Is a BootManager automatically available when installing a second WinXP on a second primary partitio

  • Thread starter Thread starter Sebastian Kaist
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Sebastian Kaist

Assume I want to install a second WinXP on a second primary partition on a computer.

To choose which of the two Windows XPs should be booted a BootManager is required.

Is such a BootManager automatically installed/available when the second Windows XP
is installed or do I have to install it in a different step BEFORE or AFTER (?) the actual
Windows XP installation?

Sebastian
 
The Windows XP boot manager (ntldr) will add the existing installation
to the boot.ini file, providing that it can see the installation when
you do the setup. If for some reason the boot.ini file isn't updated it
isn't difficult to add the installation to the file.

The "second" primary partition will be on another hard drive, right?
You can't have more than one active partition at a time on a hard disk,
are you intending to toggle the active flag of the partition(s) on the
same hard disk?

John
 
Hi Sebastian,

Windows already has a boot loader, it's just that when you have a single OS
you don't see a menu. You can change this if you want but there is little
point unless you are dual booting.

When you install your second XP instance, a file (BOOT.INI) will basically
be modified to include 2 OS's - when you next start you'll see a menu.

Have a look at this, it might help - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314081

Regards,
Jon

www.insidetheregistry.com
 
When you dual boot a boot manager is automatically added giving you the
choice of booting to, in your case, XP1 or XP2. However, you will need to
edit the boot ini file to enable you to distinguish between the relevant
operating systems.

Having said all that I assume the second copy of XP you plan on installing
is separately licensed? You cannot, for example, use the CD that you used to
install the original copy of XP on your system to install again as a second
copy. Each copy 'must' have its own product key/licence which means you need
'two' copies of the software, not one. Failing to comply with this
requirement will breach the end user licence agreement and you may also have
problems activating the operating system.

--

--
John Barnett MVP
Windows XP Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://www.winuser.co.uk
Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org
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reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
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mail/post..
 
Hi Sebastian,

Windows already has a boot loader, it's just that when you have a single OS
you don't see a menu. You can change this if you want but there is little
point unless you are dual booting.

When you install your second XP instance, a file (BOOT.INI) will basically
be modified to include 2 OS's - when you next start you'll see a menu.

Have a look at this, it might help - http://support.microsoft.com/kb/314081

Regards,
Jon

www.insidetheregistry.com
 
Sebastian Kaist said:
Assume I want to install a second WinXP on a second primary partition on a
computer.

To choose which of the two Windows XPs should be booted a BootManager is
required.

Is such a BootManager automatically installed/available when the second
Windows XP
is installed or do I have to install it in a different step BEFORE or
AFTER (?) the actual
Windows XP installation?

Sebastian
Click to expand...

The boot selector is already installed but invisible because you have only
one boot item. It will become visible when you install your second OS.
 
after you install the
o.s. again, it will create
a dual boot menu
automatically.

later, you can edit /
customize that boot
menu.

-------

keep in mind that the
secondary o.s. will also
have to be activated "and"

I do not recommend
placing the secondary
o.s. on the same hard
disk, though it may have
multiple partitions.

my rule of thumb is to
"install one o.s. per disk".

-------------

but there is an exception
to the above in that you
could install "virtual pc"
in winxp

then install any of the
o.s.'s in virtual pc that
you want to utilize.



--

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DatabaseBen, Retired Professional
- Systems Analyst
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- @hotmail.com
"share the nirvana" - dbZen

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
 
Sebastian Kaist said:
Assume I want to install a second WinXP on a second primary partition on a
computer.

To choose which of the two Windows XPs should be booted a BootManager is
required.

Is such a BootManager automatically installed/available when the second
Windows XP
is installed or do I have to install it in a different step BEFORE or
AFTER (?) the actual
Windows XP installation?

Sebastian
Click to expand...

Microsoft XP operating system or its setup does not offer such a boot
manager that you describe. 3rd party software is your only option

XP's boot.ini file operates AFTER the PC starts booting from the primary,
active, and visible partition. The boot.ini file contains info for booting
other MS operating systems that must be on visible partitions.
 
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