Can you install Two of the Same Program?

[David Lewis]

Greetings,
I wish to install two instances of the same program on different physical
drives but within the one instance of XP Pro. The idea is that Each program
would act independently of one another and with a view to accessing
different data.

I was unable to do this and with the installer wanting to uninstall the
program on C: prior to installing on G: Can it be done and how?

Thanks for any help

 

[David Lewis]

Bitstring <[email protected]>, from the wonderful


It rather depends on the program. If the program makes extensive use
of
the registry to store things, then more than one copy is going to be a
problem - they'll keep over-writing the same place in the registry,
even
if you manage to gimmick the installer.

Typically it's best to assume the program authors know best - if
they've made it impossible to install two copies at once, then it
probably won't work.

OK thanks.I guess the same problems would arise if you try and install the
program from a separste User Account?

 

[David Lewis]

Again, depends on the program. Most these days install into the 'all
users' registry/account/folder, and therefore doing it as someone else
makes no difference. Some may install separately for separate users,
but if they did then user A would only be able to run 'his' copy
anyway, so you wouldn't beat the system that way.

This would be a reasonable workaround.Same program loaded into separate User
Accounts but same instance of XP (and accessing different data sets).I could
use fast user switching to go between independent programs when required.I
imagine the second installation would install into the separate local
username's registry/account folder and would simply overwrite entries in the
all users' registry /account / folder.But is there any way then to disable
the latter with a Regedit or something?

GSV,as I have progressed somewhat off topic ( now asking about Regedits) I
will repost this question but grateful for your thoughts if you still feel
incnclined to answer.

 

[GSV Three Minds in a Can]

This would be a reasonable workaround.Same program loaded into separate User
Accounts but same instance of XP (and accessing different data sets).I could
use fast user switching to go between independent programs when required.I
imagine the second installation would install into the separate local
username's registry/account folder and would simply overwrite entries in the
all users' registry /account / folder.But is there any way then to disable
the latter with a Regedit or something?

GSV,as I have progressed somewhat off topic ( now asking about Regedits) I
will repost this question but grateful for your thoughts if you still feel
incnclined to answer.

I'm going to bow out now .. still saying 'it depends on the program'.

If the thing sticks a data file in c:\..\thisprogsdata, and insists on
it being there, then the two copies (where ever you put them) will trip
over one another. If it uses a registry key in HKLM (local machine),
rather than HKCU (current user) to record something, then again they'll
trip over one another.

Generally the author knows whether running two copies makes sense. In
the case of some utilities, running two copies is definitely a bad idea
(they get in each other's way - try running two copies of Partition
Magic - well, you can't, actually it won't even run if WinXPs disk
manager is open at the same time). OTOH I can run as many copies of my
'bridge' game (from Win 3.1 days) as I can fit on the screen - its never
heard of the registry. 8>.

 

[David Lewis]

I'm going to bow out now .. still saying 'it depends on the program'.

If the thing sticks a data file in c:\..\thisprogsdata, and insists on
it being there, then the two copies (where ever you put them) will
trip
over one another. If it uses a registry key in HKLM (local machine),
rather than HKCU (current user) to record something, then again
they'll
trip over one another.

OK.No doubt you are correct.Thanks for help