multi boot questions

[matt_richards]

Hello there,

I have a couple of questions about multi-booting.

Can you install more than one copy of XP on a single machine. My laptop has XP home on it - but I don't really want to reformat right now. Can I install XP professional and have the two comfortably sit along side each other using the standard windows boot menu.

Second I would also like to install windows 2000 server edition. The problem is, I am not installing them in the correct order as decreed by m'soft. Is there a way to install it now without using a dedicated boot manager like system commander and without doing any heroic stuff like unplugging hard drives or disabling them in the bios.

Thanks folks,

Matt.

[ZANEY123]

as far as installing xp on more than once on any computer is not legal

zaney123

[matt_richards]

The legality is not the issue here. The laptop came preinstalled with XP home (XP Pro was not an available option) and it worked out cheaper to buy a separate OEM version of XP pro with it. I have all the necessary site licenses - I am just trying to work out the best way to proceed.

[bailey]

having two versions of xp would be a waste of disk space, there will be no advantage of doing it.

also installing it on top of the home version would not be a good idea.
the only best way to do this is to not do it.

you will gain nothing by installing xp-pro unless you have a need for domain networking, other than that, there realy is not any differance from the home version,

and if that is the case a clean install is the only way to go.

[matt_richards]

cheers for the feedback,

I don't want to install pro over the top of home, I am going to install it on a separate partition. It's a high end Sony Vaio and it has a very large hard drive, so space isn't really an issue. There was a whole load of preinstalled software that came with the factory installation which I would like to try out when I have chance, also it is benchmarking very well.

So, I am going to install XP pro on a separate partition - there are a number of pro-specific features that I find beneficial at work - including proper network permissions, NTFS security and occasionally the remote desktop (not remote assistance). I know there are no fundamental differences between the two, but the trademark m'soft feature disabling proves very troubesome. I don't wan't to mess around with the pro to home workarounds especially as I have a full version of xp pro ready to install.

I know concurrent installations of 2k server (on separate partitions) don't pose a problem - I need to know what the situation is here.

[ZANEY123]

ah sorry matt i thought you were installing the same xp on the cpu as far as 2 different cds no prob then other than the space issue that was brought up

Zaney123

[bailey]

in that case, go for it, should work great

[lil Jimmie]

Matt, you should have no problems installing XP PRO on the laptop as a dual boot, however I would suggest and this is only theory (can't remember if I have done something exactly like this before or not) if you are going to install 2000 Server do it before you install XP PRO this way XP PRO *might* detect both of the previous OS's and allow you to boot to any of the OS's. The way I would do this is to run a repair install of the Home edition after the 2000 Server installation and then install XP PRO, but this will mean any updates from MS will have to be reinstalled to the Home edition after the repair install.

[matt_richards]

Thanks for all the feedback guys,

In terms of running the repair install on XP home, my problem is that it was preinstalled and comes with one of those infernal "product recovery" CD's. This means my options are limited and I would be in danger of returning my computer to it's factory state.

This is not an issue with the OEM pro version.

Cheers,

Matt.