Dual boot xp

[blackadder]

Hi,
Is this possible.
I want to install 2 160gb hard drives into the same machine "but" with Xp installed on both of them for differant users, if so how would i set it up.
thanks

[Kov-Ice]

I've found the information on dual-booting at THIS site to be very reliable. It says:

How to Install a Second Installation of the Same Windows Version: Install the same version on same or any drive in a NEW directory. It's not a problem. Just be sure you install a new Windows on a different directory. Routinely backup the current boot files, and important data, first.

It sounds like this is a new install for both, so it can't hurt to try. XP should recognize at boot and take you to a screen for choosing which installation you'd like to start.

[Ob1]

y not just create two users on one xp install, and have two parititions (a system partition and a data partition) and save all data onto the second partition?

if you do do a dual boot with two installs of xp, you will want to modify one of the xp entries or both and add a label to distinguish between the two. just modify between the quotation marks.

by default the boot.ini file should look something like this after you install both XP's:
[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 /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional"

after you modify the entries:
[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 - Steve" /FASTDETECT /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional - Tom"

now when you boot up the system and get to the part where you decide which OS to boot into you will be able to tell the difference, one install will have Steve at the End, the other will be Tom

[blackadder]

Thanks kov-ice looking at that now.

Originally Posted by Ob1 y not just create two users on one xp install, and have two parititions (a system partition and a data partition) and save all data onto the second partition? if you do do a dual boot with two installs of xp, you will want to modify one of the xp entries or both and add a label to distinguish between the two. just modify between the quotation marks. by default the boot.ini file should look something like this after you install both XP's: [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 /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" after you modify the entries: [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 - Steve" /FASTDETECT /NOEXECUTE=OPTIN multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional - Tom" now when you boot up the system and get to the part where you decide which OS to boot into you will be able to tell the difference, one install will have Steve at the End, the other will be Tom

Thanks, got it set to the top option now, but it's the other i want to try, how do i find the boot. ini fle and what does it open with.

Also would i be able to see each drive and drag stuff from one to the other.

thanks

[Ob1]

are you wanting the second entry the default OS?

if so right click my computer>properties>advanced tab>start and recovery>click the drop down arrow and select which system you want as the default. to edit it from the system startup window click the edit button and it will open it in notepad.

to find the boot.ini file, you need to show hidden files/folders and show hidden operating system files which can be done by going to tools>folder options>view tab.

yes you would be able to drag stuff from one to the other.