IT Employment

Ask something
Discussion Locked

How to share programs between 2 OS?s?

0 helpful
3 replies

by tomnhanni

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.

Would anyone know to have a dual-boot-system share programs from the same disk area. What I mean is: instead of installing a program twice, in each OS, I install the program once in one OS. Then just somehow import the settings so I can use the sameprogram when I boot the other OS. This would save me disk space as I won't have to install the program twice.
I'm dual-booting Windows ME and Windows XP pro.

3 replies

by lordinfidel

Choose an OS to work in.

And no, you can;t install a program once and have it work in both systems (at least most programs, those that require the registry)

But like I said, choose a OS to use. Unless there is some real valid reason why you need to dual boot between ME and XP (2 os's I hate anyways), You just need to bite the bullet and work in one OS.

If you are going to dual boot (which I'm not a big fan of to begin with) at least pick a cool OS like Linux to dual boot with.

by thechas

Even if you try to use the same folder for the program files. (Which I do not recommend.) You will need to install all application programs seperately for each OS.

Why?

Nearly ALL programs add files to the Widows folder and sub-folders.

Then, there is the 'Registry'!!!
All programs make at least 1 registry entry.
Some programs make 100's.

I have seen programs that install different files in the program folder for different versions of Windows.

The only thing you can safely share are the data files themselves.

Chas

by tomnhanni

Yes that's what I thought, too. I just thought maybe some of you specialists might have a trick. Anyhow thanks for taking the time to answer.

This discussion is closed to new replies.