Windows XP and dual boot? – 4263 days old

[muckshifter]

Before using the multibooting feature, consider the tradeoffs: each operating system uses valuable disk space, and file system compatibility can be complex if you want to run Windows XP on one partition and an earlier OS on another partition. In addition, dynamic disk format introduced in Windows 2000 does not work with earlier operating systems. However, multibooting capabilities are a valuable feature providing the single-machine flexibility to run multiple operating systems.

http://www.microsoft.com/windowsxp/p.../multiboot.asp

[Alakazam]

Tnx guys, the article from microsoft will be read later tonight, I'm not real big on software so I want to make sure I understand what I might be getting into. My games and other stuff run great on 98se and I've got a few old dos ones I like to fool with every once in awhile. Do you guys like XP and would it be worth the trouble to set it up? TIA

[muckshifter]

It is really up to you.

MS seem to have learned from past mistakes and have really concentrated on "you" having the stability of W2K, and some, with the flexibility of Win98se, for games.

One of the biggest issues is the dreaded "Activision", is it really going to hold you back if you "upgrade" every 3 months, only time will tell.

The usual "trick" is to let the other people, like me, "play" with it first. However, the feedback from Beta testers has been quite positive, but with great emphasis on hardware compatibility. Your hardware WILL need a MS certified driver.

So again, it's up to you!

Oh, I will be using it, but only after I have used Ghost.

[Alakazam]

OK, next question. I've got about 15 gig empty on my drive now, which is enough to hold xp and apps. Would I be better off using a second HD just for XP or doesn't a dual boot work like that?

[AmStoned]

Hey Al:

The possibility of getting 2 HD mobile racks for yourself is endless. First, since your 98SE is rock solid, I'd leave it along. My suggestion is to get 2 mobile racks, stick your existing 98SE HD in rack #1 (this will be your first system), and stick the second HD on the other rack (this will be your new XP system). With the HD installed in their respected racks, you can pop in the second rack and install XP on it. Once you're done installing XP, take it out, and pop your 98SE rack back in, and your system's as good as "old". And vis versa. You see where I'm going with this? I would've done this if I have any 5 1/2 bays left. Oh well, there's always the Lian-Li PC68 I've been dreaming about.

[DragonAce]

how do you get XP to boot tho??
i've tried using the boot to cd but all i can do is read it..
i go to i386 and then to nt but i get's nowhere..

any suggestions for a fresh install??

[Alakazam]

Tnx AS, but the mobile racks are out of the question on my present setup also. Sooooo, can I just pop in a new HD for xp & dual boot? What I mean is, no, what I want to do is, no, ah shit, this is not coming out right. Let me try again, I would like to do the following:

Keep 98se on HD1
Clean install xp on HD2

Would I be able to dual boot then? I hope you understand what I mean, I'm having trouble puttin my thoughts into words tonight.

[AmStoned]

DA: What? You can't install the damn program from DOS? Is that what you're saying? Hmm....? Okay, so you tried booting from the CD on startup, but it fails to recognize setup.exe. You've tried going into DOS and seeking i386 and nt, but no setup.exe. Weird stuff. Are you sure this is the full version and not upgrade version. I mean if it's the upgrade version, no biggie, just install ME (is that one of the pre-req OSs?) first (ME is the fastest to install IMO), then pop the moflicking XP in. Did I hit your question? Or am I still missing something?

[AmStoned]

Al: yeah, I get what you're saying. Okay, so C: & D: remains on HD1 and you'll install XP in E: on HD2. Damn, I've never tried that before, it's a tough one. The thing is I don't know which HD the BIOS will recognize as the main HD (let's say you set both as Master and on IDE 1/2, or 3/4 if you have a RAID board, but no RAID-0), which could mess up the lettering system. I might just try it tonight. Sorry if mobile rack's the best and quickest alternative I can come up with. You know they are really cheap!

[Alakazam]

Leave it to me to ask about something that was never done, I wonder if a Boot Manager would work, like what comes with PartitionMagic. I don't know if they work from dos or what. I know DB said when you start the install, XP asks if you want to clean install or not. If you said yes, would it ask you for the drive letter or assume it was a partition on the primary drive. Just a thought.

[DragonAce]

AS..

ya, she's a full version corporate with a limitless user standard..
you nailed what i was looking for answer ways..
still can't figure out why it won't auto.exe the start up..

i was trying to avoid the "upgrade" from 1 o/s to XP tho as i've seen it make a mess of things before (upgrades), and ever since i've always been a "freshie only" kind of guy..

maybe i'll go grab another hdd and try it again..(rigs too busy to afford format..)
ahhh hell, maybe i'll just build another one..

[Alakazam]

OK guys, finally got my answer by reading the usenet forums that Bits has enabled, they are a great source of info on particular items. In my case, you defintely can dual boot on two different HDs, I will keep 98se on HD1 and can install an upgrade version of XP on 2. HD1 will boot and ask which system I want to run, Kewl!!!

[AmStoned]

Excellent. Let us know how XP pans out for you.

[Alakazam]

It'll probably be about this time next month before I get XP, we're going to be away till the 1st of November at our place in Fla. I don't want to lug everything down there and back, but you never know.