Multiple copies of XP in seperate partions

I am trying to load multiple copies of XP into several different logical partions. I have tried some of the different suggestions from this forum and I am almost there. After many hours working with the support desk their final recomendation was to contact Microsoft.

Here is what I did.
1) I first installed off of factory CD windows XP sp2 to a clean HD on a 13GB partition.
2) I applied all windows Updates and loaded drives from factory CD.
3) Installed the latest version of True Image 10.4942
4) Started Backup Wizard
5) Choose <My Computer>
6) Selected only the C partition to backup.
7) Selected the root of the C: partition as the backup location. I tried saving to the DVD but it never worked correctly.
Selected create a full backup.
9) Done *********************
10) Started Backup Wizard
11) Choose Recovery
12) Selected my clean backup.
13) Choose <Restore disk or Partitions>
14) selected the C: partition from the backup.
15) Selected the unallocated space to restore to.
16) Selected <Logical> as the type
17) choose 13GB as the partition size
1 Choose <No, I do not>
19) Restore finished ******* Repeated 7 more times till drive was full
20) Installed OSS, ran OS detection wizard and it would only find the original Partition.
21) Ater running BOOTCFG, OSS now recognizes all 8 copies of XP and will boot into each one - KIND OF. It looks like it is booting into each partition and I know this since I setup the desktop different on each instance of XP. The problem is that the C: drive (1st partition) always points to the same partition. I loaded some software on the first partition and found as I moved to other partitions the program cons where not there and the OS did not show the program as installed (checked in Add/remove programs) but the software always shows up on the C: partition no matter what installation I tried. I loaded other directories on the C: drive to test and they always showed up.

I tried hiding all partitions but the partition I was loading too in the different instances but then XP would never load after trying to boot from OSS. This was mentioned in one of the forums.

I also reinstalled OSS but it did not make any difference.

Does Anone have instructions from beggining to end on how to install multiple copies on XP into seperate partions?

Thanks
Mike

 

Howdy m_Zippy!

There are two types of "multi-booting OSs"... the M$ style and every others' way.
M$' style requires the first partition to be active, and the rest are 'extended'. Every others' don't rigidly require that, due to the reason that 'boot-mngr' can load and instruct which partition to bootup. Here is a simple BUT comprehensive explanations in "multiboot" concepts, in the preference of M$, click this~ http://www.goodells.net/multiboot/index.htm#principles

And here's another multibooting, via 3rd-party ways (using bootMNGRs)~ http://www.goodells.net/multiboot/principles.htm

But there's another very different, low-keyed but structurally-solid principle of what is known as the REAL "multi-booting" system.... of which all your choices of OSs can be loaded on multiple "all-activated logical" partitions, and its one imperative rule that must be follow. Click this, for the well known Trombett's MultiBoot Documentation~ http://www.trombettworks.com/multi-boot.htm

I will strongly urge you to read Trombett's work, and the RANISHpm he utilized, in a thorough manner. Once you have RANIfied your multi-OS, you'll be surprised at how solid this Real Multi-Boot works!

Shalom

----------------------
EDITED: typo erro

 

MikeZippy,

I followed this..(same link as clambermatic posted)

http://www.goodells.net/multiboot/index.htm

I had 15 WinXPs on the one HD, each independent of the others. Remember, don't install the boot manager until you have all the OS installed on the HD. It is the very last step.

You need a boot manager that can boot OS from logical volumes and also hide logical volumes. The only one I tried was BING. I have no experience with others.

 

...Then try my Trombett's link shorlisted beforehand!

I don't know what's the purpose of your having multiboot copies of winXP. Anyway, that's moot & academic to me.

But i do will remind you of my experiences... practically speaking, you DON'T need to have more than three (3) OS copy of choice, in a boot manager... same as Trombett's documented advise. And believe him, you should! Same as i had started multi-boot years ago, wrong convictions at that time, but do later sheepishly admit that three is more than enough.

RANISHpm... as introduced under Trombetts, does NOT restrict you to how many partitions or whatever combinations of OS (within those dir) you want to concoct. And the beauty of Ranish was... all partitions with OSs, ALL can be "Primary" partitions. Coz only "Primaries" can be 'independent' from each & every other OSs and 'Bootable'!

Furthermore, the only rule was... all intended Primary partitons containing those activated OSs, MUST have its "starting Head-Sector" as "0-1" and "ending" Head-Sector always at "254-63".

Since you have done it once, using BING... then i do presume that you CAN do it again, with results to your liking from Trombett's...

Read thoroughtly that given Trombett's url link again; then continued with Ranish's own url~ http://www.ranish.com/part/



note: Within Ranish's page, don't mistook XoSL with RanishPM. It's a different bootMNGR, but is rated to be a very good piece of booter too.

-----------------------------
EDITED: typo error

 

re: addendum

ranishPM... ALLOWS you to create more than 15 copies of OSs (with currently humongous HDDs, you can partition out enough partition to contain X copies equivalent to the partitions you have created (and follow Ranish's rule on Head/Sector starting/ending numerics).... therefore, infinite!

Once everything was loaded, checked....ranishPM installed, upon bootup, ranishPM's config table would show up & give you the choice of booting from which choice of OS. Once the selection wa done, it will be the default bootup OS.... unless time has come again that you want to default into a different choice, then enter your parameter and that new param becomes your new default bootup.

Of course, there are other questions that may wonder into your coconut. Say, why is ranishPM....

Therefore, read Trombett's documentation!


------------------------------------
EDIT: typo error

 

My 15 WinXPs was just a test. I only have 2 WinXPs on my computer.

 

Thanks for the pointers. It looks like I have some homework to do.

The reason for the multiple copies.. is that I have to test and switch between several versions of the same software also with several different hardware drivers. Of course the versions are incredibly incompatible. This seemed to be the best way.

Cheers..

 

I think Dan Goodell has shown that to be incorrect. OS in logical volumes can be independent. They act as if none of the other OS existed. And you don't need to use a non standard partition table.

Dan Goodell's warning about using more than 4 primary partitions...

 

Well... in Goodell's case of logical vol being "independent"... they act as if other OS is non-existent. << "independent" ONLY because its hidden factor was being manage by a boot-manager!

The difference with RANISH is...you only need to HIDE partition ONLY on creation & OS/partition loading time. Once all partition was loaded with your beloved OS (in any order/copies/numbers)... you switched those 'hidden' partition/s ALL ON, bootup, proceed to switch your intended default OS and Ranish won't be finicky. C

<< That is due to MBR's file limitation. Nothing in relation to your multiple OS conflicts nor your HDDs, my dear.

--------------------------------------
EDIT: typo erro; missed line

 

clambermatic,

I'm just trying to get this clear in my mind. When you have completed the project, can each OS see all the other OS. Or are all other OS hidden from the one currently booted.

Which is the C: drive?

 

Generally speaking(at OS/dir setup process), say you got 15dirs prepare for 15OS installs. HIDE the 14partitions first & left 1 partition visible, and load your OS (when you load, OS will assume the empty partition to be C:\...so when you back it up, the OS's config files already has it recorded as in C:\).

Therefore....for the rest of those 14 partitions, every each one has its config listed as in C:\ ...and that is why RANISH has 1 rule; Each & every 'active' partition with loaded OS should have its "Start/Ending Head-Sector to be in particular numeric addresses. C??

Thereafter, hide that loaded OS & open the next partition for OS setup. Contiued these procedures until you have loaded ALL 15 (you gotta take note though of each particular partition setup you have done... means listing down its starting "Head/Sector" numeric address. This paperwork shall be your list of address where you have created your 15.

Once the above were done. Then select one particularly 'complete' cylinder' to load Ranish on. This complete cylinder (no more than 400bytes of data's worth) is where Ranish should reside... it can be just between the first & 2nd loaded partitions, BUT recommendation was to put it at the "last, complete cylinder" (not exactly the last cylinder physically at your HDD; it may be the last-complete, just after your last-OSfilled-partition; hence you had to plan ahead)...and it has its logic there.

Once ALL 15 are loaded & Head-Sector address are listed (don't use that to wrap your chewing gum, coz you'll regret it)...

From your paper listing of which-OS-at-what-Partition & its corresponding Starting/Ending head-sector address... choose from your choice of 15 the first possible 3 that you prefer (you are only allow 3 coz 1 is reserved for your Ranish boot table itself), type in those 3 (1st-in-ranking is the 1st OS to boot as default); Unhide your 14 (every 15 partitions now are open BUT they CAN'T see each other coz Ranish CONTROL its list of 3), save b4 reBoot and... voila!

This is a general description of what's going to be involve in its procs, i strongly suggest you read Trombett's thoroughly please... my dear.

Documentations was lengthy... but once you have read it, planned and started... you're on the way to the REAl multi-boot system!



note: In doing Ranish, the way i "HIDE" or UNHIDE" those partition was to bring my target HDD to a different standby adjacent desktop, connect it as slave, bootup, then use PQMagic (mine is v8.0) for toggling hidE/unhidE.

-----------------------------------------
EDIT: typo errors

 

clambermatic,

Thanks, I have read the web page and I think I understand. Unfortunately I don't want to use more than 4 primary partitions. I have BING and I won't use the "more than 4 primary partitions" option either. I choose "limit primaries" which is 4 primary partitions.

Sounds interesting but each to his own technique.

 

Thanks!

 

Its almost funny how the evangelistic always want others to conform to their version of "REAL".

If you can't figure out why multiple versions of the same OS are needed then you are truly blinded by your narrow subjectivity.