Install an application in one OS and access it from another

[correro]

I have W2k Server and W2k Professional running on the same machine. Which means, if I need to install some software application, I need to install it on both OS.

Is it possible to install the application (say, Acrobat Reader) in one OS, and still able to run it in the other OS?

Please give me share with me your ideas and experience. Thanks!

 

[bcastner]

Any program that uses the registry (which is pretty much all programs) will require a seperate installation in each OS.

 

[Blujacket]

And you generally can install it into the same folder as the first, it will still get in each registry with no problems. Microsoft Office is the only one that puts upwards of 2/3rds of itself in the/each Program Files folder in each OS, regardless of how it's installed, due to the interweaving with the OS.

 

[correro]

Blujacket, are you saying that I can install the application into the same folder on both OSs? This would be great if it works! Please warn me of any consequences. Thanks!

 

[Daven81]

well does installing in the same folder means taking two folder size? then it would be the same as installing 2 times. I remember my friend configured the dll file in the OS and the application can be used. Anyone with more description on this matter?

 

[Blujacket]

correro, yes, a program can be installed in a booted OS but into the same folder as was done when booted to the other OS. It's the registries that can't be shared. MS Office will install about 2/3rds of itself in the Program Files folder on the booted OS, it does work better with WordPerfect and other non-MS programs.

[And if a person was dual-booting Win98 and Win2000 or WinXP, both drives/partitions would probably have to be formatted FAT32 since Win98 can't work with NTFS.]

 

[correro]

thanks, Blujacket. i got it