The best way to use multiple OS over partitions

[flexelf]

Hi.

I have a laptop which functions as the internet terminal, processing (word, music, etc.), and also the virtual studio (sound hardware etc.).

So far, i have gone through: making multiple hardware profiles for each function *(okay, but software that is unecessary for one task still loads for the others), and multiple OS boot over partitions (fine, but it seems a little wasteful). I need at least two seperate systems, because audio production is quite mem/cpu heavy, and i need to have it streamlined vs. the internet usage.

I have been looking up deployment of windows, as in a business network setting, but it seems that that would be difficult if the systems are just partitions. This seems the best though, since i can control what applications work with which system, and yet there is no need to do a seperate install for each. So what's the deal? How would you do this?

I have four partitions on my computer, 3 for OS, and 1 for file storage. I need to have definately, two systems. One without internet and completely dedicated to music recording. The other two have been: 1 just for internet browsing, and 1 for general workshop, wordprocessing, etc., which i set up to have a hardware profile with internet and without. So, how would i do this? Is there a book I need to read, or can this be done without a prior extensive background knowledge?

Help!

[nellie2]

Um you got me there... :D but I'll bump your post up for you and lets see if anyone else has any ideas.

[Chris]

You've answered your own question.

I would go for different setups on different partitions. It will take longer to setup but you will get what you want in the end.

[Agent Smith]

I think the point he is looking for powerless, is how he would manage those partitions. The answer to that being to use a boot manager.

As I have limited experience using a boot manager, perhaps powerless can give a more detailed explanation.

Mr. M.

[korgg]

1. You can try installing a Linux OS (Mandrake, Slackware, SUSE) in the extended partition for internet and other stuff and leave the primary partition to Windows and sound recording.. Mandrake and Suse come with GRUB boot loader (quite a fancy one) but Slack comes only with LILO.. There is also a way to use windows boot loader to boot Linux.

2. If you have two primary partitions you can try installing Windows on the second primary partition (XP/2K only) and you can have two windows OS's...

But I'll recommend the first choice :D ...

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

If you have enough disk space, then a multi-boot system with multiple partitions seems to be the best solution. Windows XP has its own boot manager, although it is a bit primitive. Each time you install a new Windows system, it will add an entry to the boot manager. (You can manually edit it: it's the boot.ini file in the first primary partition.

Easier (and safer) would be a commercial boot manager such as BootMagic.

An alternative to the multi-boot system would be different users on the same Windows system. Some softwares (but not all) ask if they should be installed only for the current user, or all users. Or you can tailer each user what should be loaded on startup (msconfig).

[flexelf]

i need more the information to actually GET the OSes onto the partitions. I can do a seperate install for each, in which case XP or Linux are irrelevant, except that i have an authorized copy of XP pro, and all the music software works on that.

The thing is, isn't there a better way to set up teh partitions, as opposed to the seperate install?

[Chris]

I'm sorry but I think i'm missing something here.

If you know how to install XP on to partitions then you'll be ok. Installing XP onto to multiple partitions is fine and XP will activate with no worries.

The thing is, isn't there a better way to set up teh partitions, as opposed to the seperate install?

Nothing can beat seperate installs and specific software to acheive what you want.

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

I think a little more information on multibooting would be helpful; please have a look at this article Multibooting with Windows XP: Introduction. The article assumes that one would want different Windows versions for multiboot, but of course you can have different versions of the same Windows system (i.e. XP).

Make sure that you only use primary partitions for all Windows installations (the article mentions that you can have up to 4 primary partitions on one HD). In addition to that you can have an extended partition that can contain 1 or more secondary partitions (useful for data sharing between the various Windows systems).

If you use Windows' own boot manager (as assumed in the article above), then all partitions are visible all the time.

If you use a 3rd-party boot manager such as BootMagic, then only the currently active primary partition is visible (as drive C:); the other primary partitions are hidden. The secondary partitions are always visible.

Both systems have their advantages; it really depends a bit on what you want to do with your multi-boot system. The 3rd-party boot managers are simple and safe; you always run from a C: drive, but you cannot access the other Windows' data. With Windows' boot manager you have access to all data, but you always have to remember: now I'm running from the C: drive, or now I'm running from the D: drive, etc.

P.S. to clarify the last sentence: you do not really need to remember from which drive you are running; when installing applications, they will by default automatically install on the Program Files folder on your current boot drive (e.g. C:, or D:, or E:, etc.).

[flexelf]

okay here's what's what:

I know stuff about my computer; i am not looking for which button to press, or how to make the fancy box change colour -- i am asking about deploying windows XP onto multiple systems in a network environment because a seperate install is like adopting three children from three mothers instead of just having three children with your wife. i don't just want to save space, in fact i don't care about it, i want a system for each of my intentions that is the fastest and most streamlined possible, and since the functions of each (music studio vs internet station) are conflicting, i need to configure each system seperately.

The thing is, the info from Microsoft's site is so ridiculously complex that i need a degree in IT networking before even starting, so what i was asking is if there are any networking folks here that can explain the bits i need to know relevant to my particular inquiry.

is there a forum like that around?

[flexelf]

sorry for the snotty

[ɹəuəllıʍ ʇɐb]

Sorry, I am not quite clear any more what your question actually is. You originally asked about multiple Windows installations in different partitions, and now in your last post you mention a network. Please clarify.

There shouldn't be any difference if you install one single Windows system and add it to a network, or if you have multiple Windows, and add each to the network. Just specify the network type (workgroup or domain) during each Windows installation, and you should be fine.

For more complex network questions you can use the Networking Board.

P.S. I actually have a bit similar system at home; a multi-boot computer that uses one partition as music system (Cubase), and a second partition that is only used for design work (Illustrator, Photoshop). Naturally the two systems are quite different, but both connect independently to the home wireless network (and this is actually only needed to download patches or updates, and to use the network printer).