Setting up a multi boot system

G

Guest

I originally posted this elsewhere but this is probably the best place for it.

Got my new computer delivered yesterday with two hard drives, XP installed
on one. I want XP on both hard drives so I can have gaming, internet etc. on
one, then home recording (with minimal drivers and programs etc to minimise
latency) on the other. Didn't think this would be much of a problem...

I wasn't exactly sure how to multi boot but I didn't think there'd be any
harm in whacking the XP disc back in and seeing what happened. Got to the
setup screen and checked a box saying something like "choose which directory
XP is to be installed in at setup". All sounds good to me! Too good to be
true...

The computer restarts and boots up in DOS to setup XP. Strange thing is, the
computer cant find my hard drives. Even though when in XP, it can see and
access both in Explorer. Strange I thought...then I restarted as obviously I
couldn't install XP if the computer couldn't find a hard drive...and I get
the dreaded blue screen:


A problem has been deteceted and Windows has been shut down to prevent
damage to your computer.

If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your
computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:

Check for viruses on your computer. Remove any newly installed hard drives
or hard drive controllers. Check your hard drive to make sure it is properly
configured and terminated. Run CHKDSK /F to check for hard drive corruption,
and then restart your computer.

Technical information:

*** STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF7CAE524, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x0000000000)


What's going on?! I restarted and got the same screen, and now I'm at a loss
as to what I should do. I'm very confused as to how what I'v
 
G

Guest

Okay...at start up I was offered whether to boot up in the Windows setup
program or go to Windows XP...so i changed the boot.ini file so that the
computer defaults to loading up in XP. No idea why the setup program is still
available because I dont have the cd in anymore.

But I am still at a loss as to how to set up a dual boot system, with an OS
on either hard drive. I've seen many articles on the internet, but they all
seem to be concerned with multi boot systems on a single partitioned hard
drive. Besides that, they don't seem to really fully tell you how to do it
either...they just say, Install Windows XP twice...so i'm not sure what to
do. Help please!
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

You cannot install Windows XP twice without purchasing
another license for it. Your Windows XP license only
permits one (1) installation on one (1) computer.

From the Windows XP EULA:

1.1 Installation and use. You may install, use, access,
display and run one copy of the Software on a single
computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other
device ("Workstation Computer"). The Software may not
be used by more than two (2) processors at any one
time on any single Workstation Computer.

Please read your End-User License Agreement by going
to Start > Run and type: WINVER , and hit enter. Then
click on "End-User License Agreement".

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

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

:

| I originally posted this elsewhere but this is probably the best place for it.
|
| Got my new computer delivered yesterday with two hard drives, XP installed
| on one. I want XP on both hard drives so I can have gaming, internet etc. on
| one, then home recording (with minimal drivers and programs etc to minimise
| latency) on the other. Didn't think this would be much of a problem...
|
| I wasn't exactly sure how to multi boot but I didn't think there'd be any
| harm in whacking the XP disc back in and seeing what happened. Got to the
| setup screen and checked a box saying something like "choose which directory
| XP is to be installed in at setup". All sounds good to me! Too good to be
| true...
|
| The computer restarts and boots up in DOS to setup XP. Strange thing is, the
| computer cant find my hard drives. Even though when in XP, it can see and
| access both in Explorer. Strange I thought...then I restarted as obviously I
| couldn't install XP if the computer couldn't find a hard drive...and I get
| the dreaded blue screen:
|
|
| A problem has been deteceted and Windows has been shut down to prevent
| damage to your computer.
|
| If this is the first time you've seen this Stop error screen, restart your
| computer. If this screen appears again, follow these steps:
|
| Check for viruses on your computer. Remove any newly installed hard drives
| or hard drive controllers. Check your hard drive to make sure it is properly
| configured and terminated. Run CHKDSK /F to check for hard drive corruption,
| and then restart your computer.
|
| Technical information:
|
| *** STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF7CAE524, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x0000000000)
|
|
| What's going on?! I restarted and got the same screen, and now I'm at a loss
| as to what I should do. I'm very confused as to how what I'v
 
G

Guest

Hmph. I can understand that if I were to be using it on two seperate
computers or something, but in these circumstances it seems a little harsh.

That wouldnt account for why my computer cant find my hard drives, and the
blue screen error message, would it? Do you know why I might be having that
problem? Cheers.
 
C

Carey Frisch [MVP]

Perhaps your computer manufacturer customized the Windows XP
CD so that it can only be installed on the C: drive in order to comply
with the one computer, one license stipulation in the EULA.

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

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

:

| Hmph. I can understand that if I were to be using it on two seperate
| computers or something, but in these circumstances it seems a little harsh.
|
| That wouldnt account for why my computer cant find my hard drives, and the
| blue screen error message, would it? Do you know why I might be having that
| problem? Cheers.
 
T

Timothy Daniels

Badgerer said:
Got my new computer delivered yesterday with two hard drives,
XP installed on one. I want XP on both hard drives so I can have
gaming, internet etc. on one, then home recording (with minimal
drivers and programs etc to minimise latency) on the other. Didn't
think this would be much of a problem...


Just clone the HD with WinXP on it to the other HD and
add an entry in the Boot.ini file to multiboot between the 2
HDs, or just manuall set the hard drive boot order in the BIOS
to select which HD to boot from. That EULA crap about more
than one WinXP installed on one computer with only one license
can safely be ignored. More details available if you ask for them.

*TimDaniels*
 

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