Got a new laptop which came with Vista Home. Turns out my sons wants to keep Vista, but I need XP for work reasons. I got it now configured so that it boots up to either one (Vista: C, XP on D) and am on my way to install the software and games.
My question now, can I use the same program folder on the same drive or will I set myself up for desaster?
I tried it on a few programs and they are working fine such as Skype. Some I installed first in Vista, then to the same destination under XP
Thanks for your input, AlexSJ
Dual Boot - installing programs to be used by both OS
(4 posts) (4 voices)-
AlexSJ
MemberPosted 16 years ago # -
That's not an easy thing to do. When you install a typical program, it puts information in many places. Sometimes it will drop DLLs in the system folder, add registry keys, place settings files in APPDATA, or Local Settings\Appdata. It will place it in the Program Folder and sometimes in multiple places in the program folder.
What you really need to do, although I'm sure you don't want to. Is use nLite + vLite to change the program folders to a specific one on a partition you already have setup. This means reinstalling the fixed OS. This way they will both know that P:\Programs is the program folder. Now, with any luck, you can install the program on one OS, then install it ontop of the previous installation on the other OS.
It would just be easier to install the program twice, but if you really want to save disk space, that's the only remotely possible approach. Keep in mind settings won't be transfered either, just saves space with the core program files.
Posted 16 years ago # -
goodgotd
Memberunless you're working with huge apps it's simplest to separate. OTOH, some work fine from the same spot for dual-boot. photoshop 6 couldn't care less. unzip and run? usually. giveaways activate both sides, the ones with ini/cfg files in the install directory are the ones that'll give you trouble. in the registry or a system app dir will do fine, as they aren't the same.
the real disc cost is the add-ons and the os- 2 .net 1.1-2-3-3.5, 2 jre, 2 directx, 2 sets of everything.
Posted 16 years ago #
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