2 windows systems on one machine

[G.]

I'd like to have 2 windows systems on the same machine: one reasonably
trusted, and another not as trusted. I'll use the other one to try
software that is not guaranteed to be badware-free, like freeware from
the net.

One problem is I can't figure out how I can mask the first system from
the second at boot time. That is, if I boot the untrusted system, I
don't want it to be able to access the partitions containing the
trusted sytem.

Another problem has to do with Windows registration. I own two Windows
XP Pro licenses (The hardware I wanted came with XP pro only). However,
if this is at all possible, I'd like to avoid the hassle of setting up
two systems. What I'd like to do, ideally, is the following:

1. make two primary paritions
2. install Windows XP pro on partition number 1.
3. install Windows updates, Adobe and other software I definitely need
often
4. register
5. Clone the whole system to the second partition somehow (perhaps
using UNIX `dd`)
6. choose which system to boot and which to HIDE (first question)

Any suggestions as to how this could be done? Will Windows XP complain
that it's a "clone" if I do the above?

Hiding one partition from another is pretty important. Other things I
can live without.

Thanks!

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

See below.

I'd like to have 2 windows systems on the same machine: one reasonably
trusted, and another not as trusted. I'll use the other one to try
software that is not guaranteed to be badware-free, like freeware from
the net.

One problem is I can't figure out how I can mask the first system from
the second at boot time. That is, if I boot the untrusted system, I
don't want it to be able to access the partitions containing the
trusted sytem.

Another problem has to do with Windows registration. I own two Windows
XP Pro licenses (The hardware I wanted came with XP pro only). However,
if this is at all possible, I'd like to avoid the hassle of setting up
two systems. What I'd like to do, ideally, is the following:

1. make two primary paritions

*** Make three:
- One for WinXP1
- One for WinXP2
- One for XOSL (Boot manager, 10 MBytes FAT at the far eend of the disk)

2. install Windows XP pro on partition number 1.

*** Yes

3. install Windows updates, Adobe and other software I definitely need

often
*** Yes

4. register

*** Yes

5. Clone the whole system to the second partition somehow (perhaps using

UNIX `dd`)
*** Yes. After cloning, modify boot.ini on the second partition
*** so that it reads "partition(2)".
*** Now install XOSL into its dedicated partition. Be very
*** careful to select the XOSL partition. It's easy to make
*** a mistake here . . .

6. choose which system to boot and which to HIDE (first question)

*** Add both OSs to the XOSL boot menu, then
*** instruct XOS to make only one visible at a time.

Any suggestions as to how this could be done? Will Windows XP complain
that it's a "clone" if I do the above?

*** No.

Hiding one partition from another is pretty important. Other things I
can live without.

Thanks!

XOSL is a free boot manager that can easily do what you require.
You can get it from here: http://www.ranish.com/part/xosl.htm.
Other third-party boot managers can achieve the same thing.

After cloning but before booting into either version of WinXP,
it would be a good idea to perform these steps:
- Select WinXP1 in XOSL.
- While the WinXP boot timer counts down, reboot the
machine with a Win98 boot disk (www.bootdisk.com).
- Run this command: fdisk /mbr
- Repeat this process for WinXP2.

Doing this will rewrite the volume signatures. It will avoid
that WinXP1 attempts to use WinXP2 or vice versa.