Multiple Arduino boards on same computer- can I do it easily?

I have a Win XP, SP3 machine running Arduino Alpha 0018 using a Spark Fun FTDI basic board to interface with an Ardweeny.

Works great. I can do stuff.

I got a brand spanking new Uno for my birthday.

I was going to set the Uno up to run on my Win 7 box, but then I wondered.

Can I have both run on my XP box? The last thing I want is to go through and update the Arduino software and all of a sudden my FTDI board and Ardweeny don't work. I'd like to just be able to make a selection on the Arduino software menu and jump back and forth depending on which one I plug in. Can I do that? Any suggestions in this regard or will it "just work" and I need to suck it up and do it?

Open multiple copies of the IDE, have each talking to a different com port/arduino.
I've done 2 at a time under WinVista.

OK. I'll take a deep breath and try it.

bigred1212:
running Arduino Alpha 0018

Why? Either something is mis-stated or you are using a very out of date release. One which doesn't support the Uno.

bigred1212:
Can I have both run on my XP box?

Yes. Each will get it's own Serial Port.

But the Uno won't work with 0018.

bigred1212:
'd like to just be able to make a selection on the Arduino software menu and jump back and forth depending on which one I plug in.

Yes, that is what you will have to do. Select the board and appropriate Serial Port.