Sharing Data Across Operating Systems

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jonathan_b

jonathan_b

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Dec 27, 2013
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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!
 
Solution
USAFRet
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.
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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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.
 
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Solution
USAFRet

USAFRet

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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.
 
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jonathan_b

jonathan_b

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



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.
 
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USAFRet

USAFRet

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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.
 
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jonathan_b

jonathan_b

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

USAFRet

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'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.
 
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jonathan_b

jonathan_b

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Thanks for all the help!
 
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