Greetings.
I have searched all over the web for an answer to my question, with no luck. Maybe I am using the wrong search terms, there are a bazillion articles, posts, storys, etc about dual booting.
I need to dual boot Windows Vista and XP Pro. I got there no problem, with each OS on their own physical drive. However, when I am booted to Vista, the OS and Program Files folder etc, are in the C:\ Drive. Fine. When I boot to XP, the System drive, with the OS and Program Files folder etc is H:\.... NOT FINE. In both cases the other OS drive is visible. Everything seems to function OK. But some of the apps I use will ONLY install to C:\Program Files etc. This is NOT good. There are numerous ways to "hide" a drive in the explorer, but this does not stop either OS from accessing the drive. I have read that both OSs are smart enough to not do this, but that has not been my experience.
In short, I am just not comfortable with the other OS system drive visible, and some of my apps will not even work that way. In the past I have been able to dual boot with older OSs, the active OS drive was always C:\, with the other OS "invisible".
Am I going to have to use a third party software to accomplish this? I am fine with that, as long as it is reliable. Partition Magic/Boot Magic no longer works with Vista. Does anyone know of a third party app that will accomplish the end result I want? Or perhaps an installation method not requiring a third party app?
Thanks in advance....
Dennis
I have searched all over the web for an answer to my question, with no luck. Maybe I am using the wrong search terms, there are a bazillion articles, posts, storys, etc about dual booting.
I need to dual boot Windows Vista and XP Pro. I got there no problem, with each OS on their own physical drive. However, when I am booted to Vista, the OS and Program Files folder etc, are in the C:\ Drive. Fine. When I boot to XP, the System drive, with the OS and Program Files folder etc is H:\.... NOT FINE. In both cases the other OS drive is visible. Everything seems to function OK. But some of the apps I use will ONLY install to C:\Program Files etc. This is NOT good. There are numerous ways to "hide" a drive in the explorer, but this does not stop either OS from accessing the drive. I have read that both OSs are smart enough to not do this, but that has not been my experience.
In short, I am just not comfortable with the other OS system drive visible, and some of my apps will not even work that way. In the past I have been able to dual boot with older OSs, the active OS drive was always C:\, with the other OS "invisible".
Am I going to have to use a third party software to accomplish this? I am fine with that, as long as it is reliable. Partition Magic/Boot Magic no longer works with Vista. Does anyone know of a third party app that will accomplish the end result I want? Or perhaps an installation method not requiring a third party app?
Thanks in advance....
Dennis