multiboot xp home-pro

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Guest

I've a laptop that is now operating on 2 systems, xp home sp2 and xp pro sp2.
What I wonder is whether it is possible to make the program files available
to both operating systems? In other words, do I need to install a program on
both partitions? Can I use the sharing features such as the Networking or
remote desktop wizard instead?
Many thanks.
 
If you have a dual boot setup then you must install your applications on both
partitions. The reason for this is that only one OS is active at a time and each
one has its own registry (where many settings are loaded and accessed by the
app) and each app places many supplemental files in the active system's
environmental paths, which are located on the active partition.

The only thing you can do is share common data, to some degree, based on the
nature of the application.

| I've a laptop that is now operating on 2 systems, xp home sp2 and xp pro sp2.
| What I wonder is whether it is possible to make the program files available
| to both operating systems? In other words, do I need to install a program on
| both partitions? Can I use the sharing features such as the Networking or
| remote desktop wizard instead?
| Many thanks.
 
So if I want to uninstall the xp home out of this multiboot system and still
keep its program files/personal data, do I have to move them to my other
partition where xp pro is based?
My history of creating this multiboot setup is:
+ Installing xp pro sp2 in drive C, personal data stored in drive D
+ Installing xp home sp2 in drive D, personal data still stored in drive D
Thanks in advance.
 
As David explained, you must install your applications separately
in each OS. You cannot move them.
 
Thanks for your advice. But what I mean is now I want to unistall the xp home
out of this multiboot system and only keep the xp pro, to save space. What I
wonder is will I still be able to save my documents/personal data in the
partition where xp home is based, not the program files (as I can reinstall
the programs but I can't afford to lose my personal data)
 
Yes, you can save your personal data. Just boot up in
the version of Windows you wish to keep, then copy the
data to the place where you keep your files in this version
of Windows.

Your phrase "but I can't afford to lose my personal data" is
of concern. It suggests that you do not bother backing up
your personal data even though you cannot afford to lose
it. In this newsgroup we deal with these cases several times
each week, and the answer is always the same: If you cannot
afford to lose your data then you MUST back it up regularly
(e.g. weekly) to an independent medium, e.g. to a hard disk
in an external USB case. Many users chose to ignore this
advice until after the disaster. It's an harsh lesson to learn.

You now have two options:
a) Remove one OS and risk losing your irreplaceable data, or
b) Do a proper backup (and test it!) before doing anything else.
 
holibebu said:
I've a laptop that is now operating on 2 systems, xp home sp2 and xp pro
sp2.
What I wonder is whether it is possible to make the program files
available
to both operating systems? In other words, do I need to install a program
on
both partitions? Can I use the sharing features such as the Networking or
remote desktop wizard instead?
Many thanks.
Click to expand...

Programs have to be installed in each OS, but you only need have one
installation location so each time it's installed, install to the same
location. This will work for many programs. That said, I usually install
apps for each OS in separate locations, rather than as above. It makes it
cleaner when uninstalling apps, for example.
 
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