Is this even possible?

[Drewster2016]

Hi all I have a situation that I was wondering if it's even possible
My current computer I have a desktop running Windows 10 on 1 hard drive would it be possible to add another hard drive BUT also run Windows 10 on that, so basically 2 different computers in one, like dual boot to pick which one? Reason is I want to have a separate hdd just for gaming so it will only have games and related stuff and my other one my everyday stuff so I don't slow either down,
Thanks I tried to explain the best I could

 

[mcnumpty23]

yes of course its possible--pretty easy to do

though you would need 2 licences for windows or a licence that covers more than 1 os

 

[RudyG87]

yes you can set up a dual boot, but i dont think it would improve much.

 

[Rogue Leader]

If you bought a second Windows 10 license sure. That said you could just disable or shut down certain startup items that may slow you down when gaming, and that will accomplish the same thing without all the complication.

There is a reason people don't do this, its not worth it.

 

[USAFRet]

Having other applications installed (games) does not affect other applications, unless you are actually running it at the same time.

2 identical OS's on the same system serves no real purpose.
You can install those games on the other drive, without an OS being on that drive.

Steam games location
In the steam client:
Steam
Settings
Downloads
Steam Library Folders
Add library folder

 

[scout_03]

you could use something like this http://www.sidewindercomputers.com/duduhadrposw.html

 

[RudyG87]

Since you have 2 hdds. You could run them in raid0 to improve performance

 

[Drewster2016]

This issue I'm having is I want to keep it separate Becuase I have tons of games and I've had my hdd crash; lost everything, I would rather have it separate so if it happened again I wouldn't lose everything

 

[darky26]

Since you have 2 hdds. You could run them in raid0 to improve performance

No redundancy. he loses one drive the other one also becomes useless.

 

[USAFRet]

This issue I'm having is I want to keep it separate Becuase I have tons of games and I've had my hdd crash; lost everything, I would rather have it separate so if it happened again I wouldn't lose everything

So install the games on the other drive (as indicated above). That drive does not need its own OS.

 

[mcnumpty23]

but the second drive with the games on it could also crash

perhaps making regular back ups would be a better idea using something like macrium

 

[USAFRet]

Since you have 2 hdds. You could run them in raid0 to improve performance

RAID 0 has nothing to do with what he is after.

 

[RudyG87]

USAFRet, his initial post was about keeping them seperated so they wouldn't slow down. Hence, i recommended raid0. But now, after he gave us more info, he doesn't need raid0.....
Maybe raid1

 

[Rogue Leader]

This issue I'm having is I want to keep it separate Becuase I have tons of games and I've had my hdd crash; lost everything, I would rather have it separate so if it happened again I wouldn't lose everything

So run Raid 1, if you don't want to do it in hardware, windows does it in software using Storage Spaces. You can run 2 hard drives mirrored. One craps out, no worries the other is still there.

And start backing up important files.

 

[JackNaylorPE]

I dual install Windows on every PC build we do, never bought a 2nd license. This is a typical build:

256 GB SSD w/ OS and Programs

2 TB SSHD w/ following partitions
C:\ 256 GB .. essentially a mirror of SSD
D:\ 64 GB Page and Temp Files
E:\ Games

The system will boot from the SSD by default as it is the lowest numbered SATA port, it that drive fails it will boot from the backup copy of the OS on the SSHD. Or you can just select the system to boot from the BIOS in the BIOS. MS has no licensing issue with having a back up alternative at all.

You could use two SSDs, two SSHDs, two SSHDs or any combination wouldn't matter.

I try RAID every couple of years, last effort, i broke the arrays as I wasn't getting any any performance or other advantage whatsoever.

The box I am typing from has:

256 GB SSD w/ OS and programs
256 GB SSD w/ page files, temp files and fav Games

2 TB SSHD w/ backup OS install and all data files
2 TB SSHD w/ back up (mirror) of all data partitions and games

Notes:

1. The data files are backed up by software program on a schedule
2. There's no perceivable difference in how fast the games load off the SSD as they do off the SSD