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#1
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Setting Default Directories
I am trying to set up my laptop to dual boot to Vista and XP. I have
Vista, the factory junk OS on partition C and XP on F. I know I need to reinstall all my software to use in both systems, but I would like to reinstall all my software to C drive instead of F. How can I change the default install directories to C instead of F? Mike D. |
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#2
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Setting Default Directories
You really wouldn't want a "Common" installation between the two
operating systems. There are dependant components of a install that loads components outside the \Program Files path. Applications will load settings and customizations in the \Documents & Settings profile paths. Changes made in one OS may not properly register in the 2nd. Doing what you describe might sound reasonable, but in practice it is likely to be an ongoing headache. "Mike Dobony" wrote in message ... I am trying to set up my laptop to dual boot to Vista and XP. I have Vista, the factory junk OS on partition C and XP on F. I know I need to reinstall all my software to use in both systems, but I would like to reinstall all my software to C drive instead of F. How can I change the default install directories to C instead of F? Mike D. |
#3
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Setting Default Directories
On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:08:28 -0500, R. McCarty wrote:
You really wouldn't want a "Common" installation between the two operating systems. There are dependant components of a install that loads components outside the \Program Files path. Applications will load settings and customizations in the \Documents & Settings profile paths. Changes made in one OS may not properly register in the 2nd. Doing what you describe might sound reasonable, but in practice it is likely to be an ongoing headache. "Mike Dobony" wrote in message ... I am trying to set up my laptop to dual boot to Vista and XP. I have Vista, the factory junk OS on partition C and XP on F. I know I need to reinstall all my software to use in both systems, but I would like to reinstall all my software to C drive instead of F. How can I change the default install directories to C instead of F? Mike D. So I need to have the programs installed to two different Program Files directories, doubling the storage usage? My F drive has only 9gb to install the operating system. |
#4
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Setting Default Directories
Yes, that would be the net result. Dual boot works fine with a shared
or common personal data store ( My Docs, Music...). These types of data are end point and don't have distributed components. Programs like Office, Adobe Reader and others don't reside 100% in the path \Program files. Their files include paths like \System32 and Docs and Settings. You could try to set it up as a common destination but once installed by one OS, the 2nd install from the alternate would likely end up corrupting the 1st - just making a mess of both OS installations. "Michael Dobony" wrote in message .. . On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:08:28 -0500, R. McCarty wrote: You really wouldn't want a "Common" installation between the two operating systems. There are dependant components of a install that loads components outside the \Program Files path. Applications will load settings and customizations in the \Documents & Settings profile paths. Changes made in one OS may not properly register in the 2nd. Doing what you describe might sound reasonable, but in practice it is likely to be an ongoing headache. "Mike Dobony" wrote in message ... I am trying to set up my laptop to dual boot to Vista and XP. I have Vista, the factory junk OS on partition C and XP on F. I know I need to reinstall all my software to use in both systems, but I would like to reinstall all my software to C drive instead of F. How can I change the default install directories to C instead of F? Mike D. So I need to have the programs installed to two different Program Files directories, doubling the storage usage? My F drive has only 9gb to install the operating system. |
#5
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Setting Default Directories
Michael Dobony wrote:
On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:08:28 -0500, R. McCarty wrote: You really wouldn't want a "Common" installation between the two operating systems. There are dependant components of a install that loads components outside the \Program Files path. Applications will load settings and customizations in the \Documents & Settings profile paths. Changes made in one OS may not properly register in the 2nd. Doing what you describe might sound reasonable, but in practice it is likely to be an ongoing headache. "Mike Dobony" wrote in message . .. I am trying to set up my laptop to dual boot to Vista and XP. I have Vista, the factory junk OS on partition C and XP on F. I know I need to reinstall all my software to use in both systems, but I would like to reinstall all my software to C drive instead of F. How can I change the default install directories to C instead of F? Mike D. So I need to have the programs installed to two different Program Files directories, doubling the storage usage? My F drive has only 9gb to install the operating system. It isn't a very good idea to have different operating systems use the same Programs directories. Microsoft does not support changing the location of the Program Files folder by modifying the ProgramFilesDir registry value http://support.microsoft.com/kb/933700 John |
#6
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Setting Default Directories
On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:25:50 -0500, R. McCarty wrote:
Yes, that would be the net result. Dual boot works fine with a shared or common personal data store ( My Docs, Music...). These types of data are end point and don't have distributed components. Programs like Office, Adobe Reader and others don't reside 100% in the path \Program files. Their files include paths like \System32 and Docs and Settings. You could try to set it up as a common destination but once installed by one OS, the 2nd install from the alternate would likely end up corrupting the 1st - just making a mess of both OS installations. "Michael Dobony" wrote in message .. . On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:08:28 -0500, R. McCarty wrote: You really wouldn't want a "Common" installation between the two operating systems. There are dependant components of a install that loads components outside the \Program Files path. Applications will load settings and customizations in the \Documents & Settings profile paths. Changes made in one OS may not properly register in the 2nd. Doing what you describe might sound reasonable, but in practice it is likely to be an ongoing headache. "Mike Dobony" wrote in message ... I am trying to set up my laptop to dual boot to Vista and XP. I have Vista, the factory junk OS on partition C and XP on F. I know I need to reinstall all my software to use in both systems, but I would like to reinstall all my software to C drive instead of F. How can I change the default install directories to C instead of F? Mike D. So I need to have the programs installed to two different Program Files directories, doubling the storage usage? My F drive has only 9gb to install the operating system. So I need 2 HD's, 1 for each operating system, or replace all my fully functioning legacy devices (Jornada palm top, video converter, etc.) that no longer function under Vista (thanks to Ms's arrogance). I eventually want to totally eliminate Vista. It is slow and will not work with my old equipment. I am up and running with XP in less than half the time it takes Vista to load and it runs all my software and hardware without any problems other than Compaq not supporting XP, so I lose my hotkeys, a small price to pay for an otherwise fully functioning OS. |
#7
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Setting Default Directories
If you want two totally separate/independent Operating Systems you'll
need two drives ( or two partitions on a sufficiently large physical drive ). Dealing with Dual-Boot or multi-boot is something I avoid. Basically I have XP running with Microsoft Virtual PC handling every OS from the first Windows 98 up to Windows Server 2008/Windows Home Server running as Virtual PC machines. They are self-contained and portable. "Michael Dobony" wrote in message .. . On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:25:50 -0500, R. McCarty wrote: Yes, that would be the net result. Dual boot works fine with a shared or common personal data store ( My Docs, Music...). These types of data are end point and don't have distributed components. Programs like Office, Adobe Reader and others don't reside 100% in the path \Program files. Their files include paths like \System32 and Docs and Settings. You could try to set it up as a common destination but once installed by one OS, the 2nd install from the alternate would likely end up corrupting the 1st - just making a mess of both OS installations. "Michael Dobony" wrote in message .. . On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:08:28 -0500, R. McCarty wrote: You really wouldn't want a "Common" installation between the two operating systems. There are dependant components of a install that loads components outside the \Program Files path. Applications will load settings and customizations in the \Documents & Settings profile paths. Changes made in one OS may not properly register in the 2nd. Doing what you describe might sound reasonable, but in practice it is likely to be an ongoing headache. "Mike Dobony" wrote in message ... I am trying to set up my laptop to dual boot to Vista and XP. I have Vista, the factory junk OS on partition C and XP on F. I know I need to reinstall all my software to use in both systems, but I would like to reinstall all my software to C drive instead of F. How can I change the default install directories to C instead of F? Mike D. So I need to have the programs installed to two different Program Files directories, doubling the storage usage? My F drive has only 9gb to install the operating system. So I need 2 HD's, 1 for each operating system, or replace all my fully functioning legacy devices (Jornada palm top, video converter, etc.) that no longer function under Vista (thanks to Ms's arrogance). I eventually want to totally eliminate Vista. It is slow and will not work with my old equipment. I am up and running with XP in less than half the time it takes Vista to load and it runs all my software and hardware without any problems other than Compaq not supporting XP, so I lose my hotkeys, a small price to pay for an otherwise fully functioning OS. |
#8
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Setting Default Directories
On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 12:48:27 -0500, R. McCarty wrote:
If you want two totally separate/independent Operating Systems you'll need two drives ( or two partitions on a sufficiently large physical drive ). Dealing with Dual-Boot or multi-boot is something I avoid. Basically I have XP running with Microsoft Virtual PC handling every OS from the first Windows 98 up to Windows Server 2008/Windows Home Server Right now Vista is using up half of my 250GB HD in my laptop. Being a laptop I can't add a second hard drive. To run Virtual PC I need to upgrade to a more expensive and more bloated version of Vista, taking up more room. Vista is not letting me sync to my palm top as it runs Windows CE and Vista will not run Activesync and the Media Center or whatever will not sync to my palm. It requires PC2003 or higher. Vista is slow. My ultimate goal is to eliminate the junk called Vista. Until I can get XP fully functional I need to be able to use both systems. Temporary dual boot makes the most sense. running as Virtual PC machines. They are self-contained and portable. "Michael Dobony" wrote in message .. . On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:25:50 -0500, R. McCarty wrote: Yes, that would be the net result. Dual boot works fine with a shared or common personal data store ( My Docs, Music...). These types of data are end point and don't have distributed components. Programs like Office, Adobe Reader and others don't reside 100% in the path \Program files. Their files include paths like \System32 and Docs and Settings. You could try to set it up as a common destination but once installed by one OS, the 2nd install from the alternate would likely end up corrupting the 1st - just making a mess of both OS installations. "Michael Dobony" wrote in message .. . On Mon, 22 Dec 2008 10:08:28 -0500, R. McCarty wrote: You really wouldn't want a "Common" installation between the two operating systems. There are dependant components of a install that loads components outside the \Program Files path. Applications will load settings and customizations in the \Documents & Settings profile paths. Changes made in one OS may not properly register in the 2nd. Doing what you describe might sound reasonable, but in practice it is likely to be an ongoing headache. "Mike Dobony" wrote in message ... I am trying to set up my laptop to dual boot to Vista and XP. I have Vista, the factory junk OS on partition C and XP on F. I know I need to reinstall all my software to use in both systems, but I would like to reinstall all my software to C drive instead of F. How can I change the default install directories to C instead of F? Mike D. So I need to have the programs installed to two different Program Files directories, doubling the storage usage? My F drive has only 9gb to install the operating system. So I need 2 HD's, 1 for each operating system, or replace all my fully functioning legacy devices (Jornada palm top, video converter, etc.) that no longer function under Vista (thanks to Ms's arrogance). I eventually want to totally eliminate Vista. It is slow and will not work with my old equipment. I am up and running with XP in less than half the time it takes Vista to load and it runs all my software and hardware without any problems other than Compaq not supporting XP, so I lose my hotkeys, a small price to pay for an otherwise fully functioning OS. |
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