New Builds: Duel Boot, ? Secure Boot

Andrew124C41

New Member
Messages
12
Location
DC area, MD
I have two Asus M5A97 R 2.0 LE and one Asus M5A97 R 2.0 MBs. I want to do the following:

Duel booth them in the following manner. The main OS will be on an SSD. The trial (Win 10) will be on a second HD (not SSD.)

In addition, I want to use a third HD for data and do this on a clean install.

I know how to move the user folder by doing a single clean install but I am not sure I can have two Win OSs on two different drives using the same third HD to place the user folder.

My plan is to keep the OSs totally separate and using the bios to select the drives.

1) Can this be done?
2) Is it best for me to DISABLE SECURE BOOT IF I DO THIS?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Secure boot is a pain. might as well disable it.

  1. With all HD's disconnected except the SSD. Install the main OS
  2. Disconnect the SSD and connect the second HD. Install Win 10
  3. Connect everything back: SSD, HD1,HD2
  4. Boot up using the boot menu if available so you don't have to reconfigure the BIOS.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
Thanks. Makes sense. Will do.
You know, I have tried to read as much as possible about secure boot because I thought the extra security might be worth it. However, how many people do you know have gotten infected by a root it...none for me.
So, you are probably right. Secure boot just makes life more difficult for those who want to use/try different OS on the same machine.
I hope the day does not come when a person will have no choice but to use it.
When I am done with these builds I need to make an audio-visual PC and plan to use a DDR4 MB and possibly a Xenon. Figure, do it now before secure boot become the only path!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
There is one thing I forgot to ask. During the initial instillation of 7 or 8.1, I will be using audit mode to move the user folder to the HD.
So, I have an SSD, my primary drive that will contain my main OS. I assume this will be C:
There is the second drive containing the secondary OS...will this be D: ??
Then there is the data drive, which I assume will be E:
Finally, I have my DVD RW which will be F.

Can both OSs write to the D drive. How to set up using Audit mode the second time around with Win 10.

I assume it would be too complicated to partition the 128 g SSD for both OSs.

Do I need a forth drive to write the data from the second OS? Or, do I partition the data drive so data from each OS is separated.

Not really certain how to do this.

Thank you!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
you can install windows 8.1 on your SSD - shrink the C partition by 50-60GB and then install windows 10 to the SSD

from that point on everything is just a drive letter assignment

I have Vista, windows 7, windows 8.1 and windows 10 all on the same HDD and I have a second Data disk as well

the drive letter only matters to the OS that is booted.. or you can assign the data disk the same drive letter from within each OS
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
However, I want to move the user folder to the data drive. That is done as I understand using the Audit Mode during instillation. I would think the data drive would need two partitions...that is can two OSs share the same user folder?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
you can relocate your user folders (Music, Video, Docs, Pics, etc) to the data drive by choosing customize and changing the folder location..

do this in both OS's and point each to the same folder location

All your USER settings will remain in the appdata folder within each OS - only the USER storage folders will be re-located
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
yes, I understand the use of the location function. However, what I wanted to do is use the audit function at os instilation to move the entire folder this way...but how to do with two OSs?
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/4275-user-profiles-relocate-another-partition-disk.html?filter[1]=User%20Accounts
Sorry to be late getting back to you. I had guests in my house so did not have a chance to log into the forum.
Since you PM and asked me to take a look at what you are trying to do. I'll answer you here.
May I ask what is the purpose that you want to use the audit mode to relocate the user profile ? Saving space ?
Trying to relocate a use profile for one OS is bad enought and trying to use the same user profile for multiple OS's is asking for more trouble.

You can save space by:
  1. Doing as suggested by KYHI above to to redirect saved data to another drive.
  2. Making a habit of saving your personal data to another drive.

I always believe doing thing according to the standard and keeping it simple.

FYI, I have tons of applications installed and my user profile is only taking up 3GB of space, not big enough for me to be concerned.
Having relocated user profile will in some case causes Windows Update to fail and specially when you are trying to update to the coming Windows 10.

So I suggest to keep everything simple. Relocate all documents, pictures, music etc... to anothe internal drive for each OS you install then you can access them no matter what OS you are booting up with.

Hope this help !!!
 
Last edited:

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    8.1x64PWMC Ubuntu14.04x64 MintMate17x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Brewed
    CPU
    I7 4970K OC'ed @4.7 GHz
    Motherboard
    MSI-Z97
    Memory
    16 GB G-Skill Trident X @2400MHZ
    Graphics Card(s)
    NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450
    Sound Card
    X-Fi Titanium Fatal1ty Professional Series
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dual HP-W2408
    Screen Resolution
    1920X1200
    Hard Drives
    256 GB M2 sm951, (2) 500GB 850EVO, 5TB, 2 TB Seagate
    PSU
    Antec 850W
    Case
    Antec 1200
    Cooling
    Danger Den H20
    Keyboard
    Logitech
    Mouse
    Logitech Performance Mouse MX
    Internet Speed
    35/12mbps
    Browser
    Firefox
Moving User Folder With App Data

In my present windows 7 computers, I used a small program to change environmental variables (I think) by making changes to the registry. This moved the Users folder along with App Data to either a second partition or drive.

The purpose was not for saving space but rather for isolation or the OS and All DATA (or as much of it as possible) on a separate drive or partition. (Kid does not have separate drive, just partition.)

Windows 7 of course is not using GPT and does not have the OS restoration function that Windows 8.1 has. (BTW, I still use Windoes 7 as does the rest of my family. I am only familiar with Windows 8.1 because as a sort of hobby, I help people with their computers. I had to restore my pastor's mother's laptop to factory settings and put the shell on it to make it look like 7.)

So, I have been using Acronis 2014 strictly to backup my OS. I do in the following manner. First I do a full backup right after instillation first the C: drive and then the D: drive with no data but the user and app data there. Then I install all the progranms that I normalll use and I do a second full backup of both C: and D: I will then do differentials only of C: at various times over about a year. After that, I think you are including all sorts of junk so if there was a total system crash, I would go back to an earlier backup and would of course have to do system and program updates...no totally foolproof way, I suppose.

As for my data, since I do not have a lot of it, I do not want to use a proprietory system like Acronis for that, but rather I simply do bit for bit syncs with my backup external drive and cloud.

I am going to start doing photos and video so I think I am probably going to have to use something like Acronis for the data.

Finally, I have a couple of old machines which I am going to turn into baby NASs using Amahi Turn an Old PC Into a NAS, VPN, Media Streamer, and More with Amahi Additionally, I am going to be creating a number of websites which will give me a server which I can use for my own personal cloud using Own Cloud https://owncloud.org/
So, in summary, I have thought that moving users and app data to a sepearate physical drive would simply things for me. Yes, I have read that Microsoft does not recommend doing this because of problems with updating. However, I have always done clean installs. The thing is, it is my understanding that you will not be able to keep your technical preview of 10 but have to update...no possibility of doing a clean install of 10 unless you buy it...though I am not certain of this. Parenthetically, I just got that email that the preview of the latest Office is available.

Speaking of Office, you might get a laugh out of this. Sometimes new is not better. Personally, I like the organization of the 2003! Outlook with its Master Catagory List. Being a stuborn fellow, I still use a flip phone and a Palm Pilot which does not play nice with 64 bit. So...I run an old XP just when I have to backup my Outlook! Addtionally, I am still using Office 2007...no reason to update. If its not broke, don't fix. it.

1991 I puchased my first PC Clone, put a $700 modem/fax board on it, running DOS. Had I known what I know now, would I have purchased a MAC like my brother? As a physician, I thought computers were to serve us. I never knew that I would have to become an IT expert simply to own a PC. One time I was running DOS, Windows 3.0, and Xenix to manage my practice! "So it goes..." :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
older OS's did not require subscription based apps - you purchased the app and ran it for ever..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
App?

Everyone may laugh...I have not run a "modern app." I have programs. I remember when an old girlfriend back in the 90s first mentioned "cloud," and that one day software would be cloud based. Well here we are, Office 360 and Adobe...finally figure out a subsription was a way to beat the torrents!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
I just found this (should I post elsewhere? :

How to add custom folders in This PC in Windows 8.1 or remove the defaults

With Windows 8.1, Microsoft has introduced a set of folders inside the This PC folder (Windows 8 had the Folders category hidden).
These folders are:

  • Desktop
  • Documents
  • Downloads
  • Music
  • Pictures
  • Videos
In other words, Microsoft just provided quick access to the main folders inside user profile. This is very convenient, because you have 1-click access to these folders when you open File Explorer using Win+E hotkey.
Besides, not every modern desktop app uses the newer Open File dialog with the navigation pane and Favorites. Many desktop apps still use the older Open dialog, which has Recent places and opens in the Computer/This PC location by default. Folders inside This PC are especially useful for that older dialog.
You may want to customize the folders shown in This PC, e.g. remove some built-in folders and add one or more custom folders. I would like to share an exclusive tutorial which will show how to add custom folders to This PC in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8, or remove any any of those folders.
One of my friends, Gaurav, discovered a hidden secret trick which allows you to add any folder into This PC. While we were happy when we discovered this trick, the method to add folders is not easy for the average user. It requires ActiveX manipulation and some other non-trivial tricks. So, we decided to make it simple and useful for everyone. I made a new version of my freeware, This PC Tweaker, which allows you now:

  • to add any folder to the This PC Folder in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8
  • to remove any folder from This PC
  • to change the icon for any folder in This PC
  • to add some shell location like God Mode or Recycle Bin inside the This PC Folder.
Note, you cannot change the icon of special shell locations added to This PC, you can only change the icons of custom folders you add yourselves. I designed this intentionally to prevent you from breaking Control Panel. Believe me, this is required.
Follow these simple instructions below to customize your This PC folder.
How to add a custom folder into This PC in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8


  1. Download This PC Tweaker. It is a free portable app and does not require to be installed.
  2. Extract the contents of the zip file you have downloaded and choose the appropriate version for your PC. This PC Tweaker works with Windows 7, Windows 8 and Windows 8.1. Also, there are different versions for 32-bit and 64-bit Windows (see how to determine which version of Windows you are running).
  3. Run the ThisPCTweaker.exe file. The application's main window will appear on the screen:
  4. Click the "Add Custom Folder" button. The Select Folder dialog will appear. Click on the folder that you would like to see in This PC. For example, let's add my portable apps collection in there:
  5. Click the Select Folder button, and the folder you selected will be added to This PC.
  6. Let's set some fancy icon for the folder we just added. Select it in the list and click the "Change Icon" button.

    Choose some nice icon.
  7. That's it. Close the This PC folder and open it again to see the changes:
  8. You also can make the folder you added visible in the navigation pane. Select it in This PC Tweaker and tick the "Show in the navigation pane" check box.
    The folder will appear in the navigation pane:
  9. Also, you can add some shell locations to This PC (see the most comprehensive list of shell locations in Windows 8 if you are not familiar with them). There is a special button called "Add Shell Location". Click on it and pick some useful shell location to be added in This PC:
    It will be visible in This PC:

    As I mentioned above, one limitation is that you cannot change the icon of the shell location. Not a big deal, right?
How to remove folders from This PC in Windows 8.1 and Windows 8


  1. In This PC Tweaker, select one folder. Hold the CTRL key on the keyboard to select multiple folders.
  2. Click the Remove Selected button. The selected folders will be removed from This PC:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
Everyone may laugh...I have not run a "modern app." I have programs.

Same here..
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 3.1 > Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Dell XPS 8700
    CPU
    I7
    Memory
    24 GB
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