Archived from groups: microsoft.public.windowsxp.newusers (
More info?)
Hi, ba'heid.
No, you can't switch between Windows installations without rebooting. WinXP
is not a program that runs within a second WinXP; it's another operating
system and can be used only by booting into it.
When you boot into WinXP on C:, you can use D: for applications and data,
just like you can use E: or X: or any other volume. And when you boot into
WinXP on D:, you can use C: as a data drive. When you are booted into C:,
the C:\Windows folder is your "boot folder", but D:\Windows is "just another
folder". Each WinXP installation is independent of the other, but each can
access the files on all drives. Unless, of course, you, as Administrator,
restrict the use of files and folders by using permissions and policies.
RC
--
R. C. White, CPA
San Marcos, TX
rc@corridor.net
Microsoft Windows MVP
"ba'heid" <baheid@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
news:1A106997-ABAB-426E-A967-C1BBCEB0DB2E@microsoft.com...
> Thanks
>
> I can see the D drive in explorer but i can't run window xp from there.
> Your reply would seem to indicate that i should. Can you tell me how to
> do it?
>
> TIA
>
> ba'heid
>
> "R. C. White" wrote:
>
>> Hi, ba'heid.
>>
>> There are two ways to set up dual-boot: the Microsoft way and the
>> third-party boot manager way. I know nothing about third-party
>> solutions,
>> but I've been using the MS way for several years, with varying
>> combinations
>> of Windows versions, hard drives and partitions, so that's what I will
>> discuss.
>>
>> No matter how many HDs you use or how many partitions, Windows always
>> starts
>> the boot from the Root of the System Partition, which is almost always
>> the
>> first primary partition on the first physical drive, which must be Active
>> (bootable). This is almost always C:\. The NT-style boot sector for
>> this
>> partition loads C:\NTLDR, which reads C:\boot.ini to locate the various
>> copies of Windows on your computer's drives, and then C:\NTDETECT.COM
>> finds
>> the copy you've chosen, loads it and starts it running.
>>
>> Each installation of Windows creates is own "boot folder" (\Windows, by
>> default) on whichever volume (primary partition or logical drive) you
>> choose
>> on any HD in your computer. Setup creates (or updates) C:\boot.ini to
>> point
>> to that location (using HD and partition NUMBERS, not LETTERS).
>>
>> So, your computer will always start in C:\, but will branch from there to
>> D:\Windows (or X:\Windows in the 3rd partition of your second HD - or
>> wherever you choose) and load and run Win98 or the second (or 5th) copy
>> of
>> WinXP from there.
>>
>> No third-party solutions are needed, unless you choose to use a different
>> system.
>>
>> RC
>>
>> "ba'heid" <ba'heid@discussions.microsoft.com> wrote in message
>> news:8F677130-0734-44A5-881F-FF984405B0F1@microsoft.com...
>> >I have installed XP on my C drive and also on my second hard drive, for
>> >games etc, to keep them separate. However I am not getting an option to
>> >boot into my D drive at start up. I have read all about dual booting in
>> >the articles and it does not seem to either apply or make sense to a
>> >novice. Can someonse please help or do i need something like OSL boot
>> >that
>> >I had when i was running 98SE?
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