Two copies of OS on same computer

[Aeson]

Is it possible to install two copies on the same computer if they're on different hard drives? I have two drives and want to put XP Media Center on both of them. The reason for this is I have it on one already but it's on the F drive and it's not booting. I originally had a bootleg copy of XP Pro on another drive. It was the master so XP Pro was on C.

Alternatively could I change the drive letter and switch the drive to master? I'd rather not have a duel boot, one of the reasons I took XP Pro off the other drive.

 

[trancejeremy]

Yes? At least, I have two hard drives, both with Win XP on them. Usually you can change what drive the computer boots to in the bios and some (like mine) even have a built in boot menu you can pick.

 

[Aeson]

If I had two different versions or even copies of the same OS then it gives me a boot menu. I'm trying to use the same copy of the same OS. The CD key will be the same.

I haven't been able to find in the BIOS where to change drive letters.

 

[trancejeremy]

Yeah, that's what I have, the same OS (key and everything).

Look in your bios, it should have a setting to select which device to boot from first (and second and third and possibly even fourth). It's probably set to Hard Drive, but there's probably a sub-menu to select which hard drive goes first. Just pick the other hard drive (or if you need to install the OS on it, pick the cd-rom to boot to first temporarily)

 

[Aeson]

I installed the OS. It looks like the new install took over and is the only one. Folders have been moved around between the two hard drives. The big problem is I can't access some files from the old install. Example: the documents and settings folder says access denied. Is there a way around this?

 

[mrtauntaun]

You can change the permissions of that folder so you can access it from the new install. I haven't done it in a while, so I don't remember the specifics, but I know it can be done. It's just time consuming. Try googling the information, that's how I found how to do it.

 

[Aeson]

I'll look into it. Thanks.