triple boot

[Spike]

ok guys, I have a question. I want to set up a triple boot with win2k, 98, and XP RC-2. I am reinstalling Win 2k tonight, and was planning on using it's setup to partition my drive and set up a 2gb chunk for 98 and a 3gb chunck for XP RC-2. I was wondering what order do I need to do after I install win 2k (98 or XP first?) and I was also wondering if 98 can read a drive that is on NTFS formatt. I have a 2 40gb HD's and was planning on using my second HD to store all the intalled programs under 98 and XP, I just want their drives to coantain the OS files and room for some virutal memory. Thanks for the help

 

[Muse]

<< ok guys, I have a question. I want to set up a triple boot with win2k, 98, and XP RC-2. I am reinstalling Win 2k tonight, and was planning on using it's setup to partition my drive and set up a 2gb chunk for 98 and a 3gb chunck for XP RC-2. I was wondering what order do I need to do after I install win 2k (98 or XP first?) and I was also wondering if 98 can read a drive that is on NTFS formatt. I have a 2 40gb HD's and was planning on using my second HD to store all the intalled programs under 98 and XP, I just want their drives to coantain the OS files and room for some virutal memory. Thanks for the help >>

I'm contemplating a multi-boot scenario myself, with Win2k, W98SE, maybe NT 4.0 and eventually XP. Been doing some thinking and research.

Your Win98 cannot read NTFS data, period. Although you probably can follow the progression you indicate above, you will probably find it easier to install Win98 first. I read a post today from a guy who just has the C: partition for boot stuff (50 MB), and actually installs the OSs in other partitions, one for each OS. Since you aren't installing NT, I think you could have FAT32 for your boot partition, which could also be your W98 partition. You might want to think about having a separate partition for your swap files. People say the performance is very significantly better that way. I don't know how big that should be. I assume you would want 3 separate swap files for your 3 OSs. After you install W98, you can install your Win2k from CD and create and a new partition, format it in NTFS (probably), and Win2k will automatically set up a boot loader that gives you the choice between Win98 and Win2k. The boot.ini file is simple and will show you the default OS and the default timeout in the boot loader that appears during the bootup. Default is 30 seconds before the default OS is booted, and I'm going to change that to 2 seconds, defaulting to Win2k. I presume your install of XP will be similar to your install of Win2k, and XP will set up the boot loader similarly.

 

[Spike]

so you think I should install 98 first? Will win 2k run ok as my primary os when it is installed on the D: partiotion? How much of an improvment is achieved when doing a seperate partition for swap files, I was not planning on doing that, just a seperate area for some program files. thanks

 

[wojak]

Create 3 partitions,
Install 98 first than it doesn?t matter
If you format your partitions NTFS for XP and 2000 Win 98 will not be able to see/read NTFS unless you get winNTFS program/driver
Search on the web for it, read only version I Free (I believe)

if you format all partitions wint fat 32 you will be able to see all of them from all OS's

Robert

 

[Spike]

How do I create 3 partitions without using the win2k setup program? can I do it with fdisk? if so, how? thanks

 

[Quake]

Well, you can get Partition Magic to do it since if you want to delete one partition, you can resize the others without Refomating the whole hard disk.

 

[Underclocked]

Download your hard drive manufacturer's utilities (unless you already have them). Their setup program should allow multiple partitions.

 

[Quake]

If you want to use Fdisk, Create one Primary Partition, and then create 2 extended partions.

 

[Spike]

I can specify the 3 different sizes I want for the 3 partitions with fdisk?

 

[rommel]

yeah just boot from a 98se floppy and run the fdisk program.....make a primary partition that will act as your 98se partition...then create one extended partition using the remaining hard drive space...then create as many logical drives within the extended partition as you would like...2 if you just want to each OS on the drive with no partitions for storage

set C: as the active partition then reboot and and at the A: prompt type format c: then install 98se....both win2k and XP will be able to format their respective palces on the harddrive in either ntfs or fat32.

partition magic is nice though too but fdisk is free

 

[rommel]

as for size of each ....you make the call...it will ask you how much space you want to give each when your creating them

 

[Spike]

I actually don't have a 98 boot disk. I am running win 2k right now, but my dads machine has 98 on it. Is there a way that I can use his comp to make a 98 boot disk to use for this procedure? thanks

 

[Quake]

hmm, If you want to use Fdisk to do that, well...

You must format your hard disk

 

[Spike]

I have no qualms about formatting my hard disk as I have another 40gb drive that I am going to put all of my info that I want to save on, I am just curious how to make a 98 boot disk so that I can go forward with using fdisk

 

[Quake]

In Windows 98, Go to
My Computer, Control Panel, Add remove Programs and the choose the tab "Startup Disk"

 

[Spike]

thanks quake and rommel, I really do appreciate the help. of course, if this does not work I will come and hunt you guys down... j/k wish me luck with my triple boot, peace

 

[alpha88]

Dont put your swap files on a seperate partition, they should be on the most used partition on the least used DRIVE. If its on a seperate partition on the same drive as other files, you will reduce performance as the drive heads must move back and forward more to switch between partitions.

 

[Spike]

how can you even change where your swap files are?