Help with Dual Boot

T6V3R1C · March 30, 2018

I currently have Windows 10 installed on my 128GB SSD (C:) and install my software and downloads are located on my 1TB HDD (D:)

I would like to purchase another drive (E:) and install Windows 10 on it as well. Can I used my same license since it's the same PC and be able to switch between each OS at will?

Also if possible I would like each OS to not recognize the other drive that has an OS installed. So (C:) can only see (D:) and (E:) can only see (D:)

Cindex · March 30, 2018

Pretty sure it'll let you use the same key for the same PC. They're generally tied to the motherboard. Whether or not Microsoft technically says you can I'm not sure but I doubt it matters.

You can remove the drive letter assignments in disk management once in the OS, but without unplugging the drives it's going to see what's on there. Unless maybe you encrypted it, but I don't personally like doing that as corruption can be the death of all your data.

G27Racer_188 · March 30, 2018

I'm not sure about the windows licence, so I won't comment on that, but you can have two "disconnected" installations.

I have same setup, but with win 8.1 (ssd) and 7 (hdd).

They will see the other drives in file explorer, but nothing special, just another drive with some data.

Thing to consider is how are you going to switch between the OSs. Mine are completely unaware of each other, so to change I go to the boot select menu of my motherboard and do a manual override to boot to win7. I if don't do anything, it boots straight to the win 8.1.

Another option is do use a third party tool to edit the boot manager of your main install, and add to it the second install. Than, each time when you boot your computer, it will ask you to select which OS do you want to boot.

BloodKnight7 · March 31, 2018

Why dont you download Virtualbox and create a windows VM on that new hard drive you are installing? That way you will not be limited by having to reboot your computer when using it... unless the main use of that new windows install is for gaming...

T6V3R1C · April 1, 2018

Thanks for everything guys. I was originally going to go the VM route but I will be doing some task on both OS's where performance is desired. So i decided to go this route. I probably will go the same route as Racer_188 and use the boot select menu. I'm thinking there is a key to press during boot that will bring the selection menu up. I will have to look into that more. But thanks I'm pleased that I should be able to do what I intended