I've been running Win-XP Home for several years now and the time has come
for a fresh install on a new hard drive. (Hard drive issues).

I bought a new Drive, 160GB as well as WinXP-Pro retail upgrade.

I'd like to setup a multi-boot configuration and would like someone to
look-over my shoulder and give a little advise.

This is what I think I want to do...

Remove all hardware, PCI and external devices (except video card).

a) Partition the new "Basic" drive as follows via XP-Pro CD...
Partition #1 = Drive "C" = 25GB and set as "Active" , Label as
"WinXP-Pro1".
Install WinXP-Pro (to partition #1).
Boot-up and cancel all "Found New Hardware" messages.
Confirm that the page file is sized the way I want.
Install Chipset Drivers.
Install Application Accelerator.
Reboot to let "Found New Hardware" install system (onboard)
drivers.
or....
Open Device Manager and "Scan for hardware changes".
Install Video Driver (nVidia reference driver).
Cancel all Windows Activation messages. (till the job is
successfully complete).

b) Via Windows drive Mgr, create a new Partition.
Partition #2 = Drive "D" = 25GB and set as "Active" , Label as
"WinXP-Pro2".
With WinXP-Pro running, reinsert the XP CD and choose to do a
"Custom" install.
Direct the 2nd install towards the 2nd partition.
This should create a multi-boot configuration.
Follow the steps as above (a) to bring both installs to the
same state.

Go To... Start>Settings>Control Panel>System>Advanced>Startup And
Recovery>Settings>System Startup and select the "edit" button to edit the
boot.ini file and give each install a unique name to list on the boot menu.

Open Disk Mgr. and create a new extended (dos) partition to use the
remaining 110GB +/-.
Via Disk Mgr. Create a "Logical" drive "E" = 30GB and label as "Programs".

- Install network card, log-on to each install, install network
drivers/setup ISP.
- Install Sound Card, log-on to each install, install drivers and target
audio software towards the "E" "Programs" logical drive.
- One-at-a-time, install remaining PCI devices and a printer in each of the
installs.
(target all software to install onto the "E" "Programs" logical drive.)
(each OS install will share the same program files).
- Log-on to each install and run MS Windows update.

Via Disk Mgr., format the remaining 80GB +/- in the extended partition as a
new logical drive labeled "Documents".

The idea is that I will have two (2) installs of XP-Pro, one as a "safe
haven" and the other where I can play "hard-ball", or test new software and
hardware. In other words, just have fun and not worry about messing things
up.

I'm certainly open to suggestions, I've never heard of anyone doing this
but, according to the Microsoft Windows XP Inside Out eBook, it can be done.

But doing this leads me to my next set of questions...

1) Can WinXP be "activated" more than once on the same PC?
If so, is there a limit to the number of installs?

2) Can Norton Internet Security 2006 ( product registration and 1
anti-virus subscription) be installed in both OS Installs?
I assume I'll need to run "Norton Live Update" from both installs.

Any help and ideas anyone has to offer would be appreciated!

Best regards and Happy Holidays,

Richard in Va.
++++++++++++++++++++++++++