Multiple Operating Systems with Win XP

[Stuart Culp]

In the past, with Windows 95, 98 and ME, I have always run 2 or 3
operating systems and selected between them with BootMagic. To do this,
I make one installation and using the copy/paste method create the other
OS’es. As the OS’es change over time, I make copies of them and hide
them in an extended partition on another hard drive. Then, if I develop
a problem with an OS, I delete/copy/paste and save the time and trouble
of trying to fix the problematic system. All data items are kept in
other partitions.

I will be getting a new computer soon and will use Win XP Professional
exclusively. I plan to run 2 or 3 operating systems. Because of the
way Boot.ini is developed and managed I am anticipating problems:

1. I understand that I cannot use BootMagic with the NTFS file system.
True?/False?

2. Because of the way Boot.ini is developed and managed, do I have to do
a separate install for each of the OS’es, or will the copy/paste method
still be OK?

3. If I am in OS #1, for instance, and I delete OS #2 and then
copy/paste a new OS #2 from a hidden file somewhere, is that going to
cause a problem in the Boot.ini files?

Would appreciate your help and suggestions.

Stu Culp

 

[Bruce Chambers]

I will be getting a new computer soon and will use Win XP Professional
exclusively. I plan to run 2 or 3 operating systems.

Remember, WinXP's EULA specifies a single installation on one computer.
If you want more than one operable instance of WinXP available, you'll
need to purchase a separate license for each installation. Obviously,
you wouldn't need a license for an archival partition image.

Because of the
way Boot.ini is developed and managed I am anticipating problems:

1. I understand that I cannot use BootMagic with the NTFS file system.
True?/False?

Unknown. Ask the manufacturer of Boot Magic. WinXP doesn't need a 3rd
party boot manager.

2. Because of the way Boot.ini is developed and managed, do I have to do
a separate install for each of the OS’es, or will the copy/paste method
still be OK?

You'll have to perform a separate installation, using a separate
license, for each. "Copy & Paste" will not work in this manner,
although you could use a partition imaging application, such as
Symantec's Ghost to make an archival backup copy of an installation.

3. If I am in OS #1, for instance, and I delete OS #2 and then
copy/paste a new OS #2 from a hidden file somewhere, is that going to
cause a problem in the Boot.ini files?

Unless you abandon the entire concept of "copy/paste" and use a
partition imaging solution, yes, you'll have problems.


--

Bruce Chambers

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