai
I don't know much about image.
Some questions:
- What do I need to image? (is that all system folders, ie documents and settings, program files, windows?)

You need a program like Drive Image or Ghost.

- how much, or the percentage of, the size of the drive image is reduced (comparing with my original drive whihc is being imaged)?

That depends on the type of data that is on the drive. My C drive image is about half the size of my C drive.

- If after image, I find some programs bad and wish to get rid of them. How to do? You know, it is not a good idea to re-image the same drive.

Get rid of the bad programs and create another image.

- If after image, I have fixed some registry entries or edit some files. How can I update my image?

Create another image.

Now since you just copy the C drive (ie you copied documents and settings, and windows folder), after you restore the image, do you need to install every program back?

No. I also hide the original C drive. So, now, the second partition is drive C. All programs run like nothing happend.

Do you need to have a separate program file for each OS?

You don't need to. But, you can install programs on C or D. That is up to you. Programs that you install on D, will be available to both XP systems. If you install a program on C, after you hide that C, the other C will not have the program on it.

There is a catch! If you install a program on D after you created the image, the other C will not have the shortcuts in the start menu. More importantly, the other C may not have the necessary dll files in the sytem32 folder for running the program. You can create another image. This is the main disadvantage of installing programs on D.

Would you mind to tell me why you try Linux (curiosity speaking)?

Because I am curious too!

 

[dderolph]

I have a dual boot configuration with Win 98SE and Win XP. If you want to do that, you need to install Win 98SE first. In my case, I had been using Win 98SE long before installing Win XP. I merely installed Win XP on a separate partition.

As far as sharing programs, I'm not absolutely sure what you mean. I use Outlook Express for email. By changing the Store Folder under both OS to the same location, I can open OE under either OE and see exactly the same thing. I have Office 97 installed under Win 98SE, and Office 2003 under Win XP. I can open files created in Office 97 with Office 2003 and vice versa, except perhaps a few situations where Office 97 apps can not read Office 2003 app files. But, for example, I can open Word 2003 files with Word 97.

 

[Navid]

Originally posted by: dderolph
I have a dual boot configuration with Win 98SE and Win XP. If you want to do that, you need to install Win 98SE first. In my case, I had been using Win 98SE long before installing Win XP. I merely installed Win XP on a separate partition.

As far as sharing programs, I'm not absolutely sure what you mean. I use Outlook Express for email. By changing the Store Folder under both OS to the same location, I can open OE under either OE and see exactly the same thing. I have Office 97 installed under Win 98SE, and Office 2003 under Win XP. I can open files created in Office 97 with Office 2003 and vice versa, except perhaps a few situations where Office 97 apps can not read Office 2003 app files. But, for example, I can open Word 2003 files with Word 97.

I was talking specifically about dual-booting XP with XP!
I have described why I needed to do that in my post.
So, I was talking about installing the prgrams on a third partition (a logical partition) and letting both XP installations use the same partition with all the programs on it.