Bootable Partition

[Guest]

I have just ordered a new computer using Windows XP Professional. The store asked if I wished the (120GB) HDD to be partitioned. The answer was yes but in the way I have it in the PC to be replaced which uses Windows 98. I partitioned that, using Partition Magic, to have 2 bootable partitions (using BootMagic to do so) one for regular use the other for games (e.g. FS 2000 and others). The object was to optimise the games partition, keep it entirely separate from the rest of the computer to avoid those problems attributed to games which reset and generally foul up the system! I was told this could not be done. I could have 2 partitions but one would be a 'C' drive and the othe a 'D' drive and the PC would ALWAYS boot from 'C' - not what I want at all

Can I partition the 120GB HDD (using Partition Magic and Boot Magic or equivalents) as I did with my Win 98 PC? Each partition is separately bootable, I have to choose which at bootup, and the 'other' partition is not 'seen' by the one booted. This in turn requires each partition to have everything needed installed separately i.e. duplicating the software installation for 2 partitions or triplicating for 3 etc. If this is the way to achieve my objective, how does Microsoft react to Win XP being installed IN THE ONE PC 2 or more times, each being required to be separately registered etc

I would appreciate a suitable solution to my desire to keep the 2 partitions separate without needing the purchase of XP twice!!

 

[Cerridwen]

I have just ordered a new computer using Windows XP Professional.
The store asked if I wished the (120GB) HDD to be partitioned. The
answer was yes but in the way I have it in the PC to be replaced
which uses Windows 98. I partitioned that, using Partition Magic, to
have 2 bootable partitions (using BootMagic to do so) one for regular
use the other for games (e.g. FS 2000 and others). The object was to
optimise the games partition, keep it entirely separate from the rest
of the computer to avoid those problems attributed to games which
reset and generally foul up the system! I was told this could not be
done. I could have 2 partitions but one would be a 'C' drive and the
othe a 'D' drive and the PC would ALWAYS boot from 'C' - not what I
want at all!

Can I partition the 120GB HDD (using Partition Magic and Boot Magic
or equivalents) as I did with my Win 98 PC? Each partition is
separately bootable, I have to choose which at bootup, and the
'other' partition is not 'seen' by the one booted. This in turn
requires each partition to have everything needed installed
separately i.e. duplicating the software installation for 2
partitions or triplicating for 3 etc. If this is the way to achieve
my objective, how does Microsoft react to Win XP being installed IN
THE ONE PC 2 or more times, each being required to be separately
registered etc.

I would appreciate a suitable solution to my desire to keep the 2
partitions separate without needing the purchase of XP twice!!

You can use PM, but you will (probably) have to purchase an upgrade. Only
the latest version (8) is truly XP compatible - 7 claims to be, but it has
size restrictions, 6 and earlier will may install but they will NOT run.

 

[Guest]

----- Cerridwen wrote: ----

Chris wrote

I have just ordered a new computer using Windows XP Professional
The store asked if I wished the (120GB) HDD to be partitioned. Th
answer was yes but in the way I have it in the PC to be replace
which uses Windows 98. I partitioned that, using Partition Magic, t
have 2 bootable partitions (using BootMagic to do so) one for regula
use the other for games (e.g. FS 2000 and others). The object was t
optimise the games partition, keep it entirely separate from the res
of the computer to avoid those problems attributed to games whic
reset and generally foul up the system! I was told this could not b
done. I could have 2 partitions but one would be a 'C' drive and th
othe a 'D' drive and the PC would ALWAYS boot from 'C' - not what
want at all
or equivalents) as I did with my Win 98 PC? Each partition i
separately bootable, I have to choose which at bootup, and th
'other' partition is not 'seen' by the one booted. This in tur
requires each partition to have everything needed installe
separately i.e. duplicating the software installation for
partitions or triplicating for 3 etc. If this is the way to achiev
my objective, how does Microsoft react to Win XP being installed I
THE ONE PC 2 or more times, each being required to be separatel
registered etc
partitions separate without needing the purchase of XP twice!

You can use PM, but you will (probably) have to purchase an upgrade. Onl
the latest version (8) is truly XP compatible - 7 claims to be, but it ha
size restrictions, 6 and earlier will may install but they will NOT run

Thanks, Cerridwen, for your reply. I don't mind upgrading to BM 8 if it will do the jpb with XP but what about registering XP twice to validate the one copy if I have 2 separately bootable (only one at a time) partitions? Do Microsoft recognise this situation and permit such registration or is there another way to resolve this

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Hi Chris. I do not speak for Microsoft. However according to the EULA
(License Agreement) a user is

* Installation and use. You may install, use, access,
display and run one copy of the Product on a single
computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device
("Workstation Computer").

so that indicates pretty clearly that you are not authorized to dual boot XP
if you use the same license to install to each partition even though you can
only run partition at a time.

--

Harry Ohrn - MS MVP [Shell/User]
www.webtree.ca/windowsxp

----- Cerridwen wrote: -----


You can use PM, but you will (probably) have to purchase an upgrade. Only
the latest version (8) is truly XP compatible - 7 claims to be, but it has
size restrictions, 6 and earlier will may install but they will NOT run.

Thanks, Cerridwen, for your reply. I don't mind upgrading to BM 8 if

it will do the jpb with XP but what about registering XP twice to validate
the one copy if I have 2 separately bootable (only one at a time)
partitions? Do Microsoft recognise this situation and permit such
registration or is there another way to resolve this?

 

[Squire]

Chris,

Partition Magic 8 will allow 4 bootable PRIMARY dos partitions, but only one
will be selected by you to boot, while the others will be hidden.

Using Partition Magic to create partitions is easy.
Create each PRIMARY partition using enough space to handle the operating
system you want to use.
Format them using NTFS or Fat 32.
XP seems faster using NTFS.


Examples:
For Windows XP you need about 5 gb. (minimum)
For Windows ME you need about 2 gb
For Win98 you need about 1 gb.

Create a Non bootable LOGICAL Partition on the rest of the drive to install
your regular games and programs on and create shortcuts to them on the
operating system of choice.

You have to selectively hide other PRIMARY partitions while installing each
operating system on the partition you choose, using PM
When you re-boot you will only see C: drive ( all the other hidden
partitions will not be seen).

After you have your different operating systems installed on each partition,
THEN
Install BOOTMAGIC. It will automatically set up the boot menu to choose
which one to boot.

You can have up to 4 different Windows version on one computer. (one of
each)

And to keep the old joke running, If you have any problems, just ask your 10
year old neighbor kid to help you.

God Luck,
Jerry

I have just ordered a new computer using Windows XP Professional. The

store asked if I wished the (120GB) HDD to be partitioned. The answer was
yes but in the way I have it in the PC to be replaced which uses Windows 98.
<Snip>

 

[Cerridwen]

Hi Chris. I do not speak for Microsoft. However according to the EULA
(License Agreement) a user is

* Installation and use. You may install, use, access,
display and run one copy of the Product on a single
computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device
("Workstation Computer").

so that indicates pretty clearly that you are not authorized to dual
boot XP if you use the same license to install to each partition even
though you can only run partition at a time.

Er, Harry, it states one COMPUTER, not one PARTITION. Installing the same
licence on a second/third/fourth or even fifth partition is perfectly
permissible as it's still the same COMPUTER!

So your interpretation is flawed.

 

[Guest]

Thanks to Harry Ohm and Squire for confirming V8 of PM and BM will work with XP just as my V4 worked with Win 98. I am not at all happy that most likely MS would insist that only one copy of my purchased XP can be used and if I wish to have 2 or more partitions in ONE PC I am legally required to purchase a separate XP for each. I find this totally unreasonable and sincerely hope a literal interpretation of the 'one copy per computer' is not in fact extended to bootable partitions of which only ONE can be used at a time. Unfortunately I have so far not been able to contact anyone at MS to obtain a definitive and authoritive answer

Thanks any for resolving the technical part - I hope the other question can be resolved favourably



----- Squire wrote: ----

Chris

Partition Magic 8 will allow 4 bootable PRIMARY dos partitions, but only on
will be selected by you to boot, while the others will be hidden

Using Partition Magic to create partitions is easy
Create each PRIMARY partition using enough space to handle the operatin
system you want to use
Format them using NTFS or Fat 32
XP seems faster using NTFS


Examples
For Windows XP you need about 5 gb. (minimum
For Windows ME you need about 2 g
For Win98 you need about 1 gb

Create a Non bootable LOGICAL Partition on the rest of the drive to instal
your regular games and programs on and create shortcuts to them on th
operating system of choice

You have to selectively hide other PRIMARY partitions while installing eac
operating system on the partition you choose, using P
When you re-boot you will only see C: drive ( all the other hidde
partitions will not be seen)

After you have your different operating systems installed on each partition
THE
Install BOOTMAGIC. It will automatically set up the boot menu to choos
which one to boot

You can have up to 4 different Windows version on one computer. (one o
each

And to keep the old joke running, If you have any problems, just ask your 1
year old neighbor kid to help you

God Luck
Jerr

I have just ordered a new computer using Windows XP Professional. Th

store asked if I wished the (120GB) HDD to be partitioned. The answer wa
yes but in the way I have it in the PC to be replaced which uses Windows 98
<Snip>

 

[Cerridwen]

Thanks to Harry Ohm and Squire for confirming V8 of PM and BM will
work with XP just as my V4 worked with Win 98. I am not at all happy
that most likely MS would insist that only one copy of my purchased
XP can be used and if I wish to have 2 or more partitions in ONE PC I
am legally required to purchase a separate XP for each. I find this
totally unreasonable and sincerely hope a literal interpretation of
the 'one copy per computer' is not in fact extended to bootable
partitions of which only ONE can be used at a time. Unfortunately I
have so far not been able to contact anyone at MS to obtain a
definitive and authoritive answer!

Thanks any for resolving the technical part - I hope the other
question can be resolved favourably!

Chris,

See my reply to Harry.

 

[Guest]

Hi Cerridwen

Thank you again for the input. I did note your comment to Harry and I read the Eula but from what I saw there it did not seem to cover this case i.e. 2 separately bootable partitions only one of which can be used at a time. Logically you are correct and I hope MS see it that way but I will have to register each partition separately with MS so as they say, the proof of the pudding will be in the eating! I would like to get a definitive answer from MS if I can first as I don't yet have BM v8 and I would prefer not to go to all the trouble of buying it, installing it, generation my 2 partitions only to find thjat MS refuse to approve the double registration - whatever the moral or even legal rights of the situation may be

I'll have a go at finding out first from MS but failing that maybe I will just try and then argue the case if need be after

I'll let you know how I fair on this site eventually

Cheers

Chris.

 

[Harry Ohrn]

Hi Chris. I do not speak for Microsoft. However according to the EULA
(License Agreement) a user is

* Installation and use. You may install, use, access,
display and run one copy of the Product on a single
computer, such as a workstation, terminal or other device
("Workstation Computer").

so that indicates pretty clearly that you are not authorized to dual
boot XP if you use the same license to install to each partition even
though you can only run partition at a time.

Er, Harry, it states one COMPUTER, not one PARTITION. Installing the same
licence on a second/third/fourth or even fifth partition is perfectly
permissible as it's still the same COMPUTER!

So your interpretation is flawed.

With all due respect I do not see how you interpret the EULA to mean that
multiple booting is fine. It says "one copy on one computer" . I interpret
one to mean one. If you have 2 partitions and plan to dual boot you would
install two copies on one computer. If you use the same license to install
to each partition you would be installing two copies of the same license to
one computer which the EULA clearly states is a violation.

 

[Guest]

Some weeks ago I raised the question of bootable partitions in XP, wondering how Micro Soft would react to an attempt to 'activating' XP more than once i.e. one time for each bootable partition. I also said if/when I found some answers I would report accordingly

1. I tried to get a definitive answer to the question using their E-mail enquiry service. All that happened was each of 3 responses just referred me to a different service and failed to answer the question
2. I purchased Partition Magic V8.0 from Symantic who has taken over the original Power Quest company, read the manuals and concluded that indeed up to 4 bootable primary partitions could be created, 2 of which would meet my needs and that the included Boot Magic would allow the desired OS to be booted
3. That was the good news! The not so good news was that Boot Magic needed a separate 50MB FAT32 FS partition to work, there was a 'barrier' at 8GB which apparently prevented the two contiguous partitions of some 80GB and 40GB being created as I wished. There were also several limitations on how PM and BM could work with some other Symantic software such as Internet Security "004 and System Works 2003 which I use
4. I posted a few questions to Symantic to enquire if I had understood the various problems correctly but after a week of silence decided to scrap the idea of partioning the HD at all and invested in another 120GB drive and caddy (the new PC HDD is mounted in a caddy) and just installed the required software in that
5. This worked fine, there was no problem in 'activating' XP again with the new drive so I achieved my desire to keep 'normal' PC operations and 'games' completely separate and if I had chosen to do it in the most economic way the cost could have been little more than the cost of Partition Magic!
6. Two days ago, I eventually received an E-mail response from Symantic! My questions were misinterpreted and the answers offered dfailed totally to answer the questions asked! I assume my interpretations were (at least near enough) correct and while several bootable partitions are feasible with XP and NTFS there are still limitations which make it (for some applications anyway) unactrative
7. On the activation of XP it does seem that so long as it is installed in only one PC you can have as many partitions or HDD's as you wish and each can have its own copy of the same XP activated. The criteria are that the PC is identified by some 7 key components e.g. the processor, sound card, video card etc. by serial numbers which are all identifiable during the on-line activation process by Micro Soft and so long as 4 of the 7 are the same the PC is deemed to be 'the same' and activation approved. If too many of these key components are changed, however, activation is not automatic and some 'haggling' with MS may be needed to convince them their precious XP is NOT being pirated

I hope this long explanation will be read and be of some help to others

Chris