Pros & Cons Of Dual Boot or Partition

This is just a simple thread that i created to get some info on the PROS & CONS on DUALBOOTING & PARTITIONS. Please Post Away

Cons: Having many partitions can hinder hard drive lifespan, (im not sure if thats true, can someone confirm?).

Pros: Having multiple os'es can make troubleshooting easier, and trying something that doesnt work with on OS you can try it on the other.

Con: Your bootmanager can get screwed up if u multiboot wrong.

Con: General multiboot sequence is as follows: older OSes first then later os'es, and linux you install last, this can lead to some trouble as people with vista, trying to dual boot with windows xp, can lead to some problems, but not all the time, you get less errors if u follow the sequence given.

Pros: Fun to learn

Con: Things can go wrong

Con: you have to defragment ur hdd before partitioning, to prevent data loss

Much of what you learn about how computers function involves the boot sequence. You should learn quite a bit. The thing that saved me more often than not is having access to the net to find the fix. If the only net access you have is the machine you just hosed, it's tougher to bail yourself out.

I've played around with multiboot a few times over the years, but the real insane experts hang over at BootLand

Just about anything you could possibly want to know about a computer and booting, you can find at least the starting point on that site.

thanks guys.
That bootland site is amazing they really know what their talking about!

Cons: Having many partitions can hinder hard drive lifespan, (im not sure if thats true, can someone confirm?).

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False.

I like having a second OS installed so if the first one tanks or if I need to backup AppData or other files normally in use, for a reinstall, I can do it unhampered from the second OS. When we finally get some Win 8 bits to play with, it will go in that space. I generally try new software in a Virtual Machine.

MilesAhead said:

Much of what you learn about how computers function involves the boot sequence. You should learn quite a bit. The thing that saved me more often than not is having access to the net to find the fix. If the only net access you have is the machine you just hosed, it's tougher to bail yourself out.

I've played around with multiboot a few times over the years, but the real insane experts hang over at BootLand

Just about anything you could possibly want to know about a computer and booting, you can find at least the starting point on that site.

Click to expand...

Thanks MA, I may have a look at that site.

You're welcome. My favorite thing I found there so far.. using a USB key just like a Linux boot diskette, only you get the Windows boot manager(like if your MBR got hosed the USB key would load the Windows OS off your HD like Linux.) If you are multi-booting say W7 and XP or whatever, when you boot from the USB key you get the same boot menu. A pretty cute USB trick.

Just like the Linux boot diskette, it's tied to the particular machine and HD you made it from. Still, might be good thing to stick on a $5 bought on sale USB key just for the hell of it.

(btw thanks for the rep)

MilesAhead said:

You're welcome. My favorite thing I found there so far.. using a USB key just like a Linux boot diskette, only you get the Windows boot manager(like if your MBR got hosed the USB key would load the Windows OS off your HD like Linux.) If you are multi-booting say W7 and XP or whatever, when you boot from the USB key you get the same boot menu. A pretty cute USB trick.

Just like the Linux boot diskette, it's tied to the particular machine and HD you made it from. Still, might be good thing to stick on a $5 bought on sale USB key just for the hell of it.

(btw thanks for the rep)


View attachment 18847

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Thanks for the info!

patio said:

Cons: Having many partitions can hinder hard drive lifespan, (im not sure if thats true, can someone confirm?).

Click to expand...

False.

Click to expand...

Thanks, I wont say that again lol.

:D
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