Sharing applications on a multi-boot PC

makku · 30 Jan 2010 at 23:23

I installed 2 operating systems on 1 PC, Win XP and Win 7.

All my software is installed on the Win XP partition.

Do I have to install all the sortware on the Win 7 partition too? Is there a way that I can run the programs installed on the Win XP partition from the Win 7 partition?

regards,

me227 · 30 Jan 2010 at 23:29

Some programs will just work if you try to access them from the other OS but I've found it to be quite random what ones do and don't.

Makhaira · 30 Jan 2010 at 23:39

Whilst most programs will be able to execute quite happily, it's generally not recommended since you're going to end up potentially modifying install directories from one OS, which may in turn cause problems when running the program from the other OS.

If you pick and choose, then you should be ok. Have you got specific examples? I'm guessing you have some piece of legacy software or hardware that you have to keep XP for?

derkaderka · 31 Jan 2010 at 09:44

I do this a lot , I have 3 OS and dont want to install something 3 times
I would guess at 60% or more will work fine
IF they dont then reg keys are usually to blame , what I do is one which
ever build I install the app on originally I will extract out its reg keys
then copy the app dir to the new install and reg merge.

Some will just work if you copy them eg winrar