Dual boot Windows 10 Pro and Windows 10 insider.

Can I dual boot my current Windows 10 Pro installation with an insider build? If so, how do I go about doing that? Do I just install another Windows 10 OS on the new partition or download an Insider ISO? What are the risks involved with it? The current installation is already activated. Will the insider build get activated. If not, how do I activate it? I upgraded to Windows 10 directly through the GWX app, after which I did a clean install where it got activated automatically.

There is a boot manager from a company called TERABYTE UNLIMITED that will multiboot
just about anything say for example DOS WIN LINUX. It is not limited to 4. I have 18 partitions
ready to go.

It is called Bootit Bear Metal and includes partition image backup software.

C1

I already have a tool for making partitions. I only want to know whether there will be side effects from dual booting the RTM build and the Insider build together? How can I activate the insider build? Will it cause problems with my current Windows installation which is licensed and activated?

blackbirdabhi said:

I already have a tool for making partitions. I only want to know whether there will be side effects from dual booting the RTM build and the Insider build together? How can I activate the insider build? Will it cause problems with my current Windows installation which is licensed and activated?

If you click 'Skip this step' when asked for a Product Key, you should be okay. It should activate automatically.
Just don't sign in/sync both with the same MS account or weird things will start happening.

Edwin said:

If you click 'Skip this step' when asked for a Product Key, you should be okay. It should activate automatically.
Just don't sign in/sync both with the same MS account or weird things will start happening.

Thanks! So basically I just install Windows 10 again on another partition using the official ISO and then sign up for insider builds after installing it? I guess the part about using different accounts makes sense as when you apply for insider builds you are gonna apply it through the account you have signed it, so if both OS'es are signed in with the same account, insider builds could start coming for both the OS'es.

blackbirdabhi said:

Thanks! So basically I just install Windows 10 again on another partition using the official ISO and then sign up for insider builds after installing it? I guess the part about using different accounts makes sense as when you apply for insider builds you are gonna apply it through the account you have signed it, so if both OS'es are signed in with the same account, insider builds could start coming for both the OS'es.

1. Yes, you just install Windows 10 again on an additional partition and sign up for insider builds.

2. There is no issue at all signing into both with the Microsoft Account. That's one of the reasons for having a Microsoft Account is to sync across multiple "devices". Only things like some settings and themes and such will sync across - your regular Windows 10 will not suddenly jump to insider build because your second "device" is on insider build. Microsoft considers a second partition to be a second device. Many of us here have RTM and Insider builds, including myself, logged into the same Microsoft account. This is what gets synced:



You can also turn syncing completely off if you want and still be signed in with the same Microsoft Account.

3. There is no need for a third party dual-booting program. Regular Windows boot manager handles it just fine.

NavyLCDR said:

1. Yes, you just install Windows 10 again on an additional partition and sign up for insider builds.

2. There is no issue at all signing into both with the Microsoft Account. That's one of the reasons for having a Microsoft Account is to sync across multiple "devices". Only things like some settings and themes and such will sync across - your regular Windows 10 will not suddenly jump to insider build because your second "device" is on insider build. Microsoft considers a second partition to be a second device. Many of us here have RTM and Insider builds, including myself, logged into the same Microsoft account. This is what gets synced:



You can also turn syncing completely off if you want and still be signed in with the same Microsoft Account.

3. There is no need for a third party dual-booting program. Regular Windows boot manager handles it just fine.

Thanks! One more question though..after installing the build, how do I distinguish the two versions from the boot manager during startup? If I am not mistaken, won't the both the OS' have the same name in the manager as I have heard in some sites? How do I rename the entries so as to be able to understand which one is the non-insider build?

I also use a .msn account for RTM and insider versions. I have them on separate ssd's. On the RTM version. I added another account, changed type to administrator and this is the one I use on a daily basis.

blackbirdabhi said:

Thanks! One more question though..after installing the build, how do I distinguish the two versions from the boot manager during startup? If I am not mistaken, won't the both the OS' have the same name in the manager as I have heard in some sites? How do I rename the entries so as to be able to understand which one is the non-insider build?

You can use a program called EasyBCD to edit the boot menu and change the entries to names that you want:
Software Library - NeoSmart Technologies

You don't even have to register, just click the Download button and leave the email fields blank.