Mulit boot setup with same OS
Let me describe the scenario....
I want to do a clean install of an OS, then copy that OS into another partition and make it bootable also.
I would think the obvious is to use the "copy" function within OS Selector? But this process will start, and then shut down after a few minutes.
I've tried several other methods with DD and TI with no luck.
What problems did you have with DD and TI? Perhaps you were close and didn't know it.
The closest I got was using TI and first creating a backup image of the first original OS. Then I would restore it to unallocated space. The new partition would show up in OSS as a bootable OS, but no matter what OS I click on to boot, it would always boot to the first OS on the C drive/partition.
I'm sure the answer is simple, but I thought Acronis would make the new partition bootable automatically…. At least some of the ads and help files suggests it?
The problem with the restored partition booting the first OS is most likely due to the drive letters still pointing to the original OS partition. Was the original partition hidden when you booted the restored partition? Was the restored partition Active?
It would be helpful to know which OS you're using and which version and build of TI you're using.
It would be helpful to know which OS you're using and which version and build of TI you're using.
XP Pro is the OS in question, and DD 10.0 (build 2160), TI 2009 (build 9796).
Was the original partition hidden when you booted the restored partition?
No
Was the restored partition Active?
Yes
The original partition should be hidden or you should clear the MountedDevices key in the registry before booting the restored partition. In some cases, such as when the source Windows has already seen the new partition, clearing the MountedDevices key is necessary. More information on this is in the threads I linked in Post #1.
The original partition should be hidden or you should clear the MountedDevices key in the registry before booting the restored partition. In some cases, such as when the source Windows has already seen the new partition, clearing the MountedDevices key is necessary. More information on this is in the threads I linked in Post #1.
I had some success last night. I restored an image (while booted in the original OS) to a logical partition and included the MBR. OSS will boot this second OS/partition as long as I use OSS outside of a booted OS.
I tried repeating this process for a third installed OS, but TI rebooted the PC and did the restore outside of Windoze, and now OSS will not recognize the third install. The first two installs still boot just fine.
I will do some more reading from the links you provided and report back. I think I need to bone up on the boot process itself, and then maybe I can better understand what is going on.
Update:
I edited the boot.ini file to look like this on both OS/partitions:
[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
timeout=30
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows XP Professional" /noexecute=optin /fastdetect
Now both OSs show up as selectable at boot up without using OSS, and both remain bootable. Getting ready to restore a third partition for further testing.
Am I on the right track?
Is the booted XP partition assigned C: or is C: always assigned to the same XP partition?
What does Disk Management show for the "System" partition?
Under the status column in DM....
When booted to the first OS, C: shows "system" & D: has nothing.
While booted to the second OS, C: shows "system" & D: has "boot".
Does that answer both questions?