To VPC or multiBoot?

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Guest

Hi all,
I have a isssue that I need help with please.

I am a single mom with 2 kids and only one computer,
a Dell P4 with 1.3GhZ CPU and 256KB RDRAM, running Window XP Pro SP2. The
Hard drive is partitioned into 5 different partitions:
C:==for the OS only;
D:==for application programs, MS Office, Nero, etc.;
E:==for temp files & TIF's;
F:==for my documents, music, pictures, etc.;
G:==for future use, unused at this time.

It was done this way by a friend to make it easy for me to backup my data &
such and to make whole system backup easy. I use Acronis True Image to make
backup images of each partition as necessary.

I do not have a problem with my kids using the computer but lately they have
been doing stuff that seems to mess it up - they use Kazza and Emule to do
P2P file sharing and such with their friends and others. I have been told
that those applications can really mess up a system and infect it with all
kinds of stuff.

I want to know which of the following scenarios would be better for me (and
keep me from killing the kids).

1.) Install a second copy of Windows XP Pro to the unused partition "G", so
they can do what they want (mostly surfing and these P2P programs), and I
don't have to worry about it infecting the other Operating system. I would
be interested in knowing how to keep this second OS from writing anything to
the other partitions if I do not want it to though?? Some type of file
sharing?? *** Please comment as necessary. ***
After I install this 2nd OS and update it with all hotfixes, etc., I would
make an image of it and save it to CD/DVD's so if they really mess it up I
could just reinstall from the image (which is pretty fast), and they would be
back to where it started from.

2.) Use the above scenario but with the addition of MS Virtual PC and have
the 2nd copy of XP Pro running inside VPC? But remember, this PC only has
256KB of memory and it is really too expensive for me to upgrade it as my
friend says RDRAM is costly.

3.) Use as is (with only one instance of Windows XP Pro) but install a
program called "SANDBOXIE", $20.00 shareware,
http://www.sandboxie.com/faq.php and have the kids run their P2P programs and
do their surfing from within this program? Not certain if this program is a
finished product or a work in progress?


The cost of the 2nd copy of Windows XP Pro is not an issue as I already have
an extra copy, and I also already have a paid copy of MS VPC, I hear it is
now free from Microsoft.

Thank you for you time and I anxiously await all comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,

Sue
 
|>Hi all,
|>I have a isssue that I need help with please.
|>

|>
|>I want to know which of the following scenarios would be better for me (and
|>keep me from killing the kids).
|>
|>1.) Install a second copy of Windows XP Pro to the unused partition "G", so
|>they can do what they want (mostly surfing and these P2P programs), and I
|>don't have to worry about it infecting the other Operating system. I would
|>be interested in knowing how to keep this second OS from writing anything to
|>the other partitions if I do not want it to though?? Some type of file
|>sharing?? *** Please comment as necessary. ***
|>After I install this 2nd OS and update it with all hotfixes, etc., I would
|>make an image of it and save it to CD/DVD's so if they really mess it up I
|>could just reinstall from the image (which is pretty fast), and they would be
|>back to where it started from.

1's the route I'd go (and do), you also have the ability to fix a
problem system from the dual XP.
 
See below.

cutie_pyie said:
Hi all,
I have a isssue that I need help with please.

I am a single mom with 2 kids and only one computer,
a Dell P4 with 1.3GhZ CPU and 256KB RDRAM, running Window XP Pro SP2. The
Hard drive is partitioned into 5 different partitions:
C:==for the OS only;
D:==for application programs, MS Office, Nero, etc.;
E:==for temp files & TIF's;
F:==for my documents, music, pictures, etc.;
G:==for future use, unused at this time.
Click to expand...
*** Your friend got carried away. The OS an all applications
*** should reside on C:, your data on drive D:. Having
*** five drives is confusing and will lead to bottlenecks.
*** At the very least you should combine drives E:, F: and G:.
It was done this way by a friend to make it easy for me to backup my data &
such and to make whole system backup easy. I use Acronis True Image to make
backup images of each partition as necessary.

I do not have a problem with my kids using the computer but lately they have
been doing stuff that seems to mess it up - they use Kazza and Emule to do
P2P file sharing and such with their friends and others. I have been told
that those applications can really mess up a system and infect it with all
kinds of stuff.
Click to expand...
*** Correct. I have fixed several systems that were messed up
*** by teenagers.
I want to know which of the following scenarios would be better for me (and
keep me from killing the kids).
Click to expand...
*** Killing the kids would be the most effective solution.
1.) Install a second copy of Windows XP Pro to the unused partition "G", so
they can do what they want (mostly surfing and these P2P programs), and I
don't have to worry about it infecting the other Operating system. I would
be interested in knowing how to keep this second OS from writing anything to
the other partitions if I do not want it to though?? Some type of file
sharing?? *** Please comment as necessary. ***
Click to expand...
*** You would have to set up a rigid permission scheme to keep
*** them out of your drives. They will get around it as soon as
*** they know half as much as you do.
After I install this 2nd OS and update it with all hotfixes, etc., I would
make an image of it and save it to CD/DVD's so if they really mess it up I
could just reinstall from the image (which is pretty fast), and they would be
back to where it started from.
Click to expand...
*** Good idea.
2.) Use the above scenario but with the addition of MS Virtual PC and have
the 2nd copy of XP Pro running inside VPC? But remember, this PC only has
256KB of memory and it is really too expensive for me to upgrade it as my
friend says RDRAM is costly.
Click to expand...
*** RAM is not all this costly but a Virtual PC does not really
*** keep your kids out of the main Windows installation.
*** Remember that you always have to launch Windows first,
*** followed by the Virtual PC.
3.) Use as is (with only one instance of Windows XP Pro) but install a
program called "SANDBOXIE", $20.00 shareware,
http://www.sandboxie.com/faq.php and have the kids run their P2P programs and
do their surfing from within this program? Not certain if this program is a
finished product or a work in progress?
Click to expand...
*** Don't know this program.
The cost of the 2nd copy of Windows XP Pro is not an issue as I already have
an extra copy, and I also already have a paid copy of MS VPC, I hear it is
now free from Microsoft.

Thank you for you time and I anxiously await all comments and suggestions.

Sincerely,

Sue
Click to expand...

If this was my machine then I would get a free copy of a boot
loader called XOSL. I would then do this:
- Create a 15 MByte logical partition at the far end of the disk.
- Install XOSL there.
- Clone the existing WinXP installation to your spare partition.
- Add the two OSs to the XOSL menu.
- Password-protect your own WinXP installation in XOSL.
- Selectively hide various partitions from each other.

As a net result would get two completely independent and
mutually invisible OSs, one of which is password protected.

There are a few gotchas in this method. Post again for
further details if you decide to follow this path
 
If you install XP a second time in its own partition for the kids, use
something like bootitng as your boot manager. You can then hide your own
partitions from the second installation. That is, when your kids boot into
their XP your XP and any partitions you choose are not seen by their
windows. The reverse is also true. When you boot into your windows you wont
see their partition.

Obviously that will work for trustworthy kids. If you are worried the kids
will mischiviously play around with your files then there is nothing you can
do that they wont find a way round. In that case a second pc is what you
need.
 
Pegasus,

Thanks for your reply.
Yes I would be very interested in knowing about this XOSL boot loader way of
addressing my problem.

I do have a couple questions about your previous “do this†advice though:
1.) “Create a 15 MByte logical partition at the far end of the diskâ€. How
to get it to far end of disk?
2.) “Clone the existing WinXP installation to your spare partitionâ€. Do
you mean install the other copy I have?
If I “Clone†(not sure how?), that copy would have ALL the programs
I have installed – don’t think the kids need everything I have installed.
2a.) Can I interpret the meaning of "clone" to actual mean that on one PC
you can actually install a 2nd copy of the SAME operating system (using same
(retail) CD's). to the same HD and it will work??

FYI:
My friend said the partitioning was done this way after consulting this
article:
PLANNING YOUR PARTITIONS by Jim Eishelman
Version 3.7.1 — Revised January 2, 2006
Which is available at -- http://aumha.org/a/parts.htm
If you have any comments or suggestions after reading the article, my friend
said they would be MOST welcome!
I would also be very interested in getting any other opinion on why this
setup is or is not good for my system.

Thanks a lot!!

Cin
 
Somehow this thread dropped below my horizon. It's now
visible again - see below.

cutie_pyie said:
Pegasus,

Thanks for your reply.
Yes I would be very interested in knowing about this XOSL boot loader way of
addressing my problem.

I do have a couple questions about your previous "do this" advice though:
1.) "Create a 15 MByte logical partition at the far end of the disk". How
to get it to far end of disk?
Click to expand...
If you have a partition manager such as the one from Acronis
or PowerQuest then use its inbuilt facilities to do it. If not then
use diskmgmt.msc under WinXP to create a logical drive that
is about 15 MBytes shy of what's left on the disk. You can now
create your XOSL partition.
2.) "Clone the existing WinXP installation to your spare partition". Do
you mean install the other copy I have?
Click to expand...
Installing another copy is doing it the hard way round. Do you
have another WinXP/2000 PC into which you could temporarily
install your WinXP disk as a slave disk? If so then use this command:
xcopy d:\*.* e:\ /s /e /c /h /y /o
If I "Clone" (not sure how?), that copy would have ALL the programs
I have installed - don't think the kids need everything I have installed.
2a.) Can I interpret the meaning of "clone" to actual mean that on one PC
you can actually install a 2nd copy of the SAME operating system (using same
(retail) CD's). to the same HD and it will work??
Click to expand...
Yes, it will.
FYI:
My friend said the partitioning was done this way after consulting this
article:
PLANNING YOUR PARTITIONS by Jim Eishelman
Version 3.7.1 - Revised January 2, 2006
Which is available at -- http://aumha.org/a/parts.htm
If you have any comments or suggestions after reading the article, my friend
said they would be MOST welcome!
I would also be very interested in getting any other opinion on why this
setup is or is not good for my system.
Click to expand...
I do not entirely agree with this article. For one thing, the author
appears to be a little shaky on OSs and commands. He quotes
"FDisk, which is free with Windows", which is wrong. Fdisk
is a Win98/DOS command - it does not exist under WinXP.
For another, he has too many partitions for my taste, as I
said before. I too subscribe to the KISS principle and I would
partition my machine like so:
1. Primary partition 1: WinXP version 1
2. Primary partition 2: WinXP version 2
3. Logical drive 1: Data drive for WinXP version 1
4. Logical drive 2: Data drive for WinXP version 2
5. Logical drive 3: XOSL

When launching WinXP version 1, you would see drives 1, 3 and 4.
When launching WinXP version 1, you would see drives 2 and 4.

The XOSL partition is never visible.

In a separate reply I will give you a step-by-step recipe to
install XOSL.
 
As promised, here is the recipe to install XOSL.

1. Create your various partitions as explained before,
including a 15 MByte FAT partition for XOSL. Label them
MyWindows, KidsWindows, MyData, KidsData, XOSL
so that you can recognise them.

2. Copy WinXP to the KidsWindows drive as explained before.
If you cannot do this, ask for further advice BEFORE doing
a new installation.

3. If one of your existing partitions (not the XOSL partition)
is a FAT32 partition, expand XOSL there. If not, expand it
to a floppy disk.

4. Boot the machine with a Win98 boot disk
(www.bootdisk.com).

5. Run the install.bat command from the XOSL folder.

6. Select "Dedicated partition when prompted".

7. Be very, very careful when selecting the actual
partition. Make absolutely sure that it is the 15 MByte
XOSL partition you created. If you select the wrong
partition then you will wipe that partition.

8. Reboot the machine. You will now see the XOSL menu.

9. Add the two OSs to to XOSL menu.

10. Use XOSL to hide the two OSs from each other.
Important: You MUST selectively hide the two primary
partitions from each other on the first boot. If you don't
then you will probably get a very confused system.

11. Use XOSL to hide the logical drives from each other,
as desired.

If things go wrong, do this to restore the normal boot
operation:
- Boot the machine with your Win98 boot disk.
- Type this command: fdisk /mbt
This will remove XOSL from your machine so that you
can try again.

If unsure, ask first. XOSL is a very nice tool but will do
a lot of damage if used incorrectly. You should also back
up your important files because accidents do happen . . .
 
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