Combining two Windows Installations in one dual booted system?

[NumLock]

Is this possible?

PC1 = c: windows xp(1)
PC2 = c: windows xp(2)

restore to:
PC3
c: windows xp(1)
d: windows xp(2)

and then just edit the boot.ini? Has anyone tried this? I'm thinking that xp(1) will not have any problems after restoration but xp(2) will since most of the settings are still set to c: but it is now in d:. It might get confused.

TIA

[MudCrab]

If PC1, PC2 and PC3 are using identical hardware, then it may work. Otherwise, you'll be restoring to different hardware and Windows probably won't boot without being repaired or "fixed", etc.

I also wouldn't recommend trying to change the drive letters. If they were both originally C:, then use a boot manager that can hide the partitions from each other so they can each remain C:. (Just modifying the boot.ini files will not allow Windows to boot properly.)

[NumLock]

Thanks!

-{ Quote: "If PC1, PC2 and PC3 are using identical hardware, then it may work. Otherwise, you'll be restoring to different hardware and Windows probably won't boot without being repaired or "fixed", etc." }-
Nope they aren't but I have the Universal Restore feature at hand.

-{ Quote: "(Just modifying the boot.ini files will not allow Windows to boot properly.)" }-
hmmmm I see......... will research on this more.

Prolly what I'll do is:
1. restore OS1 in C:
2. restore OS2 in D:
3. Boot to OS1 and install a Boot Loader
4. Set the Boot Loader to hide each other so they can remain both at C:

Yup, that I think should work.

thanks.

[MudCrab]

Using a program like UR should allow this to work. You didn't mention that in your first post. The boot.ini file will, of course, need to be correct for each partition, but that change alone will not allow the systems to work on a different computer.

Your plan should work. Restore them, check the boot.ini files are correct, setup the boot manager to hide the other partition and hopefully you'll be set. I would swap steps 2 and 3, though, if installing the boot manager from OS1. If installing from a CD, then it shouldn't matter.