Multiple OS ?

[John117]

Till Now i have used Multi OS like XP & 7 or XP 32 & XP 64
like this

Now i have a new build , so want to have multiple OS's in it
OS 'es i want to install:
XP (32 bit) - Just for Mental Peace (as it was my most used os until now)
XP (64 bit)
windows 7 ultimate (64 bit) - Should be my Primary OS from now on
windows 8 ultimate (64 bit)
Ubuntu - College work + Programming
Fedora - same
Backtrack -same
MacOSX - i have always wanted to use MacOSX (hackintosh)

SO please guide me on how to do it ............... like a tutorial or something

i am a semi noob in OS installations ................. i mean i have some knowledge but not an expert

If you need any information to answer.......... please do ask

 

[iroc409]

If you want that many operating systems on one computer (though I couldn't imagine doing that just for a desktop--yuck!), I would seriously consider looking into virtualization. You can just use something simple, like VMWare Workstation, and have all those systems installed on a separate hard drive/SSD.

I can't imagine you'd actually use that many at any significant length, so virtualization would make the most sense to me. If Windows 7 is your primary OS of choice, install that as the "base" system and install Workstation on top of it, and all your other OSes.

 

[maw]

If you're mostly just experimenting, then I would recommend using Virtual Machines, except for your primary OS, of course. Look into VirtualBox or VMWare ESXi.
Edit: hahaha, like iroc said just a few seconds before me

 

[iroc409]

If you're mostly just experimenting, then I would recommend using Virtual Machines, except for your primary OS, of course. Look into VirtualBox or VMWare ESXi.
Edit: hahaha, like iroc said just a few seconds before me

I don't know that I'd go down the ESXi rabbit hole. Workstation has done well by me when I want to mess around with another OS, or do some work in another OS. I personally see ESXi for more of a server application, with several constant-use operating systems. Most of the time I'm going to be working in one OS, with occasional need for another.

Doesn't ESXi have a lot of hardware requirements that can catch you up? I actually haven't used it, but used a lot of VMWare and Hyper-V.

 

[dbwillis]

Workstation and Player by VMware work great for VM's, I wouldn't do ESXi

(side note, I use a Win7 VM as my primary OS with all my tools and apps installed, just copy it from machine to machine when I upgrade hardware...less configuration needed and/or registering/activating apps)

 

[maw]

Agreed. ESXi would probably be overkill. I only mentioned it because it's what I've been using lately and got my terms mixed up. VMWare Workstation would be better for hosting OS's you will use only now and then.

 

[Mikeyyb]

I personally would recommend a type-2 hypervisor like VirtualBox. Workstation is more expensive and I don't think it provides much more.

 

[John117]

OK VM is good but i need Linux for work and Win7 for Other things including playing

SO thats Dual boot and all others in VM

Can i Install OSX in VM too ??

 

[iroc409]

Even if you need it for work, unless you have specific device access requirements (like unique hardware connected to your PC), you probably don't need to dual boot.

Not sure about OSX. I think you can, but it's against the TOS. So, that's up to you.

 

[maw]

Your main, everyday OS should be installed on your machine. The stuff you play/experiment with should be installed in VM's hosted on your main OS. The only exceptions I can think of for not using a VM is if you have specific hardware requirements for the other OS, such as high-res gaming, heavy video editing, sound mixing, etc. in which case dual-booting would be preferable.