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Proper Setup of 2 Hard Drives and 2 Operating Systems


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#1
G-bo

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Hi,I would like to add a 2nd hard drive with it's own xp pro operating system and was just wondering the correct way to go about it.I have xp installed on my "c" drive now and would like to keep the 2nd system separate and on it's own hard drive as it will be for audio/midi mixing and recording,the 2nd system does not need to have internet access either if that makes any difference.Would there be a way to set this up so I can choose which o/s I want to use at startup.Thanks,Cheers.
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#2
Macboatmaster

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This is no problem.
I have a computer running two hard drives.
One is an 80Gb SATA running Ubuntu and the other is a 160Gb with three partitions running XP Pro.
I am not quite sure I have understood your query.
Are you asking HOW to do this from the start or are you simply asking CAN i have two operating systems.
That all said, I cannot see the purpose of having XP Pro installed twice on two separate drives.
Pls come back with exactly what you are asking.
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#3
G-bo

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Hi MacBoatmaster,I guess I didn't explain this very well but I'm trying to put in a second hard drive with it's own copy of xp pro to use just for my recording software.My first hard drive I am using with xp also and it is for internet,e-mail ect.Everything that I had read about setting up a computer for home recording said that it was best to keep your recording setup separate from your regular system,that is why I would prefer that the second hard drive with the recording software on it is not even connected to the internet.Guess I'm just trying to keep the two systems apart from each other so I can keep both running smoothly.Hope this explains what I'm trying to do.Thanks again,Cheers.
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#4
Macboatmaster

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I understand.
Indeed whilst I know nothing about actual home recording as such, it is always best to keep non-actual windows operations separate from the actual operating system.
Hence, one reason for the three partitions on my drive, not of course as effective as a totally separate drive, which I also have as a 320Gb external.
Would you actually need XP installing on that drive.
Windows will of course in Control Panel Administrative Disk Management format it with FAT, FAT32 or NTFS and partition it as you wish, and you can then surely use it for your recording systems.
If this has not helped then please wait for someone who is a specialist in what exactly you want with the mixing audio systems. I still do not think you need Windows on that drive.
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#5
G-bo

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Hi Macboatmaster,yeah I guess I see what you are saying,don't want to be difficult or anything but I was really hoping to keep everything isolated from each other,so guess what I'm asking is if it can be done and how I would do it.
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#6
Ferrari

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I think I know what's going on here. G-bo you say...

Everything that I had read about setting up a computer for home recording said that it was best to keep your recording setup separate from your regular system

I think you have misunderstood. It is a common practice to keep your data i.e. music, pictures, videos, documents, separate from your Operating System, not actually having to have 2 operating systems on separate partitions or on two separate drives.

If I have misunderstood you, can you please give me a couple links from where you have read this? I'd be more than happy to look at them and try and interpret what they are suggesting for you.

For example, I have one 640gb hard drive. I set it up like this.

C Drive = 100gb w/ Windows 7 Ultimate 64bit OS
D Drive - 100gb w/ Windows XP Pro 32bit OS
E Drive = The remaining gb for my data storage i.e. pictures, music.

This allows me to boot into either 7 or XP and have complete access to my data from either OS and also helps (but not completely contains) from those files being infected from a Virus on my OS partition and vice versa.

Is that what you want? Let us know.
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#7
G-bo

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Hi Ferrari,here is a link to the article I was reading http://homerecording.../bb/PC_Prep.htm perhaps I have misunderstood I'll let you check it out for yourself and I will see if I can find any more info on this,Thanks again,Cheers.
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#8
Ferrari

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Step One: Your Recording Hard Drives
One of the first things you should consider getting for your recording computer is your hard drives. If you've got the resources to do so, I highly recommend a second hard drive -- internal or external -- to use ONLY as a recording drive. This hard drive should do nothing more than store your recording files, which are worked on within the drive. The faster the better -- a 5400 RPM drive is highly recommended -- and Firewire or USB2 generally works best for external drives. External makes it easy to transport to other studios when doing work elsewhere. Look for at least 150 GB storage capacity -- more if you can find.

Yes, this is stating exactly what I was pointing out. This recommendation is to just keep the recordings on a second hard drive, but you can actually keep it on the same hard drive, just a separate partition which will act like a second hard drive under "My Computer"... you will have a C and D drives. So C would be your Operating system, and installed programs. D would be all of your recordings. To access your recordings, you would go to "My Computer" and double click on Drive D. In there would be "Recordings 1", "Recordings 2", and for example "Family pictures", and "Music Library". You can create new folders or libraries for anything you wanted.

How big is your current hard drive?

P.S. If this will be recording some sort of live feed like T.V. or a security camera, then a second drive would probably be a good idea so it can work all by itself without the Operating Systems services and processes affecting it.

Edited by Ferrari, 24 March 2010 - 07:12 PM.

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#9
G-bo

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Hi Ferrari,yes I just read on another site exactly what you are saying,sorry ,guess I misunderstood.I have a 160 gig hard drive that I am using now and I also have a 500 gig that is not hooked up that I could use for storage.So I guess I have to create another partition on my 160 gig drive,then I install xp and my recording software in this partition.Any advice on how to proceed with that?Cheers.
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#10
Ferrari

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So I guess I have to create another partition on my 160 gig drive,then I install xp and my recording software in this partition.Any advice on how to proceed with that?Cheers.

No, you don't have to install another copy of XP period. You already have XP installed. So just hook up your 500gig hard drive, format it through disk management... and now you have a (probably named D) drive with 500gb of room for storage.

Do you see what I'm saying? You don't need an operating system on your storage drive. It will just be storage sitting there waiting for you to send files to it, or take files from it. It will be just like a very large "My Documents Folder".

Edited by Ferrari, 24 March 2010 - 08:29 PM.

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#11
G-bo

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Hi Ferrari,Ok I understand.That's kool and a lot simpler too.Getting a little late here so I will do that first thing tomorrow.I should be good to go now so thanks for the help,appreciate it,take care,Cheers.
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#12
Ferrari

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You are very welcome. Just post back if you need any help on installing the drive or formatting it. Good luck :)
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