Solved Duel booting

[newbytinkerer]

Hi, please bear with me if it is a daft question but, I have looked at tutorials on duel boot systems, and that each partition is looked on as a separate disc, so why can I not use two separate hard drives? and why do I need two copies of a anti virus.(too much time on my hands) Thanks.(d)

 

[ignatzatsonic]

so why can I not use two separate hard drives?

You can and it's probably the recommended method if two drives are available. I guess most of the info out there is just written on the premise that the PC contains only a single drive.

 

[theog]

 

[strollin]

You need multiple copies of your AV software because each OS you boot would need it's own copy. In fact, ALL programs you use will need to be installed for each OS. You could set things up so that you dual boot the OS and both OSes share the same data but you can't share programs.

 

[newbytinkerer]

Hi, thanks to all for replies, I am surprised by answer about hard drives. I have Windows 7 on main hard drive, and Windows 8.1 on old Pc with firewall and anti virus, so I could put old hard drive in new Pc and that would give me a dual boot system with no hassle?

 

[strollin]

Since the Win 8.1 hdd is coming from another computer, it is questionable as to whether or not it will boot or not. The old computer has completely different hardware than the new so all of the drivers and such will be for that old computer, not the new.

 

[newbytinkerer]

Hi, yes, just realised old PC is 32bit and new is 64bit, so clean install would be required anyway. But thanks all the same.

 

[strollin]

Actually, you could have a 32-bit OS on 1 hdd and a 64-bit on another, that wouldn't be an issue.

 

[gregrocker]

You can move the old HD to the new hardware but it would first require on the old PC to run SysPrep: http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...lation-transfer-new-computer.html#post1161038,

or you can use a boot disk after moving the HD ot new hardware to try to Adjust Win7 to boot on new hardware with Paragon Adaptive Restore CD

 

[newbytinkerer]

Hi, I think you have given me some ways to fill that time I had! The Windows 8.1 OS is on the 32bit drive, and I think eventually I would wish to have that as the main OS on 64bit, but you have given me ways to try. May even look at Windows 9! Thanks to all for replies. (Oops sorry, Windows 10.)