Dual boot XP Pro with Home

[blinton25]

Hello,

I currently have XP Pro installed and wish to maintain this installation while also running XP Home. I only have one drive.

Is it enough to start the XP Home setup, (maintain existing files) and when the existing Windows installation is detected (c:\Windows), to install to a new folder (C:\winXPHome)?

BrianL

 

[stduc]

In a word - NO
You need to either install Home to its own logical or better physical drive.
If you don't have a spare logical drive on your current HDD you will need to create one using something like Partition Magic.

 

[Sleepsalot]

You can put the XP home on the same drive but it needs to go into a new folder on your Hard Drive. You need to boot the machine with the cd in the drive and do a new install to the new named folder.
Wayne

Life is a big Roleplaying adventure.

Wayne

 

[stduc]

I wasn't aware you could do that. But I wouldn't recommend it as several files go in the root and you will lose any chance to boot one if the other fails. 2 separate drives gives you more protection against boot failure. Even 2 partitions gives you some protection.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[Sleepsalot]

We did this as training exercises and never had any issues with being able to access any part of the installs at any time I had six different installs on the same partion. I'm not saying that it couldn't give problems but I didn't run into any.
Wayne

Life is a big Roleplaying adventure.

Wayne

 

[Trevoke]

Windows XP is much better about this than 2000 was.. it installs in %SYSTEM more than %ROOT

Tao Te Ching Discussions : Chapter 7(includes links to previous chapters)

 

[blinton25]

Hello,

Thanks for the responses, but still confused since from the responses I am seeing that either yes I can or no I can't.

Maybe there is a KB from Microsoft saying this (I can't find it) or another source which gives a definitive answer?

I don't have the option of adding another drive and I don't have a partition manager.

 

[linney]

Parallel Installation, see the paragraph in this article.

"To install Windows XP to a new folder (to perform a parallel installation):"

How to install or upgrade to Windows XP

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;316941&FR=1&PA=1&SD=HSCH

If you want some Partition software, that can Resize existing Partitions, and then create additional Partitions (about $30 I think), try this site (search for "Resize").

http://www.bootitng.com/prodgrid.html

 

[blinton25]

Hello,

Ok, thanks a lot.

Found some free Partition software listed at:

http://www.thefreecountry.com/utilities/partitioneditors.shtml

 

[linney]

If you are thinking of "Resizing" make sure your valuable data is backed-up and safe, just in case.