question about one pc with two hard drives and two OS systems

[mazinz]

I custom built my pc and have had on it windows Xp (the motherboard can support 64 bit with win vista/7).

I recently purchased Windows 7 ultimate because it is closer to an actual desktop than windows 8. I also want win 7 for xp mode

Here is what I was curious about- both win xp and win 7 are full retail versions and not OEM. I bought a new hard drive drive to install the win 7 on.

If I use both hard drives with just this one pc system would this cause a problem? Both drives will never be connected at the same time- so if I have to use the xp drive, the win 7 drive will not be connected and vice versa. I would be using the 32 bit version for win 7

I am doing this since Xp will be (supposedly) no longer supported in 2014 and likewise win 7 (reportedly will be supported to 2020).

Would this cause any sort of screwy licensing issue with just the one motherboard when I do the normal windows updates for the drives?

[Cornucopia]

Since, as you say "both drives will never be used at the same time", and by this I take it to mean that you are swapping out the boot drives and the non-booting one is powered down, then there should be no problem - either electrically, or data-wise or for licensing.

Scott

[Cornucopia]

[Duplicate post]

Scott

[jagabo]

There will be no problem. Even if they were system builder editions or upgrade editions there would be no problem. Microsoft doesn't care that your one computer runs multiple copies of Windows. I do it all the time with removable drive bays.

[mazinz]

thank you both for the replies. Yeah I did not want to wait (obviously) another two years to install the win 7 since I bought it now. I figured I can at least set it up and have it registered and set to go (and keep up with the updates).

They would both be in the tower, but one drive would always be disconnected. I love xp and will stick with that till it is no longer supported, then it would be win 7 for going online, but win xp for everything else (or whatever programs I have now that can run on win 7)

either way thanks for the info

[mgh]

You can keep both connected-you can chose the boot drive through the bios

[Cornucopia]

Problem with both drives alive at the same time is the possibility that some utility will inadvertently affect the other drive. Can't happen if they are disconnected/powered down.

In the past at work, I've supremely enjoyed this very setup with swappable bays. If you set it up so that the User Directories and Program Files Directories are on a 3rd or 4th Drive (with Working Media Files on further drives), you can get a setup where either boot drive will have shared program installations (with possibly similar associations, or not - your choice) and common Default areas for working. Runs quite fast that way also.

Scott

[jollyjohn]

I have W7 32 and W7 64 in the same drive in different partitions and never had a problem. The system gives me a choice to what drive to boot at start up. If I don't choose any it boots to default drive W7 64. I did this for program compatibility in the early days of W7 but now there is no longer an issue. For what I do It works for me so if it works why change it. Only problem is keeping both systems updated and clean.