Linked Desktops On Dual Boot

soundguy585 · Jun 7, 2013

I am new to Windows 7 and I have An interesting question. I personally use Xp on my systems and prefer it, but i build pc's for friends and family and they want Windows 7. I built a nice rig for my church and decided to use windows 7 due to the fact that most people I know have 7 on their pc's. I set up a dual boot system in which if there is a problem, we can boot from the alternate system. I have 2 hard drives and I cloned the 2nd disk off of the 1st. Now down to the nitty gritty.
Every time I change something on one desktop it also changes the other. I would like to have a different wallpaper and shortcuts on the desktops so I can tell them apart. Why do the separate desktops continue to clone the other. I hope I am clear enough. If anyone has any clues, could you please shre them? Thank You

photonboy · Jun 7, 2013

If I understand correctly, you have the SAME copy of Windows 7 on two different drives?

If you change something on the 1st copy it's impossible to affect the 2nd copy. You must be booting into the same copy of Windows 7. This is probably due to the fact you didn't install properly but rather just cloned the drive. You may have a boot window with two Windows 7 links but it appears the same drive is linked to both.

My advice is to get rid of the 2nd copy and use Acronis True Image 2013 ($50) to create an automated backup scenario of the Windows partition on Drive1 to Drive 2. I recommend a weekly scenario. Also create an Acronis RESTORE DVD so you can boot from it and restore the backup image from Drive2 to Drive1 if there's a problem.

It's pointless to have a second copy of Windows 7 anyway as absolutely everything on the first copy (e-mail etc) would be lost if the drive failed or a virus corrupted it severely. This is why you need an automated backup solution.

soundguy585 · Jun 8, 2013

Thank you photonboy for your quick response. You are correct, both systems are "almost" identical. There are some differences between them. The main system has a couple diagnostic programs on it that the second system does not, so I can tell the difference if I look in the program list. This pc will be used in a church and will be used for powerpoint, videos, announcements, etc and I will not be the only one using it. That is why I would like to be different looking on the desktop. I've have had problems in the past with the operating system becoming corrupt and having a cloned second drive was a God send.
I used Acrons T.I. Home 10 cd that I cloned the 2nd drive with. It seems like it's only the desktops that are "Linked". I made 2 text documents with different file names and content and placed them in the root directory and they were not copied to each other. I know it sounds really strange, but this is really happening and I know I am not re-booting to the same drive.. I do really appreciate your input. I tried to explain this as best as I can, but sometimes it's hard to put it in words.

photonboy · Jun 12, 2013

Regardless of how you are setup I can ONLY recommend a single installation on the main drive, and using Acronis TI to automatically create a backup image.

I don't see any advantages to a second OS, only problems. If you really are able to affect the 1st OS from the 2nd OS (which you shouldn't) this could easily become very problematic.

If you add the 2nd OS because you can't view the 1st OS then how do you even know the 1st OS has no issues? You can't. (If you CAN'T get access to the 1st OS you don't know if it has issues, but if you CAN get access to the 1st OS you don't even NEED the 2nd OS.)

*If you're absolutely dead set on a second OS, I'd recommend installing Ubuntu by using WUBI (from the Ubuntu site). It will download and install WUBI into a folder of a size you designate and add it to the boot menu. It an be removed via the normal add/remove in Windows.

Also set it up so Windows boots first (with perhaps a 5-second delay if you wish to choose Ubuntu instead).

By dual-booting with Ubuntu you don't have to worry about booting into the wrong version of Windows or similar issues. It does also aid in troubleshooting as well if your Windows partition fails to boot and it would be backed up with Acronis True Image. (It's 100% Ubuntu and is only connected via the Windows 7 Boot file, otherwise there's no connection.)

*If you go with WUBI, make sure that only one version of Windows exists first before installing.

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