Vista - Dual boot XP/Vista sharing common installed applications and data?

I have a machine running XP with a full gamut of installed applications
(e.g. MS Office, iTunes, BDS2006, and many more).

This is a test and development machine, so I need to keep the XP environment
and all running application, but I want to also add Vista as a dual boot.

My question is whether it is possible for the Vista install to leave the XP
environment unchanged but copy the XP registry settings for the installed
applications into the Vista registry. Basically I would like the existing
applications to continue to work both under XP (existing) and Vista (new).

My reason is that for time and disk space reasons, I want to avoid having to
repeat the software installations of all these applications, and I want both
O/S to access the same "My Documents" folders. For example "My Music"
contains 50-60GB of stuff that I would like to access and add to from both
O/S instances.

{ Note: I did not yet decide whether to put Vista a) on a separate folder in
the same partition, b) on a different partition on the same drive, or c) on
a completely different drive; the most likely choice is c) but I think that
this is anyway irrelevant to my question... }

The software has to be installed under each operating system. Sorry.

And, you will run into licensing issues to boot. Each operating system is
treated as a separate computer. So, it is the same as if you were installing
Office/Acrobat/AutoCAD etc. on two different boxes.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User


"Andrew Fiddian-Green" <nn@dd> wrote in message
news:%23NLGYOkaHHA.2436@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I have a machine running XP with a full gamut of installed applications
>(e.g. MS Office, iTunes, BDS2006, and many more).
>
> This is a test and development machine, so I need to keep the XP
> environment and all running application, but I want to also add Vista as a
> dual boot.
>
> My question is whether it is possible for the Vista install to leave the
> XP environment unchanged but copy the XP registry settings for the
> installed applications into the Vista registry. Basically I would like the
> existing applications to continue to work both under XP (existing) and
> Vista (new).
>
> My reason is that for time and disk space reasons, I want to avoid having
> to repeat the software installations of all these applications, and I want
> both O/S to access the same "My Documents" folders. For example "My Music"
> contains 50-60GB of stuff that I would like to access and add to from both
> O/S instances.
>
> { Note: I did not yet decide whether to put Vista a) on a separate folder
> in the same partition, b) on a different partition on the same drive, or
> c) on a completely different drive; the most likely choice is c) but I
> think that this is anyway irrelevant to my question... }
>
>
>

Hi Andrew,

You can try using the Windows Easy Transfer Companion (still in beta) to
migrate the programs, though it's more designed for an upgrade vs. a clean
install:
http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/d...en&clcid=0x409

Some notes:

- There is a known issue in dual boot situations with volsnap.sys in XP. It
wipes out Vista's restore points. The only resolution to this is to have the
Vista install partition hidden from XP through the use of a third party boot
manager. Even if XP's System Restore is not running or monitoring that
volume, it still happens. This problem occurs whether the install is on
another volume/partition or on another physical drive. Do not try to install
Vista to the same volume as XP as it will make some changes to the NTFS
files system there and render your XP installation unbootable - permanently.

- Shared user folders use different names. The "My" part has been dropped.

- Some of the programs may require an update or patch. Notably, Itunes is
not yet ready for Vista.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP
http://mvp.support.microsoft.com/
Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

"Andrew Fiddian-Green" <nn@dd> wrote in message
news:%23NLGYOkaHHA.2436@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>I have a machine running XP with a full gamut of installed applications
>(e.g. MS Office, iTunes, BDS2006, and many more).
>
> This is a test and development machine, so I need to keep the XP
> environment and all running application, but I want to also add Vista as a
> dual boot.
>
> My question is whether it is possible for the Vista install to leave the
> XP environment unchanged but copy the XP registry settings for the
> installed applications into the Vista registry. Basically I would like the
> existing applications to continue to work both under XP (existing) and
> Vista (new).
>
> My reason is that for time and disk space reasons, I want to avoid having
> to repeat the software installations of all these applications, and I want
> both O/S to access the same "My Documents" folders. For example "My Music"
> contains 50-60GB of stuff that I would like to access and add to from both
> O/S instances.
>
> { Note: I did not yet decide whether to put Vista a) on a separate folder
> in the same partition, b) on a different partition on the same drive, or
> c) on a completely different drive; the most likely choice is c) but I
> think that this is anyway irrelevant to my question... }
>
>
>

Richard,

According to MS http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal...s/default.aspx
and three EULA's I checked for Office 2003 and 2007 he can use it on up to 3
computers (two for Office 2007 with one being a portable device - which
could be a portable drive?).

I've not done this but he could try:

1. Load the office package on the XP drive or even install it to a different
drive and then,

2. Boot up Vista and load it to the same drive location you did under XP.

Again, I haven't tried that but since you can install Office on a network
(with proper license) this technically should work (I think...).

Bob S.




"Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:OTE0eXkaHHA.4808@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
> The software has to be installed under each operating system. Sorry.
>
> And, you will run into licensing issues to boot. Each operating system is
> treated as a separate computer. So, it is the same as if you were
> installing Office/Acrobat/AutoCAD etc. on two different boxes.
>
> --
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban MVP
> Microsoft Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "Andrew Fiddian-Green" <nn@dd> wrote in message
> news:%23NLGYOkaHHA.2436@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>I have a machine running XP with a full gamut of installed applications
>>(e.g. MS Office, iTunes, BDS2006, and many more).
>>
>> This is a test and development machine, so I need to keep the XP
>> environment and all running application, but I want to also add Vista as
>> a dual boot.
>>
>> My question is whether it is possible for the Vista install to leave the
>> XP environment unchanged but copy the XP registry settings for the
>> installed applications into the Vista registry. Basically I would like
>> the existing applications to continue to work both under XP (existing)
>> and Vista (new).
>>
>> My reason is that for time and disk space reasons, I want to avoid having
>> to repeat the software installations of all these applications, and I
>> want both O/S to access the same "My Documents" folders. For example "My
>> Music" contains 50-60GB of stuff that I would like to access and add to
>> from both O/S instances.
>>
>> { Note: I did not yet decide whether to put Vista a) on a separate folder
>> in the same partition, b) on a different partition on the same drive, or
>> c) on a completely different drive; the most likely choice is c) but I
>> think that this is anyway irrelevant to my question... }
>>
>>
>>
>

The world does not revolve around Microsoft Office alone, though Microsoft
would like it to. Most any application you buy today is meant to be for use
on one computer, unless the package says otherwise.

--


Regards,

Richard Urban MVP
Microsoft Windows Shell/User


"BobS" <no-spam@noplace.com> wrote in message
news:eQKDhWwaHHA.4000@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> Richard,
>
> According to MS
> http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal...s/default.aspx and three
> EULA's I checked for Office 2003 and 2007 he can use it on up to 3
> computers (two for Office 2007 with one being a portable device - which
> could be a portable drive?).
>
> I've not done this but he could try:
>
> 1. Load the office package on the XP drive or even install it to a
> different drive and then,
>
> 2. Boot up Vista and load it to the same drive location you did under XP.
>
> Again, I haven't tried that but since you can install Office on a network
> (with proper license) this technically should work (I think...).
>
> Bob S.
>
>
>
>
> "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:OTE0eXkaHHA.4808@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>> The software has to be installed under each operating system. Sorry.
>>
>> And, you will run into licensing issues to boot. Each operating system is
>> treated as a separate computer. So, it is the same as if you were
>> installing Office/Acrobat/AutoCAD etc. on two different boxes.
>>
>> --
>>
>>
>> Regards,
>>
>> Richard Urban MVP
>> Microsoft Windows Shell/User
>>
>>
>> "Andrew Fiddian-Green" <nn@dd> wrote in message
>> news:%23NLGYOkaHHA.2436@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>I have a machine running XP with a full gamut of installed applications
>>>(e.g. MS Office, iTunes, BDS2006, and many more).
>>>
>>> This is a test and development machine, so I need to keep the XP
>>> environment and all running application, but I want to also add Vista as
>>> a dual boot.
>>>
>>> My question is whether it is possible for the Vista install to leave the
>>> XP environment unchanged but copy the XP registry settings for the
>>> installed applications into the Vista registry. Basically I would like
>>> the existing applications to continue to work both under XP (existing)
>>> and Vista (new).
>>>
>>> My reason is that for time and disk space reasons, I want to avoid
>>> having to repeat the software installations of all these applications,
>>> and I want both O/S to access the same "My Documents" folders. For
>>> example "My Music" contains 50-60GB of stuff that I would like to access
>>> and add to from both O/S instances.
>>>
>>> { Note: I did not yet decide whether to put Vista a) on a separate
>>> folder in the same partition, b) on a different partition on the same
>>> drive, or c) on a completely different drive; the most likely choice is
>>> c) but I think that this is anyway irrelevant to my question... }
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>
>

Richard,

Not looking for a fight but he did state MS Office as one application and
that is what I addressed. As for your statement about software being used
on one computer - not true when you consider the "Fair Use" laws. Also the
fact that a number of vendors are now selling software that allow use on up
to 3 computers.

Certainly there is software that the license states for use only on "one"
computer only but from what I've read, the Fair Use law allows a backup copy
to be used on a different system. I've also read where this has been
applied to DVD movies, music CD's as well as software and while it has been
challenged in court - they aren't winning (so far).

Any comment on the technical aspects of loading it to the same location
under both operating systems?

Bob S.




"Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:eB9GfhwaHHA.2448@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
> The world does not revolve around Microsoft Office alone, though Microsoft
> would like it to. Most any application you buy today is meant to be for
> use on one computer, unless the package says otherwise.
>
> --
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Richard Urban MVP
> Microsoft Windows Shell/User
>
>
> "BobS" <no-spam@noplace.com> wrote in message
> news:eQKDhWwaHHA.4000@TK2MSFTNGP02.phx.gbl...
>> Richard,
>>
>> According to MS
>> http://www.microsoft.com/about/legal...s/default.aspx and three
>> EULA's I checked for Office 2003 and 2007 he can use it on up to 3
>> computers (two for Office 2007 with one being a portable device - which
>> could be a portable drive?).
>>
>> I've not done this but he could try:
>>
>> 1. Load the office package on the XP drive or even install it to a
>> different drive and then,
>>
>> 2. Boot up Vista and load it to the same drive location you did under XP.
>>
>> Again, I haven't tried that but since you can install Office on a network
>> (with proper license) this technically should work (I think...).
>>
>> Bob S.
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> "Richard Urban" <richardurbanREMOVETHIS@hotmail.com> wrote in message
>> news:OTE0eXkaHHA.4808@TK2MSFTNGP04.phx.gbl...
>>> The software has to be installed under each operating system. Sorry.
>>>
>>> And, you will run into licensing issues to boot. Each operating system
>>> is treated as a separate computer. So, it is the same as if you were
>>> installing Office/Acrobat/AutoCAD etc. on two different boxes.
>>>
>>> --
>>>
>>>
>>> Regards,
>>>
>>> Richard Urban MVP
>>> Microsoft Windows Shell/User
>>>
>>>
>>> "Andrew Fiddian-Green" <nn@dd> wrote in message
>>> news:%23NLGYOkaHHA.2436@TK2MSFTNGP06.phx.gbl...
>>>>I have a machine running XP with a full gamut of installed applications
>>>>(e.g. MS Office, iTunes, BDS2006, and many more).
>>>>
>>>> This is a test and development machine, so I need to keep the XP
>>>> environment and all running application, but I want to also add Vista
>>>> as a dual boot.
>>>>
>>>> My question is whether it is possible for the Vista install to leave
>>>> the XP environment unchanged but copy the XP registry settings for the
>>>> installed applications into the Vista registry. Basically I would like
>>>> the existing applications to continue to work both under XP (existing)
>>>> and Vista (new).
>>>>
>>>> My reason is that for time and disk space reasons, I want to avoid
>>>> having to repeat the software installations of all these applications,
>>>> and I want both O/S to access the same "My Documents" folders. For
>>>> example "My Music" contains 50-60GB of stuff that I would like to
>>>> access and add to from both O/S instances.
>>>>
>>>> { Note: I did not yet decide whether to put Vista a) on a separate
>>>> folder in the same partition, b) on a different partition on the same
>>>> drive, or c) on a completely different drive; the most likely choice is
>>>> c) but I think that this is anyway irrelevant to my question... }
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>>
>>
>>
>