Alan's OS Switch
Menu location: GO > Programs > UTILITIES > OS Switch

This program, written by Alan Clarke, switches the Windows operating system from server to workstation or visa-versa. Why would anyone want this? Suppose some program was written to install only on Windows XP but not Server 2003. With Alan's OS Switch, you remove this barrier. In this instance the procedure would be as follows:

1) Boot computer with Alan's Boot CD & run OS Switch
2) Remove CD, reboot computer into Windows (now XP Pro), install program
     (some programs  may require a reboot to complete installation)
3) Boot computer with Alan's Boot CD & run OS Switch
4) Remove CD, reboot computer into original Windows Server 2003

I wrote OS Switch after corrupting a Windows 2000 domain controller computer using a program called NTSWITCH that performed the "switching" while Windows was running. OS Switch runs only from the booted CD when the system files are completely off line, greatly reducing the chance for corruption. Works with multiple configurations: domain controllers, "Active Directory" and software-based mirrored drives. When making the switch, use as few programs as possible while you are in the non-native operating system. Disable startup programs, e-mail checkers, antivirus, etc., before making the switch. Get "in and out" quickly, installing only the desired program. Keep in mind that going from a server to a workstation is more feasible than visa-versa because some OS files may be missing on the workstation that are necessary for acting as a server.