multi boot windows xp

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ActuaryTm

Diamond Member
Mar 30, 2003
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Originally posted by: Navid
One free alternative is multi-booting into multiple partitions.
Though I thought it obvious, the free alternatives to which I spoke in the previous reply were in relation to full emulation solutions, and not all solutions in general.
 

Navid

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2004
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Originally posted by: ActuaryTm
Originally posted by: Navid
One free alternative is multi-booting into multiple partitions.
Though I thought it obvious, the free alternatives to which I spoke in the previous reply were in relation to full emulation solutions, and not all solutions in general.

Nevertheless, multi booting is a free solution that addresses what the original poster is after.
 

MDme

Senior member
Aug 27, 2004
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hi guys sorry for the late response but thanks for the amount of info. I wanted to have another instance of xp on my system since i planned to make an OS just for downloading bittorrent stuff (i am having problems doing bittorrent since my present setup with the software and hardware FWs are just making bittorrent hard for me. I thought that I can use a "less secure" OS just for downloading and stuff). I think I will consider the two HD approach since this is simplest for me. I don't want to do anything that will mess up my current config.
 

Home Built

Member
Dec 11, 2004
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I ended up having XP on 2 separate drives on one of my older machines. I just removed the cables from my old HD 1st, then put the cables on the brand new 2nd (Larger) HD and loaded XP. When I was done with the install I plugged in all the cables to both HD's making my new one the primary drive. After it boots and before XP loads it brings up a screen where it lets you select which one you want to start up with.

It "as others have already said" leaves the original copy as is and just adds a new drive letter for the added drive.

The only downside was when I finally removed the old smaller HD it would still ask which one I wanted it to start in even though there was only one left. Never did figure how to get rid of that request.