Dual Boot Advice Needed (Win XP & Win 2K)

[lizardboy]

Want to clean install Win XP (pro) & Win 2K onto a new 30GB HD, I know I need to install Win2K first, just curious what the best way is to set up the partitions

i'm thinking 1 small partition for XP, 1 small partition for 2K & the rest for files/programs

would 2GB be big enough for each OS to install or do I need more space ?? (2GB/2GB/26GB)

any advice/thoughts appreciated

 

[MetroRider]

set it up to be 5/5/20

2 gb's is too small for XP, and with the additional space, it lets you add more stuff to each drive without having to touch the big partition you want to set up. besides that, you should be ready to roll... Good Luck! 🙂

 

[whizler]

2GB is enough space to hold either OS, but you really have to keep an eye on where you keep your data, install your programs, and where you place your swap files. By default, these things are placed on the same partition the OS was installed on. If you install programs on your largest partition, be mindful of the path. For example, if your largest partition is E: and you attempt to install an app, say like Zone Alarm, in E:\Program Files\ZoneAlarm under XP, then use the same E:\Program Files\ZoneAlarm folder to install the same app under Win2k, you may run into problems. You might want to have seperate programs folders, something along the lines of E:\program files\XP\[application\ and E:\program files\Win2k\[application]

Some programs can be installed in one OS and then run fine in another OS simply by clicking on its executable (Photoshop is like this), but other programs need to be installed again under the different OS in a different folder.

 

[lizardboy]

thanks guys - about to fire up partition magic to get this thing rolling

edit - after i set it up as 5/5/20 & start to install win2k (which as i understand has to go first), does it matter which 5GB partition i install win2k into ??

 

[ddiccico]

<< thanks guys - about to fire up partition magic to get this thing rolling

edit - after i set it up as 5/5/20 & start to install win2k (which as i understand has to go first), does it matter which 5GB partition i install win2k into ?? >>

sort of...the first partition on the drive will contain the boot loader and other system files, so you won't be able to reformat that partition, while leaving the second OS intact. You would be able to wipe the second though, so I'd put whichever OS you plan on keeping on the first 5 gig partition. (the first partition might be a bit faster, too).