If you dual-boot Windows, can you access files on one os drive from another one?

[Lumberjack625]

Are they completely separate?  I am planning to dual-boot a second copy of Windows 10 on another hardrive.

[The Flying Sloth]

Yes, you can access the files

[meenmeen1103]

Yep. User files will require a permission though, so no instant access like normal folders

[Lumberjack625]

Can I run games and such programs off the separate os drive?

[Lumberjack625]

And to clarify, any programs that have built up over time on os drive one won't run and affect performance on os drive 2. Right?

[meenmeen1103]

Depending on the program, some rely on some files that are installed in the C:~appdata user directory, which if the second OS is labeled C: and is missing those files, will cause that program to fail. I've not tried getting programs previously installed in one OS to work properly in another OS in the same system, but would imagine some directory tweaking to get it to work if at all. 

[Lumberjack625]

So if I partition my drive with a new windows it will be completely clean, right?

 

[meenmeen1103]

7 minutes ago, Lumberjack625 said:

So if I partition my drive with a new windows it will be completely clean, right?

 

If you shrink the current primary OS partition first, then create a new partition with the newly unallocated space, you have a clean place to install a second OS (provided the shrinking allowed enough unallocated space to create a new partition big enough for the OS) and also the older OS partition will remain as is. Installing two OS's on the same drive just wouldn't give you the benefit of having one OS on a separate drive ready to go in case of a drive failure in the other.

[Lumberjack625]

I just want a "new" computer using the same hardware without having to get rid of my old os. (it has random background programs that will affect performance)

[Captain_WD]

4 hours ago, Lumberjack625 said:

~snip~

Hi there

 

My two cents on this: As long as the two HDDs use the same file system you should be access all data from both drives regardless of which one you are booting from. If you have a collision of signatures you may need to assign a letter to the partition that isn't recognized.

Most applications create an entry in the system registry of the OS which is unique for each OS so you are not likely to run games or applications installed on one OS from the other OS. you should be able, however, to open all other data from the other drive. 

 

You could try disabling some applications that are running in the background, try optimizing your system a bit and cleaning the unnecessary data from it and you may notice some performance increase. 

 

Let me know if you need any help! 

 

Captain_WD.

[Lumberjack625]

From what I understand, if I dual-boot Windows, I can have a fresh, untouched experience without having to "unplug" my other os drive. Just choose which "computer" I want in the boot manager.

[Captain_WD]

On 28.10.2016 г. at 10:15 PM, Lumberjack625 said:

~snip~

The system would still have to manage all the data on the drive/s that you have and it won't be able to run most of the programs and games that were installed on the other OS so it won't be running as a brand new computer, but yes, you should be able to do that.

 

Captain_WD.