2 Windows installations. One for Internet usage.

Hi people. I need ideas here. My main Windows installation is for a very sophisticated Digital Audio Workstation. I really dont want any internet because I dont want it to mess things around. You know viruses and stuff.
On another hdd I had Osx Lion installed. That there I use it for Internet and everything else.
My Osx side is kind of not wanting to boot. So. Instead of troubleshotting, I decided I want another Windows installation for internet and such.
Please do not tell me to use antivirus on my DAW side.
Let me know if this 2 OS's approach is effective and if any proscedure is rrequired beyond simply installing it..

Thanks a lot

oh man, Now i am having trouble..I erased my OSX side voluntarily, I mean I formatted that Hdd. Now when I try to boot i get the dreaded:
Loading OS
Operating System is missing..
Damn,
I should have waited for some responses ...but I need to work and that is why I went ahead.

I inserted the WinOs cd in order to fix startup problems but it says: this version is not copatible or something..

Please I nee to work..
What should I do fast...

Thanks a lot

I had to open another thread;
missing operatin system...

Kaktussoft said:

Solved I assume?

Yes it is solved but need to know if my idea is any good and will be safe?

Amoretam:

It looks like you have been having problems with your computer for
a long time. When you get the basic hardware and installation problems
solved, you should have no problems dual booting your operating
systems.

I have been doing it for years. I am currently dual booting two
installations of Windows 7 on one hard drive. I have the operating
systems along with their associated programs installed in separate
dedicated partitions. I use a separate dedicated partition for data.

With this arrangement, I am making one operating system the backup for
the other. If a problem occurs, I can just reboot to the inactive
operating system and go on with my business. I can then come back to
the other installation later and fix the problem.

A few years back, on a different computer, I had a similar setup but
with two dedicated hard drives, like you have. In this installation,
I stored data in dedicated partitions on the two hard drives. The
hard drives were mounted in removable racks.

In my case, I have been dual booting to obtain the redundancy of two
identical operating systems. In your case, you are dual booting to
protect your most complex operating system installation. If you went
to a multi boot scheme you could have redundancy as well as enhanced
protection. If you go to removable racks you can protect your system
even better. Nothing is going to happen to hard drive after it is
removed and is setting on the shelf.

Good Luck
Bill Bos

Bill Bos said:

Amoretam:

It looks like you have been having problems with your computer for
a long time. When you get the basic hardware and installation problems
solved, you should have no problems dual booting your operating
systems.

I have been doing it for years. I am currently dual booting two
installations of Windows 7 on one hard drive. I have the operating
systems along with their associated programs installed in separate
dedicated partitions. I use a separate dedicated partition for data.

With this arrangement, I am making one operating system the backup for
the other. If a problem occurs, I can just reboot to the inactive
operating system and go on with my business. I can then come back to
the other installation later and fix the problem.

A few years back, on a different computer, I had a similar setup but
with two dedicated hard drives, like you have. In this installation,
I stored data in dedicated partitions on the two hard drives. The
hard drives were mounted in removable racks.

In my case, I have been dual booting to obtain the redundancy of two
identical operating systems. In your case, you are dual booting to
protect your most complex operating system installation. If you went
to a multi boot scheme you could have redundancy as well as enhanced
protection. If you go to removable racks you can protect your system
even better. Nothing is going to happen to hard drive after it is
removed and is setting on the shelf.

Good Luck
Bill Bos

Thanks a lot for these awesome tips. One question: Do you think that using True Image to place a copy of my first windows installation would work? I mean, if one drive dies, will the other one still boot independently? If not. How can I make them independent?
Thanks