Is it possible to Dual Boot Windows 98/2K, with 2K already installed

[austin316]

Ok, here is the dilemna. I built a computer for my family and installed Windows 2000 on it. Now, my sister tried to install a Disney game that doesn't run under W2K. So I was wondering, is it possible to have a choice on startup of which O/S, or did I have to install Windows '98 first? Thanks in advance.

 

[EeyoreX]

I have never done it, but I think with Partition Magic you can in fact install Windows 98 after Windows 2000, assuming you rearrange partitions (set up seperate partitions for each) and use the included boot manager. If you just wanted to do it without 3rd party software, I am almost sure you need to install Windows 98 first, then Windows 2000.

\Dan

 

[bacillus]

check how to do it in the FAQS.

 

[kursplat]

linkage
good luck

 

[EeyoreX]

Well, that's kool!!...
Not that I'd go back to using Windows 9x <shudders at the thought>

\Dan

 

[hrstruggle]

OK, so I have Win2000 on F:\ and I have formatted my C:\ as FAT32.

I want to install Win98SE on C:\. Do I have to worry about erasing the MBR since I'm putting it on a different hard drive?

Should I still use the 'setup /ntldr' option when installing Win98SE?

Thanks,

HRSTRUGGLE

Edit: I do have 2 different hard drives. Originally, I had Win2K on C:\ but when I added a new hard drive, my O/S stopped working, so I installed it on the new hard drive (F:\) and formatted C:\ as FAT32. Understand?

 

[KF]

>Should I still use the 'setup /ntldr' option when installing Win98SE?


Yes. It is my understanding the system still boots from the first HD, and that is the way you are loading now. The Master Boot Record on the first hard drive, then to the boot sector on the first active partition, then to the disk and partition specified in BOOT.INI on that partition.

"fixboot" (not fixmbr) will fix the boot sector if Win98se puts its own itn the place of NTs.

 

[hrstruggle]

Hmmm, OK. The "Setup Detection Message" I'm getting when I try to load Win98SE is SU0013. I've looked this up but haven't come up with any easy solutions.

What's the easiest way to create an MS-DOS boot partition on c:? I don't have a copy of MS-DOS, of course.

HRSTRUGGLE

Edit: More info on my setup
Disk 0: C:* type=7 (HPFS/NTFS), size = 39070048 KB, Lba Pos=63 (Currently has Win2K Pro, assigned as F:\)
Disk 1: D:* type=c (Win95 Fat32 LBA), size = 19551073 KB, Lba Pos=63 (I want to Load Win98SE on it; assigned as C:\)

HELP!

 

[hrstruggle]

Is it a problem that I formatted Disk 1 as FAT32? Should it be just FAT instead?

HRSTRUGGLE

. . . anyone . . .

 

[KF]

>Is it a problem that I formatted Disk 1 as FAT32? Should it be just FAT instead?
Not the problem. FAT32 there is fine.

The NT boot loader operates from disk 0 (first disk), which is not a problem for NT whether that partition is NTFS or FAT32. But when the NT loader tries to boot W98 it transfers control to the W98 boot loader, which has to have FAT/FAT32, not NTFS. If you want to boot w98, W98 has to begin booting from the first partition on the first disk and that partition has to be a file system W98 recognizes (FAT or FAT32), not NTFS.

Redoing partitions is simple if you have Partition Magic. Otherwises you have to wipe the partitions and start over. In either case you should back up what you need to keep, and be prepared to restore it.

There are some free partition resizers, but they are more oriented to linux I believe, and may not handle NTFS partitions.

Otherwise you can boot W98 from a floppy if you find that acceptable.

 

[Slickone]

Originally posted by: chuck340
linkage
good luck

That 'FAQ' sounds too easy and not very convincing.

Where can I read how to do it w/ Partition Magic? Or is it real easy?

Also since I'll be using Partition Magic, what is the best cluster size to use? Right now my 40GB NTFS w/ 30GB (WinXP and apps) and 10GB (pics, mp3s) partitions is using 4KB clusters. Is this too small (slower)? I have a new 75GB I'll be using and w/ the above partitions, and a 3rd partition for 98SE/FAT32.

 

[hrstruggle]

That makes a little more sense, KF. My conclusion is that I just just wipe everything and start over.

And creating partitions isn't what is tripping me up (although I may try Partition Magic just for the hell of it). It was solving that SU0013 error I got when setting up Win98SE.

This may be the best solution since I have a SnapScan 1212P scanner that has decided to not work in W2K any longer. I may be able to get it working if I start over.

Thanks for everyone's help!

HRSTRUGGLE