Desktops: Why Dual Boot?
Why Dual Boot?
by tizzanne - 10/25/08 7:05 AMHi Everyone,
I have seen so many times on these forums and others, people having or wanting to be able to, dual boot their computers. My question is why?
Why would you want to clutter your hard drive with 2 operating systems? Why would you want to have to muck around re-booting from one to the other? What earthly good does it do? And, if it is that good, why don't more people know about it or do it? Is there any good reason for this or is it just something you've got to have because you can?
I would have though that if you double the system, you double the potential for serious trouble. I'm a bit of a techno dummy, but I'm willing to try new things cautiously, I even have Vista. I just can't understand why I or anyone for that matter (excepting nerds and CNet employees who need to try out and experiment with this stuff) would want to bother dual booting their computers. If their are any good reasons for this, can you please let me know?
Thanks
Lets say I have an old program that doesn't run on
by R. Proffitt
- 10/25/08 7:08 AM
In reply to: Why Dual Boot? by tizzanne
The first OS. And I set up my machine to boot the OS that it works on.
That's one of many reasons.
"why don't more people know about it or do it?"
a. Let's hope the number of people that know about it is "enough."
b. I hope that many will try other methods first.
Bob
It keeps me busy
by rgfitz - 10/26/08 2:46 PM In reply to: Why Dual Boot? by tizzanneI have Vista and XP installed on separate drives on my Dell E510 so I can boot to either OS in the BIOS Setup when I turn the computer on or Restart. I keep Vista up-to-date and use its Movie Maker and DVD Maker applications to transfer video from a camcorder to DVD.
Vista Home Premium only cost me $35, so with the second hard drive I have less than $100 invested in it.
I boot to XP 99 percent of the time.
And the answer is...............
by Dango517 - 10/26/08 3:02 PM In reply to: Why Dual Boot? by tizzanneI would need to realize that different people have different needs then myself to answer this question.
Signed, Tech Guru. 
P.S. your so right about about those nerds.
This thread untracked.
Another way
by RunRagged2 - 11/15/08 12:53 AM In reply to: Why Dual Boot? by tizzanneAnother way to have a play with an alternative OS is to install the second OS as a virtual machine.
You can do this with the 'free' version of VMware Server. This is designed to run on Servers, but will run on XP.
Once you have loaded the VNware server program, you can use it to create a virtual machine. The virtual machine just looks like a large file to the host OS. You can then install your alternate OS in the virtual machine and run it through the VM console when you want. It runs in a window on your desktop.
There are alternate free VM products available, including one from SUN, whose name I forget.
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