Can you install Win ME after installing Win2k first?

[xchangx]

I already have Win2k installed and I want to install Win ME. Is it possible to install ME after installing Win2k first?

Chang

 

[Greyface]

1. Without any 3rd party boot software: No. Windows 2000 takes control of booting when its load, you need to install in this order: Dos/Win 3.1, Win9x/ME, Windows NT 4.0/ Windows 2000.

2. With a 3rd party boot software: Yes. BootMagic from Powerquest (included with PartitionMagic), System Commander and any such product will allow you to boot from any partition, even after loading Windows NT/2000. It does this by making all the partitions except the one your booting from appear invisable so it thinks its the C: drive.

Hope this helps out.
Greyface

 

[Slikkster]

You can install it, but you'll have to use the Win2K CDROM to repair the master boot record afterwards. It's not a big deal. Otherwise, after you install WinME, you won't have a Win2K boot option. But, if you then (after installing ME) run the Win2K CDROM and just choose "Repair", it will repair the Master Boot Record, and make the necessary changes in your boot.ini file to dual-boot WinME and Win2K.

Note: Make absolutely sure you are installing ME on a different partition than Win2K. If you don't, you'll end up with both operating systems using the same "C:\Program Files" folder, really mucking things up with the differences between common programs both operating systems share.

 

[xchangx]

Ok, here's what I'm getting, maybe I'm not setting my boot.ini right. Everything's back to normal, but when I choose Windows me, the computer just restarts. I used the installation rescue off the boot disks.

Here's my boot.ini:

[Boot Loader]
timeout=30
Default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT

[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional"
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\Windows="Microsoft Windows Millennium Edition"

 

[Slikkster]

The following instructions depend on whether Win2000 created a "bootsect.dos" file in your c:\ root directory. If so, I'd edit your boot.ini file thusly:

Remove the line that refers to Windows Millenium. (copy it somewhere so you can add it back if necessary).

Instead of that line, add:

c:\="Microsoft Windows Millenium"

So, it should read:

[Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional"
c:\="Microsoft Windows Millenium"



Let us know.

 

[Slikkster]

dreaded double-post

 

[xchangx]

Alright, that didn't work. Neither did BootMagic. I installed ME and installed boot magic in ME. Didn't work. I tried to run bootmagic under Win2k, that also didn't work.... HELP???


Chang

 

[KGB]

If you want to use Bootmagic, you have to install-run it prior to hosing your NTLDR.

 

[xchangx]

I did that as well. I just take it, that it's pretty much impossible...

Chang

 

[Slikkster]

It's not impossible...it's just a matter of getting the settings right. What partition/drive is ME on? I asked before whether Windows 2000 created a bootsect.dos file in your c:\ folder after you ran the repair disks and you didn't respond. Now, maybe I wasn't clear about that.

When you originally ran the Win2000 repair disks, Win2000 repaired the boot sector so it's own boot menu would take over. What it also should have done is create a file called bootsect.dos and place it in your c:\ folder. What this file represents is the Windows Millenium Boot Sector that ME needs to boot correctly. When you select ME from the Win2000 boot menu, bootsect.dos is copied to your c:\ drive's boot sector.

If there's no bootsect.dos file, it will never be able to load ME from the boot menu. If there IS a bootsect.dos file, then we can proceed. Again, does that file exist on your c:\ folder (root directory) and does what partition/drive is Windows ME on (drive d:?) If ME is on Drive D: and you have a bootsect.dos file in your c:\ folder, edit your boot.ini so it says:

Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional"
d:\="Microsoft Windows Millenium"

This all assumes you don't have any other boot loader other than Windows 2000's boot loader running. Get rid of anything else, and let Win2000's boot loader do the chores, and edit the boot.ini as outlined above IF Windows ME is on your D:\ drive.

 

[xchangx]

Which command would you run? Fixboot or FixMBR? Ok, sorry, I don't see a bootsec.dos file under my c:. Win2k is installed under c:, I want to install ME on d:.
Chang

 

[Slikkster]

Use Fixboot. It should repair by writing a proper Win2K Boot Sector code on the hard drive. FixMBR is more of a repair for virus infections.
Once it's done, take a look at your boot.ini.

Edit it so it looks like this, again assuming you have the bootsect.dos file on your c:\ folder and assuming windows Millenium is on your D: drive:

Operating Systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microsoft Windows 2000 Professional"
d:\="Microsoft Windows Millenium"

 

[xchangx]

Ok, thanks for all the help, I was using the wrong command under the win2k fix.

Thanks to all...


Chang