Multi booting OS...What is needed?

empyre

Member
Mar 26, 2001
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This may be a stupid question, but I am interested in installing 2 different Windows server OS and XP pro for gaming. Is this possible on 1 HD? What is needed? Any risks in doing this?

Thanks in advance!
 

Navid

Diamond Member
Jul 26, 2004
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There is some information on the links on this site.
http://windows.about.com/cs/dualboot/

Always backup your irreplaceable data.

If you have a utility for imaging OS partitions like Drive Image, it will be much easier and risk will be smaller as long as you have backed up your data.
The risk is that you lose a partition. If it is an OS partition and you have an image of it, you just restore the image and you get everything back. If the partition contained data and you have a backup, you can always get it back.
So, again, always backup your data!
 

dawks

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
5,071
2
81
It is possible with one HD.
Basically you need two partitions. When dual booting with just Microsoft OS's, install the oldest of the set of OS's first.

IE, If you want to dual boot XP and Server 2003, Install XP then Server 2003.

And no, there are not many real risks.
 

empyre

Member
Mar 26, 2001
34
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Is it ok to have 2 different server version (2003 types) and XP pro running? That would give me 3 Operating systems on 1 drive.
 

SUOrangeman

Diamond Member
Oct 12, 1999
8,361
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Multiple instances of NT/2K/XP/2K3 operating systems is technically possible. Just make sure you've got the licenses and you are willing to go through the multiple activations.

-SUO