Installation of Multiple Boots - Can I just clone disk image and set up boot manually?

  • Thread starter Thread starter mixermanic
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M

mixermanic

Hi guys,

I have a need to install 4 systems of Vista on a single machine (4
partitions of my main system hard disk).

Given that Vista always seems to see its own system drive as C, would it be
possible to create my "master image" with SP1, all my drivers, utilities,
system tweaks, and other "generic" applications (like Office/Acrobat etc),
and then just clone this drive across to all the partitions I need to set up
(on D, E, and F).

Then, using VistaBootPRO, I could edit the BCD to include all the other
partitions.

Can anyone think of a reason this would not work?

Many thanks!

Martin
 
mixermanic said:
Hi guys,

I have a need to install 4 systems of Vista on a single machine (4
partitions of my main system hard disk).

Given that Vista always seems to see its own system drive as C, would it be
possible to create my "master image" with SP1, all my drivers, utilities,
system tweaks, and other "generic" applications (like Office/Acrobat etc),
and then just clone this drive across to all the partitions I need to set up
(on D, E, and F).

Then, using VistaBootPRO, I could edit the BCD to include all the other
partitions.

Can anyone think of a reason this would not work?

Many thanks!

Martin
Click to expand...


First off, you'd need to license the different installations.

Secondly, it would not work... as a OS cloned as the C: drive would not work
when placed on a drive of another letter.


In theory, if you set up the drive with 4 primary partitions
then used a boot manager that could hide any of the other three
so that any partition booted to would retain the C: letter...
it may very well work
 
Hi Philo,

Thanks for the reply.
First off, you'd need to license the different installations.
Click to expand...

Am I not correct in thinking that Vista can be installed multiple times on
the SAME machine without relicensing? This is then different to XP, which
allowed this?
Secondly, it would not work... as a OS cloned as the C: drive would not
work
when placed on a drive of another letter.
Click to expand...

Vista ALWAYS sees its own partition as C though. Even though it may be
installed on a different partition, when it boots it will revert to C...

Cheers!

Martin
 
mixermanic said:
Hi Philo,

Thanks for the reply.


Am I not correct in thinking that Vista can be installed multiple times on
the SAME machine without relicensing? This is then different to XP, which
allowed this?


Vista ALWAYS sees its own partition as C though. Even though it may be
installed on a different partition, when it boots it will revert to C...

Cheers!

Martin
Click to expand...


No...
all versions of Windows allowed one installation per license.

As to the C: drive...I keep forgetting that Vista is not like XP
in so many ways

I know of course backup copies are permissible...
so I suspect your idea is not technically legal...but who knows...it may
work
 
Great.... so anyone dual booting needs 2 copies.

Poo....

Ah well, t'was a thought.

Cheers,

M
 
Yep. There we go:

a. Licensed Device. ****You may install one copy of the software on the
licensed device****. You may use the software on up to two processors on
that device at one time. Except as provided in the Storage and Network Use
(Ultimate edition) sections below, you may not use the software on any other
device.

Utterly ridiculous.

What about quad procesors?!

Thanks for the link in any case!

Martin
 
mixermanic said:
Yep. There we go:

a. Licensed Device. ****You may install one copy of the software on the
licensed device****. You may use the software on up to two processors on
that device at one time. Except as provided in the Storage and Network Use
(Ultimate edition) sections below, you may not use the software on any other
device.

Utterly ridiculous.

What about quad procesors?!

Thanks for the link in any case!

Martin
Click to expand...


Quad processors? good question.
It would be hell if you had to buy another license.
What's going to happen when 16 core machines become available?
 
Two processors means two separate chips containing the processors. You can
have as many cores as you like on each processor. 4 cores, 8 cores or even
16 cores. The license allows any number of cores, but only two "processors".
The 16 core example would give you 32 cores total and you would still be
within your license of 2 processors.
Note that if you have more than 64 cores, you will have to use a newer
version of Windows than Vista to use more than 64 cores.
 
Ah! Ok thank you....


Bender said:
Two processors means two separate chips containing the processors. You can
have as many cores as you like on each processor. 4 cores, 8 cores or even
16 cores. The license allows any number of cores, but only two
"processors". The 16 core example would give you 32 cores total and you
would still be within your license of 2 processors.
Note that if you have more than 64 cores, you will have to use a newer
version of Windows than Vista to use more than 64 cores.
Click to expand...
 
UPDATE:

Well this morning I went out and bought 2 more copies of Vista, which takes
my total to 4 (3x x86, and 1x x64).

I did a complete reinstall on my primary "C" drive, of Vista x86, SP1, my
mobo/LAN/graphics/audio interface drivers, and a couple of basic utils
(VistaBootPRO, WinRAR, Acronis TrueImage, EmEditor, TweakVI etc.).

I then took a snapshot of the system and restored it to my "D" drive, edited
the BCD with VistaBootPRO, and it worked!!!!!! The only thing that came up
was the "Windows did not start properly" message when I booted the new
partition.

Vista gives you the option to change your product ID, so I can put in the
new PIDs and activate them.

Now I'm going to try it with Acrobat, some CS3 products, Office etc.

Cheers!

Martin
 
mixermanic said:
UPDATE:

Well this morning I went out and bought 2 more copies of Vista, which takes
my total to 4 (3x x86, and 1x x64).

I did a complete reinstall on my primary "C" drive, of Vista x86, SP1, my
mobo/LAN/graphics/audio interface drivers, and a couple of basic utils
(VistaBootPRO, WinRAR, Acronis TrueImage, EmEditor, TweakVI etc.).

I then took a snapshot of the system and restored it to my "D" drive, edited
the BCD with VistaBootPRO, and it worked!!!!!! The only thing that came up
was the "Windows did not start properly" message when I booted the new
partition.

Vista gives you the option to change your product ID, so I can put in the
new PIDs and activate them.

Now I'm going to try it with Acrobat, some CS3 products, Office etc.
Click to expand...



Great to hear that...

Was the "Windows did not start properly" just a one time happenstance?
 
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