Are shared game installs possible on Dual Boot system?

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jlmacd

Honorable
Jun 12, 2013
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10,510
Hi. I have just built a dual boot system with Windows 7 Pro and XP Pro SP3 on separate drives (ie not separate partitions on same drive). Drives are partitioned as follows:
HDD1 : Partition 1 - 80Gb (7 Pro OS + some programs)
Partitiion 2 - 100Gb (Documents/data)
Partition 3 - 300Gb (Media Store - Movies, Music etc)

HDD2 : Partition 1 - 100Gb (XP Pro SP3 + some programs)
Partition 2 - 150Gb (Documents/Data)

My question - and am hoping it isn't a stupid one! - is this. Is it possible to install all games to a folder in the 'Media Store' partition and have shared access to these from both OS? The thinking behind this is only to a) install the games just the once and b) keep the OS partition on both drives as uncluttered as possible for when the ubiquitous reinstall of Windows comes around...

Any feedback on this would be muchly appreciated. Many thanks in advance.
 
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das_stig

das_stig

Glorious
Jul 24, 2009
8,283
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46,040
In theory yes, you would install it once in each O/S, you would also need to do updates. The only issue I can see is if it uses My Documents to save games and info, which would not be consistant between O/S unless you sync both folders.

Generally not recommended.
 
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Hawkeye22

Hawkeye22

Glorious
Feb 10, 2006
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49,065
I don't think it will work because if you only install once, any necessary registry settings will onl ybe in the OS you installed with. The other OS will lack the registry settings. For older games that just install & run from a single directory, then this might work.
 
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J

jlmacd

Honorable
Jun 12, 2013
2
0
10,510
Thank you to one and all for your speedy advice. The concensus seems to be 'don't do it!' and I respect that so will heed your words.

My intention was only really to try save time if a reinstall of the OS partition became necessary.
I had an idea that may suffice though and would, again, appreciate others thoughts.
If I were to install all games and programs alongside the OS on each HHD OS partition then, when completed, make an image for both to restore from, would this be a solution?
 
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