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Installing Windows multiple times on different disks (UEFI)

To install Windows 10/11 multiple times on different disks the following procedure should be employed:

  • Windows is installed on the first disk.
  • This disk is temporarily deactivated, for example by detaching the data cables. A second disk now appears as the first disk.
  • On this physical second disk (now appearing as first disk) Windows can be installed without problems.
  • The physical first disk is re-activated. Both disks are now available as before.
  • Windows on the first disk is booted (without support of Boot-US).
  • An empty ESP partition is created, see Installing boot manager Boot-US on separate ESP partition (UEFI).
  • The configuration program Boot-US is started and the desired partitions on the first and second disk are included in the boot manager. Here the "individual true hiding of partitions" can be activated. The empty ESP partition is selected as installation target for the boot manager Boot-US.
  • Starting with Boot-US 4.2.0 the ESP partition and the associated Windows partition can both be true hid.
  • On the next start the boot manager Boot-US appears and offers both Windows systems.
  • By the boot manager Boot-US Windows on the first and second disk can be booted. When the true hiding is used the corresponding Windows partition and the associated ESP partition will be made visible. The other Windows partition and ESP partition will be true hid. Only the ESP partitions containing the boot mananger Boot-US must always be visible.

Comment:
When installing Windows in UEFI mode a EFI System partition (ESP) is created containing the efi file \efi\microsoft\boot\bootmgfw.efi. The actual Windows files lie in a separate partition. Windows (on disk 1 or 2) is booted by starting the corresponding efi file (on disk 1 or 2).