Can 2 separate OS on 2 separate drives share 1 Desktop folder?

[Brds7t7]

Okay, so here's my setup:
I have 2 separate Windows installs on 2 separate disks. I don't use dual-boot from 1 drive, I just switch the boot drive in the BIOS menu. It's setup like this:

Disk 1
Partition 1) Windows 7 Ultimate
Partition 2) Desktop + Data Folders for 7

Disk 2
Partition 1) Windows 8.1 Pro
Partition 2) Desktop + Data Folders for 8.1

What I want to do is keep the separate installs but install a 3rd Disk and place the Desktop + Data folders for both drives on Disk 3.

Is this possible to do? I always keep my Data separate from my OS partitions to keep System Image sizes down and use a Separate piece of software for backing up my Data drives. It would be easier if I could share these Data drives between both OS. I usually keep my desktops & folders in sync anyway.

Anyone else tried this setup and encountered any issues with Security settings, etc?

 

[iko22]

Never tried. If it were to succeed, It would be like merging two desktop folders into one pooled resource. That does not appeal to me.
However I came up with several points that you may wish to consider:
1) You would start seeing Account Unknown (SID) entries appear in the ACL.
2) Problems with Desktop shortcuts pointing to executables not registered with Operating System.
3) Icon cache would possibly become inconsistent. The location of the icon cache is different between windows 7 and 8.1.

 

[Brds7t7]

Thanks Iko. The only issue I hadn't really considered was issue 3.

Issue 1 I'm okay with and expected that to be the case. So long as it doesn't interfere with the security of the other account.

Issue 2 wouldn't be an issue as I don't keep program icons on the desktop. Only files and shortcuts to folders on the same drive as the desktop, so that's no problem.

Hadn't considered icon cache issue though. Might have to look into that a little more.

Another thing is I want to keep Shadow Copies (previous versions) on for Windows 7 Desktop + Data and wondered if these will get screwed up somehow when I boot into 8.1?

 

[iko22]

Issue 1 I'm okay with and expected that to be the case. So long as it doesn't interfere with the security of the other account.

Might even get a duplicate user folder - I've seen that before, thinking about it. You suddenly get the one folder with the correct permissions and icon, and a second folder with the standard manilla icon and standard permissions.

Would need to know more about how Windows automates folder creation. Does the OS just do mkdir, or does it do sophisticated object ownership checks before executing a mkdir command.

 

[lehnerus2000]

I'd leave the built-in user folders in their respective operating systems and create new ones on the new drive.
You could then include the new folders in the Libraries of both operating systems.

I used to use separate Documents, Pictures, Music, Video & Downloads partitions on my other PC (XP, W7 & LM).
I now use that PC to play videos (sent from my main PC) on our TV, so it doesn't have any extra drives and I don't store anything on it.
The only "issue" I noticed was XP liked to create "Thumbs.db" files in folders.

I still use separate partitions (like above) on my main PC (W7 & LM) but it isn't an issue, as Linux doesn't care about Windows permissions.

I use Macrium Reflect to back up my partitions.

 

[Brds7t7]

The only "issue" I noticed was XP liked to create "Thumbs.db" files in folders.

That's a blast from the past! I haven't used XP in years mate. I don't even have it in a VM now. Last XP VM I deleted in 2015.

I flogged my XP and Vista retail versions a couple of years ago.

 

[lehnerus2000]

That's a blast from the past! I haven't used XP in years mate. I don't even have it in a VM now. Last XP VM I deleted in 2015.

I don't use the XP & LM installs on my Media PC, but I keep them updated.

I've kept the XP install because Windows Live Photo Gallery works nicely on it (unlike on W7).
The image tagging tool was very useful when I was adding tags to manga scans.

I regularly use an XP VM on my Main PC, because I installed all of my old games in it.

Unlike W10, I can connect XP to the Internet without having to worry about it downloading GBs of garbage code and then self-destructing.

 

[iko22]

Unlike W10, I can connect XP to the Internet without having to worry about it downloading GBs of garbage code and then self-destructing.

:roflmao:

 

[Brds7t7]

The longest I ever had a Windows 10 VM for was about 3 weeks. Haven't even tried the last main update to it, as it just doesn't appeal to me. Too much bloat for me and it was trying too much. It was like the kid at school trying too hard to be liked by everyone - it just became annoying. As soon as they started bundling candy crush in with it, that was enough for me!

Even all the multiple retail licences I own for 7 & 8.1 never got upgraded. I'd rather keep them and use them for VMs than upgraded them to a free 10 licence.

Yes I know some people will think I'm daft because "it's free, right?". But, I don't care. MS can keep Windows 10!

I enjoyed using XP for years, but most of the software I use I can run in 7 or 8.1 now, so decided to get rid of them. I hadn't really used Vista for years, even though I never really had an issue with it. It always worked well for me. Too many retail boxes cluttering up the place, so decided it was time to have a clear out.

 

[lehnerus2000]

Even all the multiple retail licences I own for 7 & 8.1 never got upgraded. I'd rather keep them and use them for VMs than upgraded them to a free 10 licence.

Yes I know some people will think I'm daft because "it's free, right?". But, I don't care. MS can keep Windows 10!

I foolishly "upgraded" my W7 Home Premium laptop to W10 Home.

Now I can't risk connecting it to the Internet as it will try to download an "upgrade" and then self-destruct during the installation.
Fortunately it is a dual boot setup with Linux Mint 18 MATE.

Anecdotally, my W10 Pro 1703 VM & W10 Home 1703 have run flawlessly since I totally isolated them from our network (after the 1709 failed upgrade fiascos).

 

[Brds7t7]

I foolishly "upgraded" my W7 Home Premium laptop to W10 Home.

Please accept my deepest condolences!

 

[iko22]

Brds7t7 - Out of curiosity - with the windows 8.1 and windows 7 - were you any closer to 2 separate opera\ting systems share the one Desktop folder? Or was there anything holding you back from trying? Or had you tried such an installation by now? Was the exploration successful?

 

[Brds7t7]

I decided not to bother in the end. Thought it might cause some issues somewhere down the line. And if I set it up that way it kept marking my disks as dirty when I ran a System Image backup in 8.1. Easily fixed by running Startup repair, but too much faffing around with permissions in the end, so decided to keep them separate.

There's probably a way around it, but I don't have the patience. I'm not as much of a tinkerer as I used to be, and tend to just want things to work with little fuss now. I must be getting old.

What I have done is set it up like this now:

Disk 1 (250GB SSD):
Windows 7

Disk 2 (250GB SSD):
Windows 8.1

Disk 3 (2TB HDD):
Windows 7 Desktop + Data

Disk 4 (2TB HDD):
Windows 8.1 Desktop + Data

This way I can keep separate permissions for each drive and contained folders.

 

[Lady Fitzgerald]

Why not keep all your folders somewhere other than the OS drives and use shortcuts on each desktop to the same folder?