An easy question about running Windows 98 SE and Windows XP on the same computer?

[dcpsoguy]

Ok, here's the deal.

I have Windows XP running right now. It came with my computer.

But I just bought Windows 98 SE. I want to run them both.

How? Do I need to partition? I'm sorry if this sounds like an elementary question: I just don't want to screw up. Thanks in advance.

 

[NogginBoink]

Easy answers (with tongue firmly in cheek):

1. Post this question to the Operating Systems forum.

2. Take your win 98 SE CD, throw it in the trash, and don't look back.

Why anyone would want to run Win98 when they have WinXP makes no sense to me...

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: dcpsoguy
How?

two computers

 

[amnesiac]

I can see absolutely NO reason to run Win98SE on a computer already running WinXP.
If you're running it to assist in troubleshooting, get a 2nd PC. Don't ruin your rig.

Besides, WinXP runs best with the drive formatted to NTFS. Win98 doesn't like NTFS.

 

[dcpsoguy]

I have a few programs that are essential for me to use that will only work in Windows 98 SE.

Could a mod move this to the operating system forum?

 

[KC5AV]

You can dual boot, but I've never tried it with xp. It may be that you have to have 98se installed 1st, and the install xp to dual boot.

 

[Kelvrick]

I was also thinking of dual-booting with winXP and win98se because I have a lot of programs that need to be run inside MSDOS, and WINXP doesn't do a good enough job of copying dos to run those programs.

Ok, ok, they're old games,but I still want to run then and Win XP doesn't let me.

I would probably partition out say 2 gigs and format it FAT32. I'm pretty sure that would work out.

 

[dcpsoguy]

Alright, Kelvrick.

Will I have a problem? What program do you reccomend? I heard some people's hard drives were broken after repartioning: is this common?

 

[eLiu]

I've done this before...the only real way to make it work right is to install win98 SE FIRST. Then install XP, it'll set up dual boot automatically.

If you want to avoid that, I believe it would be sufficient to install 98 now...but then you'll need a few files: NTLDR, NTDETECT.COM, and boot.ini. The boot.ini file will have to be modified to point to both the WinXP install and the Win98 install...I totally forgot how to do that though.

 

[zbalat]

I did this when winXP first came out. You need to have WIN98 installed first. Then install XP and XP will set the dual boot. I would suggest using 2 HDD's, one with XP and one with 98SE. Then you wont't have to mess around with NTFS/FAT32 issues.

I used the dual boot for about 2 days. I realized that there was no reason to have WIN98 installed. Compatibility mode is your friend.

 

[Shawn]

yup, like said above you're gonna have to install Win98 first which means you'll have to format you're current WinXP installation.

 

[her209]

You do know that XP has this new feature called "Compatibility mode" don't you?

 

[HappyPuppy]

If you don't mind forking over the $ for System Commander it will repartiton your HDD without touching your current install of XP. You can then install Win98. On bootup you will be given the choice of booting to XP or Win98.