Sign in with
Sign up | Sign in
Your question
Solved

Sharing Data Across Operating Systems

Tags:
  • Storage
Last response: in Storage
Share
October 11, 2014 6:05:28 AM

Hello.

I currently have a PC which contains a 120GB SSD and a 1TB HDD. The SSD contains Windows 7 as well as most of my programs and some documents. The HDD is used to store pictures, videos and games.

I would like to install the Windows 10 preview on a separate partition of the SSD so that I can dual boot it with Windows 7. However, I would like, if possible, to able to access some of my data (such as pictures and game saves) on both operating systems.

To what extent, and how, can I share data across the OSes?

Thank you!

More about : sharing data operating systems

a b G Storage
October 11, 2014 6:18:54 AM

Unless the drive is encrypted within 7, any other Windows will read it. I've dual booted different Windows, and my data drive was always visible.
m
0
l

Best solution

a c 911 G Storage
October 11, 2014 6:48:49 AM

I have Win 7 and Win 10 on different partitions on a single drive laptop.
Each OS can see the other no problem. If there were a 3rd partition (data, maybe) each could see that as well.

Each OS sees itself as the "C" drive, and the other partition as the "D" drive.

One issue you would run into is exactly where those pictures are located. If it is in the Documents libraries, those are specific to each user. NTFS permissions. The win 7 user is different than the Win 10 user, and can't access those.
So anything you want accessible by either...save in a folder structure outside those folders.
Share
Related resources
a b G Storage
October 11, 2014 7:01:34 AM

Have you thought about running the preview in a VM? I don't like the dual boot messing with my boot info. I do dual boot but on separate drives using the BIOS to select the OS.
m
0
l
a c 911 G Storage
October 11, 2014 7:04:18 AM

anonymous1 said:
Have you thought about running the preview in a VM? I don't like the dual boot messing with my boot info. I do dual boot but on separate drives using the BIOS to select the OS.


Agreed. If this is your primary machine, a VM might be the better solution.
In my case, that laptop is purely a secondary device than can and will be wiped at any time.
m
0
l
October 11, 2014 7:11:51 AM

USAFRet said:
I have Win 7 and Win 10 on different partitions on a single drive laptop.
Each OS can see the other no problem. If there were a 3rd partition (data, maybe) each could see that as well.

Each OS sees itself as the "C" drive, and the other partition as the "D" drive.

One issue you would run into is exactly where those pictures are located. If it is in the Documents libraries, those are specific to each user. NTFS permissions. The win 7 user is different than the Win 10 user, and can't access those.
So anything you want accessible by either...save in a folder structure outside those folders.


Thank you. Would I be able to share program files this way?

anonymous1 said:
Have you thought about running the preview in a VM? I don't like the dual boot messing with my boot info. I do dual boot but on separate drives using the BIOS to select the OS.


Thanks for the help. I think I would just like the convenience of being able to easily boot into it. Also, when Windows 10 comes out properly I will most likely dual boot it with Windows 7.
m
0
l
a c 911 G Storage
October 11, 2014 7:14:43 AM

jonathan_b said:
USAFRet said:
I have Win 7 and Win 10 on different partitions on a single drive laptop.
Each OS can see the other no problem. If there were a 3rd partition (data, maybe) each could see that as well.

Each OS sees itself as the "C" drive, and the other partition as the "D" drive.

One issue you would run into is exactly where those pictures are located. If it is in the Documents libraries, those are specific to each user. NTFS permissions. The win 7 user is different than the Win 10 user, and can't access those.
So anything you want accessible by either...save in a folder structure outside those folders.


anonymous1 said:
Have you thought about running the preview in a VM? I don't like the dual boot messing with my boot info. I do dual boot but on separate drives using the BIOS to select the OS.


Thanks for the help. I think I would just like the convenience of being able to easily boot into it. Also, when Windows 10 comes out properly I will most likely dual boot it with Windows 7.


The suggestion for Win10 in a VM is because this is early beta. Things can and will change, it might crash (and crash hard).
So far, it's been pretty stable for me. But I wouldn't dual boot it on my main PC's main drive.
m
0
l
a c 911 G Storage
October 11, 2014 7:15:42 AM

Sharing program files? No. They would need to be reinstalled for each OS.
Data, yes. Programs, no.
m
0
l
October 11, 2014 7:19:48 AM

USAFRet said:
Sharing program files? No. They would need to be reinstalled for each OS.
Data, yes. Programs, no.


Sorry, my fault. This is what I meant. How would I go about doing this?
m
0
l
a c 911 G Storage
16 minutes ago

jonathan_b said:
USAFRet said:
Sharing program files? No. They would need to be reinstalled for each OS.
Data, yes. Programs, no.


Sorry, my fault. This is what I meant. How would I go about doing this?


'go about....'?
Sharing the data? Given that the HDD already contains pics etc, you need do nothing extra.

Booting into Win 7:
Win7 partition will be the C, Win10 will be the D partition, the HDD will be something else.

Booting into Win 10:
Win10 partition will be the C, Win7 will be the D partition, the HDD will be something else.
m
0
l
5 minutes ago

USAFRet said:
jonathan_b said:
USAFRet said:
Sharing program files? No. They would need to be reinstalled for each OS.
Data, yes. Programs, no.


Sorry, my fault. This is what I meant. How would I go about doing this?


'go about....'?
Sharing the data? Given that the HDD already contains pics etc, you need do nothing extra.

Booting into Win 7:
Win7 partition will be the C, Win10 will be the D partition, the HDD will be something else.

Booting into Win 10:
Win10 partition will be the C, Win7 will be the D partition, the HDD will be something else.


Thanks for all the help!
m
0
l
!