2 OS's at the same time

asdfguy · 04-15-2007, 03:19 PM

I have XP on one HD and Vista on another, is it possible to boot both at the same time and switch between each OS at any given point w/o rebooting?

I'm not sure it it's a stupid question or not, but the idea seem interesting.

**Shady** · 04-15-2007, 05:28 PM

I don't think you can do that.
There's only one case you can do something that looks like this, It's if you are running a virtual machine, But that's another story.

tobywuk · 04-15-2007, 08:27 PM

Only way is using a virtual machine.

You install a virtual machine (software) on one of the operating systems, and this is in theory a computer that runs in a window on the OS you have running. you can then install the other operating system in this Virtual machine.

Drawback - it runs slow.

[-0MEGA-] · 04-15-2007, 09:07 PM

It's not possible, but as toby said, you can install one OS on a virtual machine using a program such as Microsoft's free Virtual PC 2007.

**The_Other_One** · 04-15-2007, 10:40 PM

Again, with a virtual machine. I had Vista and XP going at once. Now I also have Linux loaded on my machine. Virtual machines are great, but don't expect wonderful performace out of the machine. Everything is emulated, so I doubt you could play a game or anything like that... I know Vista won't load Aero with VMWare's video drivers.

Irishwhistle · 04-16-2007, 04:35 PM

I've tried Virtual Machine and it works great. It even works with Linux. As far as using the real HD goes the only way would be to partition the HD into two partitions (consequently you have to boot one of them or the other when you start up). As The_Other_One and tobywuk said Virtual Machines are quite slow. Unless it is absolutely necessary to use both at the same time I would suggest splitting your HD (unless it is to small for that).

~Jordan

04-15-2007, 03:19 PM	#1 (permalink)
asdfguy Silver Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Posts: 151	2 OS's at the same time I have XP on one HD and Vista on another, is it possible to boot both at the same time and switch between each OS at any given point w/o rebooting? I'm not sure it it's a stupid question or not, but the idea seem interesting. __________________ AMD X2 64 4400+ ASUS A8N SLI e-GeForce 6800 GS 256MB 2 Gig Corsair XMS3200 Creative Audigy Antec 550 Truepower 2.0 Vista Ultimate

04-15-2007, 08:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
tobywuk Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 377	Only way is using a virtual machine. You install a virtual machine (software) on one of the operating systems, and this is in theory a computer that runs in a window on the OS you have running. you can then install the other operating system in this Virtual machine. Drawback - it runs slow. __________________ My Personal Website & Blog

04-15-2007, 09:07 PM	#4 (permalink)
[-0MEGA-] Diamond Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Concord, NH Age: 19 Posts: 27,068	It's not possible, but as toby said, you can install one OS on a virtual machine using a program such as Microsoft's free Virtual PC 2007. __________________ Desktop // Laptop Core 2 Quad Q9550 @ 4.0GHz // Core 2 Duo P8400 2.26GHz Asus Rampage Formula X48 // Intel PM45 ATI 4870X2 2GB GDDR5 // 512MB GDDR3 9800M GTS 4GB (2x 2GB) DDR2 940 // 4GB DDR3 800 750GB SATAII w/32MB // 200GB SATAII 7200RPM Creative SB X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty SilverStone 750W +12V@60A 3DMark06: 21391 // 9179

04-15-2007, 10:40 PM	#5 (permalink)
The_Other_One Super Moderator Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Lexington, NC Age: 23 Posts: 12,368	Again, with a virtual machine. I had Vista and XP going at once. Now I also have Linux loaded on my machine. Virtual machines are great, but don't expect wonderful performace out of the machine. Everything is emulated, so I doubt you could play a game or anything like that... I know Vista won't load Aero with VMWare's video drivers. __________________ Desktop * Athlon X2 4200 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| 7600GT Laptop1 * C2D T5550 \| 3G RAM \| 120G HD \| Intel x3100 Laptop2 * C2D T5250 \| 2G RAM \| 160G HD \| Intel x3100

04-16-2007, 04:35 PM	#6 (permalink)
Irishwhistle Diamond Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Michigan, USA Posts: 1,961	I've tried Virtual Machine and it works great. It even works with Linux. As far as using the real HD goes the only way would be to partition the HD into two partitions (consequently you have to boot one of them or the other when you start up). As The_Other_One and tobywuk said Virtual Machines are quite slow. Unless it is absolutely necessary to use both at the same time I would suggest splitting your HD (unless it is to small for that). ~Jordan __________________ Formerly JordanII The statement below is true. The statement above is false.

04-15-2007, 05:28 PM	#2 (permalink)
Shady Moderator Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Cairo Age: 21 Posts: 2,343	I don't think you can do that. There's only one case you can do something that looks like this, It's if you are running a virtual machine, But that's another story.

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