Multi Boot Questions

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BobH
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Multi Boot Questions

Post by BobH »

Anticipating the arrival of my reserved copy of Windows 10, I've started thinking about setting up a dual boot or even a multi-boot system. As you might recall, I recently installed a 250GB SSD with Win 7 HPE as the OS. There is a significant amount of free space, but probably not enough to install Windows 10 on the same drive. From what I've read here (and I could be wrong), it is possible to install multiple operating systems (eg, Win 7, Win 10, UBUNTU) and that it is not necessary to have them all on the same physical device - different partitions are a must, but different devices can be accommodated, if I understand what I've read correctly.

Can anyone confirm or deny this and point me to a good article on multi-boot systems?

The articles I've read describe reinstalling the older copy of Windows before installing a newer version of Windows. These were mostly articles describing moving up from XP or Vista to Win 7. Does this mean that I must reinstall Win 7 before installing Win 10?

I have never run a dual boot system, much less a multi-boot one. Having no experience, I would like to learn a great deal more before jumping in.

:cheers: :chocciebar: :thankyou:
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Rudi
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by Rudi »

Last edited by Rudi on 01 Aug 2015, 20:38, edited 1 time in total.
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BobH
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by BobH »

Thanks, Rudi!

That's a bit to chew on and digest.

:cheers: :chocciebar: :thankyou:
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by Rebel »

Bob, if you do decide on a dual boot scenario, note Jay Freedman's advice in this post regarding licensing issues.
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BobH
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by BobH »

Rebel wrote:Bob, if you do decide on a dual boot scenario, note Jay Freedman's advice in this post regarding licensing issues.
Good catch, John!

This must be another of Microsoft's poor decisions, IMNSHO, affecting many of their products. Surely they must know that most of us 'simpletons' prefer to get to know the new software while retaining our safety net of familiarity with the old.

MS should change this forthwith. I shall probably not upgrade to Win 10 for some time just because of this issue.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention.

:cheers: :chocciebar: :thankyou:
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by Rebel »

I think this policy has always been in effect Bob. While I'm sure that some have found ways to circumvent it, it is my understanding that an upgrade to a newer OS (or other software for that matter) transfers your license (and thus your right to use it) from the older version to the newer version.
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MalcolmWalker
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by MalcolmWalker »

BobH wrote: This must be another of Microsoft's poor decisions, IMNSHO, affecting many of their products. Surely they must know that most of us 'simpletons' prefer to get to know the new software while retaining our safety net of familiarity with the old. MS should change this forthwith. I shall probably not upgrade to Win 10 for some time just because of this issue.
Surely Microsoft is entitled to protect its commercial interests; after all Windows 10 is an operating system, replacing Windows 7, 8 and 8.1, not a complex specialist application. And it is FREE!
I found the trial version of Windows 10 installed on my second notebook computer (now in its seventh year) to be docile (it didn't bite me!) and easy to manage. Today, I have installed the upgrade and apart from a slightly pedestrian response, no doubt due to its elderly hardware and somewhat basic specification, it is working very well although yet to be fully explored.

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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by JoeP »

@BobH,

There has not been any change with regard to keys and upgrading. If you wish to test Windows 10 you can do two things. Enroll or remain in the Insider Preview. Preview versions get their own key and expire after a certain time period. OR you can get a 90 day free trial at Windows 10 Enterprise Evaluation.

Joe
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BobH
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by BobH »

This is the first time I've ever wanted to do an evaluation before upgrading my OS. Usually, I hang back a year or more then upgrade when I hit some limitation in my setup that requires it. That is probably why the upgrade treatment has never registered with me.

In the case of Win10, I would just like to install it to get the look and feel before committing to it. I have the download but will wait a good bit before trying to upgrade. Does anyone know if there is a time limit within which the free upgrade to 10 might expire?
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HansV
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by HansV »

The offer for a free upgrade lasts for one year after the release date of July 29, 2015. So you have until July of next year.
Best wishes,
Hans

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BobH
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by BobH »

Thanks, Hans!

I should make up my mind by then. :hairout:
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BobH
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by BobH »

MalcolmWalker wrote: Surely Microsoft is entitled to protect its commercial interests; after all Windows 10 is an operating system, replacing Windows 7, 8 and 8.1, not a complex specialist application. And it is FREE!
I found the trial version of Windows 10 installed on my second notebook computer (now in its seventh year) to be docile (it didn't bite me!) and easy to manage. Today, I have installed the upgrade and apart from a slightly pedestrian response, no doubt due to its elderly hardware and somewhat basic specification, it is working very well although yet to be fully explored.
I agree completely, Malcolm; but the fact is that I purchased 3 licenses with my Windows 7 HPE purchase and currently use only one of them. It seems to me that should entitle me to run both Win 7 and Win 10 on a dual boot machine. Surely, I am entitled to enjoy the benefits of my purchase when nothing I do or plan to do violates my purchase agreement with Microsofat.
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by JoeP »

If you have three licenses you can use one to upgrade to Win10 and then use another to continue to run Win7.

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BobH
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by BobH »

JoeP wrote:If you have three licenses you can use one to upgrade to Win10 and then use another to continue to run Win7.

Joe
Thanks, Joe!

Does that mean that I would have to replace the currently installed Win7 HPE with Win 10 then install Win 7 again?
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by JoeP »

Not necessarily. You ought to consider upgrading to Win10, installing a free hypervisor such as VirtualBox or VMware, installing Win7 a VM. Then you have just one OS interacting with and controlling the hardware. You can have multiple OSes running concurrently if you need to.

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BobH
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by BobH »

JoeP wrote:Not necessarily. You ought to consider upgrading to Win10, installing a free hypervisor such as VirtualBox or VMware, installing Win7 a VM. Then you have just one OS interacting with and controlling the hardware. You can have multiple OSes running concurrently if you need to.

Joe
That's something I'll have to look into.

My signature line describes my system. Do you think I have enough RAM and Cycles to run a VM machine?
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by JoeP »

Looks OK. You've got plenty to run a VM but all depends on what you will be doing concurrently.

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BobH
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Re: Multi Boot Questions

Post by BobH »

Thanks, Joe!

I'm going to give this some thought and investigate a bit more. I don't really NEED to run multiple virtual machines, but the idea intrigues me enough to experiment with it.
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