Another multi boot question

[Randy Harris]

I need to put two XP Pro loads on a single system with two disk drives. I
know that I can install twice, but I'd like to install OS and other software
on one, then clone it to the other disk. Can this be done? How would I
tell it to boot the second drive? Do I need to use multiboot software (ala
Boot Commander) to do this? Or, can I configure XP to let me choose the
drive to boot? (Both would have to be the C drive)

Thanks for any suggestions,
Randy

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

HOW TO: Create a Multiple-Boot System in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306559&Product=winxp

You'll need an individual license in order to install and activate Windows XP
on two different drives installed in the same computer, even though you will
be using one drive at any one time.

On the back of the Windows XP box, please read the statement
"For installation and use on one computer"
(see License Agreement for license terms).

To access the License Agreement on your XP computer, go to:

Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter.

Then click on "End-User License Agreement".

You can also open XP's "Help and Support" and type: EULA
and hit enter. Click on "Questions and answers about the EULA".

The End-User License Agreement states quite clearly:

"You may install, use, access, display and run one copy
of the Software on a single computer...."

You can install one (1) copy of Windows XP on one (1) computer.
Additional installations requires additional licenses (Product Keys)
for each installation on a different computer.

HOW TO: Change the Product Key at the Time of Activation
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810892&Product=winxp

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Home Edition
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp

Additional Licenses for Windows XP Professional
http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


|
| I need to put two XP Pro loads on a single system with two disk drives. I
| know that I can install twice, but I'd like to install OS and other software
| on one, then clone it to the other disk. Can this be done? How would I
| tell it to boot the second drive? Do I need to use multiboot software (ala
| Boot Commander) to do this? Or, can I configure XP to let me choose the
| drive to boot? (Both would have to be the C drive)
|
| Thanks for any suggestions,
| Randy
|
|

 

[Randy Harris]

Thanks Carey, licensing is not an issue, this system is covered by a volume
license. The Microsoft article discusses multiple installs on a single
drive. That's not what I'm hoping to achieve. I need to be able to select
the disk to boot from at boot time and have the selected drive become the C
drive. I'm trying to figure out whether XP can do that, or if I need boot
management software. Would you happen to know?

Randy

 

[Carey Frisch [MVP]]

When you install Windows XP again, it will automatically
create a dual-boot loader. You'll be able to select which
Windows XP O/S to boot to. Therefore, no third-party
boot-loader program is required.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| Thanks Carey, licensing is not an issue, this system is covered by a volume
| license. The Microsoft article discusses multiple installs on a single
| drive. That's not what I'm hoping to achieve. I need to be able to select
| the disk to boot from at boot time and have the selected drive become the C
| drive. I'm trying to figure out whether XP can do that, or if I need boot
| management software. Would you happen to know?
|
| Randy
|
|
| | > HOW TO: Create a Multiple-Boot System in Windows XP
| >
| http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306559&Product=winxp
| >
| > You'll need an individual license in order to install and activate Windows
| XP
| > on two different drives installed in the same computer, even though you
| will
| > be using one drive at any one time.
| >
| > On the back of the Windows XP box, please read the statement
| > "For installation and use on one computer"
| > (see License Agreement for license terms).
| >
| > To access the License Agreement on your XP computer, go to:
| >
| > Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter.
| >
| > Then click on "End-User License Agreement".
| >
| > You can also open XP's "Help and Support" and type: EULA
| > and hit enter. Click on "Questions and answers about the EULA".
| >
| > The End-User License Agreement states quite clearly:
| >
| > "You may install, use, access, display and run one copy
| > of the Software on a single computer...."
| >
| > You can install one (1) copy of Windows XP on one (1) computer.
| > Additional installations requires additional licenses (Product Keys)
| > for each installation on a different computer.
| >
| > HOW TO: Change the Product Key at the Time of Activation
| >
| http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;810892&Product=winxp
| >
| > Additional Licenses for Windows XP Home Edition
| > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/home/howtobuy/addlic.asp
| >
| > Additional Licenses for Windows XP Professional
| > http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/pro/howtobuy/addlic.asp
| >
| > --
| > Carey Frisch
| > Microsoft MVP
| > Windows XP - Shell/User
| >
| > Be Smart! Protect your PC!
| > http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/
| >
| > --------------------------------------------------------------------------
| -----------
| >
| > | >
| > |
| > | I need to put two XP Pro loads on a single system with two disk drives.
| I
| > | know that I can install twice, but I'd like to install OS and other
| software
| > | on one, then clone it to the other disk. Can this be done? How would I
| > | tell it to boot the second drive? Do I need to use multiboot software
| (ala
| > | Boot Commander) to do this? Or, can I configure XP to let me choose the
| > | drive to boot? (Both would have to be the C drive)
| > |
| > | Thanks for any suggestions,
| > | Randy
| > |
| > |
|
|

 

[Kenny]

try this....
www.osloader.com

after you clone, this program will detect the 2 XP installations and add
them to the boot manager

 

[Kenny]

he will not be installing again, he said he would CLONE the drive

 

[Randy Harris]

try this....
www.osloader.com

after you clone, this program will detect the 2 XP installations and add
them to the boot manager

Thanks. I thought I would need additional software but wanted to check to
be sure.

 

[Kenny]

there is also an option to use the XP bootloader. After you have the 2
drives ready and cloned, you can start the computer using the XP cdrom and
go to the repair console. I cant remember exactly how but there is a way to
search for XP installations and add them to the bootloader.
Type help? on the repair console and it will show the commands.

An even easier way is someone to post the bootloader ini text. for a single
installation it is like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

for more installtions you have to add another entry something like this:

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional - CLONED" /fastdetect

perhaps now someone else can help you further....

 

[Kenny]

read my other post. it is not nessasary to use another program the xp
bolotloader is capable of doing it you just have to edit the boot.ini
to include the second drive.

 

[Randy Harris]

there is also an option to use the XP bootloader. After you have the 2
drives ready and cloned, you can start the computer using the XP cdrom and
go to the repair console. I cant remember exactly how but there is a way to
search for XP installations and add them to the bootloader.
Type help? on the repair console and it will show the commands.

An even easier way is someone to post the bootloader ini text. for a single
installation it is like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

for more installtions you have to add another entry something like this:

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional - CLONED" /fastdetect

perhaps now someone else can help you further....

I can edit the boot.ini OK. Do you know, if I use that method, will the
booted drive be C:, whichever is chosen?

 

[Kenny]

The disk that will be booted first should be the first hard drive you are
currently using
C, yes in the boot.ini C is = disk(0) and D will be disk(1)

multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP

Professional" /fastdetect

but before you do this its probably wise to consult an MVP on this matter
just to be sure nothing goes wrong.

kenny

there is also an option to use the XP bootloader. After you have the 2
drives ready and cloned, you can start the computer using the XP cdrom and
go to the repair console. I cant remember exactly how but there is a way to
search for XP installations and add them to the bootloader.
Type help? on the repair console and it will show the commands.

An even easier way is someone to post the bootloader ini text. for a single
installation it is like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

for more installtions you have to add another entry something like this:

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional - CLONED" /fastdetect

perhaps now someone else can help you further....

I can edit the boot.ini OK. Do you know, if I use that method, will the
booted drive be C:, whichever is chosen?

 

[Black Beard]

I don't believe you will be able to boot the system this way and have both
installations be 'C:'.
I was never able to get XP to boot from the 2nd Hard drive even using System
Commander. The only way I could get it to work is to do the install from the
os on the first drive and install the other install to the second drive.
This gives you a dual boot menu from the XP boot loader but the os on the
2nd drive is 'D:".

Black Beard

 

[Menno Hershberger]

I need to put two XP Pro loads on a single system with two disk
drives. I know that I can install twice, but I'd like to install OS
and other software on one, then clone it to the other disk. Can this
be done? How would I tell it to boot the second drive? Do I need to
use multiboot software (ala Boot Commander) to do this? Or, can I
configure XP to let me choose the drive to boot? (Both would have to
be the C drive)

Thanks for any suggestions,

I've read some of the other replies. If you have both drives hooked up
at the same time, one of them is going to become D no matter what. Do you
need to be able to access one drive from the other? Or are you just going
to use the one drive that you have selected exclusively?
I've done a lot of playing around with this sort of thing. Hooked up
two identical drives (cloned). You can "read" and copy files to and from
the second drive, but you would never be able to run windows on the
second drive because the registry is all set up for C drive.
I'm not saying it can't be done, but I will be surprised if it does.
I'll be following this thread to see how you came out on it.

 

[Ron Sommer]

The only way to have two C: drives is to use a boot loader.
The first drive will have to be hidden for the second drive to become C:.
For this I would use BootIT NG, from http://www.BootitNG.com ($35
shareware - 30 day full functional trial)
--
Ron Sommer

there is also an option to use the XP bootloader. After you have the 2
drives ready and cloned, you can start the computer using the XP cdrom and
go to the repair console. I cant remember exactly how but there is a way to
search for XP installations and add them to the bootloader.
Type help? on the repair console and it will show the commands.

An even easier way is someone to post the bootloader ini text. for a single
installation it is like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional" /fastdetect

for more installtions you have to add another entry something like this:

multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP
Professional - CLONED" /fastdetect

perhaps now someone else can help you further....

I can edit the boot.ini OK. Do you know, if I use that method, will the
booted drive be C:, whichever is chosen?

 

[Randy Harris]

Well, I almost got it to work. I can get the second disk to boot, but it
can't check the license, so I can't get logged in.

Can anyone tell me how to remove the licensing from an XP install that is
NOT booted?

 

[Randy Harris]

Well everyone, I finally got it to work. It took a lot of trial and error
(emphasis on the error). I am now convinced that it cannot be done without
a boot loader (as suggested by Ron). Using boot.ini will only work for two
different installations (not a clone job). I tried unsuccessfully to get it
to work with both Boot Commander and Boot Magic. I'm not certain that they
can't be made to work, but I had no luck. I ruined the XP install a couple
of times trying to build a FAT partition ahead of the NTFS. Before getting
it right, I did four complete reinstalls of XP. What a pain!

The loader that finally did the job was osloader (recommended by Kenny).
That is one very smart, well designed little program. Incredibly simple to
install and uninstall. No need for a FAT partition, it overlays the MBR. I
didn't get a chance to try the one recommended by Ron.

My thanks to you all for your input.

Randy Harris