Multiple OS's

hello45044 · 01-03-2005, 10:29 PM

Is It possible to have Win XP Pro and Win 98 SE on the same computer?

**Cromewell** · 01-03-2005, 10:48 PM

yes it is but you can't have both on the same partition if you want to use NTFS, Win98 can't read NTFS. Using FAT32 should work fine.

hello45044 · 01-03-2005, 10:53 PM

can i have one pariton be NTFS and the other be FAT32?

**SFR** · 01-03-2005, 11:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hello45044

can i have one pariton be NTFS and the other be FAT32?

Yes you can have separate partitions, one being NTFS and the other FAT32.

Make sure after you repartition your drive, that you install the older OS, Windows 98SE first. Then install XP on the other partition.

Morb · 01-04-2005, 11:43 AM

Yes it is. But Win XP is on NTFS partition and Win98 on FAT32 (AFAIK). When you want to have multiple systems on your computer, the best solution is boot manager. Your harddrive is logically divided into multiple partitions(logical disks(drives) as you can see in Explorer(My Computer)) or there is only one NTFS partition (default - after default Windows install without manual change to disk during installing XP(throug XP setup) or through third-party software like "Partition Magic" or simpler built-in fdisk(on bootable floppy drive for example)). Here is an example:

You have 30GB harddisk. Default state is that your harddisk are clear, no partitions created. We decide to devide it to three logical drives "C:"(system drive(WINXP),partition type(NTFS),state(ACTIVE(bootable)); next drive "D:" is dedicated for data for ex.(type FAT32(if multiple systems installed it's good to make data drives to be of this type-is visible for WIN98 and WIN2000,XP,...;when you made it NTFS only WINXP will see it.),state of this drive is default after creation = NOT active="bootable"). The third partition can have same parameters as the second one. This drive is for backup-ing for.ex.

OK, now we have 3 partitions with WINXP installed(on the first "C:"drive (partition)) and two another disks D: and E: for data (first partition of size 10GB and second and third of 5GB = 20GB total(10GB free on physical disk(for new installation of WIN 98))

Now we create new partition of type FAT32(Win 98)of 10GB size(all free space).Don't set this as active(active - means actually booting(you cant boot if there is not system). But if you want to install on it select this partition as ACTIVE(there can be only one partition ACTIVE at any moment). Restart your comp. and you will see message that no system found on disk(because there isn't :-). Change boot sequence to boot from CD drive as first drive to run Win98 setup and install 98's. Congratulation, now you have two systems on disk and on XP you see c: drive(XP), D

system drive of Win98-drive letters was changed- THIS DRIVE WILL BE NOT VISIBLE IF BOOTMANAGER IS USED) and E:drive(original "D:"-data) and F: drive(original-"E:").In Win98 you will see only your C:, plus D: and E

system drive of XP will be not visible because WIN98 can't see partitions(drives)of NTFS type).

Now you always boot to WIN98(because that partition is active). Now you have to run some type of BOOT MANAGER software. "BootEasy BootManager" is good. There is more bootmanager software. You install it by booting to dos from floppy(WINDOWS/DOS booting floppy) and run that software from other floppy(or on same floppy). This sofware do not require installation it change booting (hardisk MBR-"Master Boot Record",etc.). This software makes two important things(if allready set). You simply choose from menu which system to boot.(which partition will be marked and set as "ACTIVE" - THIS DOES bootmanager, it is one of it's purpose. The other one is that you can set which drive you can see in each state(booting XP or Win98). For example you can disable(make HIDE funkcion)on partition on which resides win98 if you are booted in XP - then you will see only C:,D:,E:.( as in win98 default).

I don't tell you how exactly in boot software set this(it varyies). You will find it. But try it on testing version of computer ;-) for the first time. This is a little advanced configuration of PC and you can delete your system drive or corrupt partition by misstake.

P.S. If you want to reinstall system or format system drive ALLWAYS remove bootmanager and set active that partition to which you want to boot from.

I hope that you understand this and I recommend you to read more documentations about this. (This, what I wrote is a very good start - there are only few specialities :-)

This is advanced thema so sorry for my "shit" english ;o)
Morb

BlaBli · 01-04-2005, 01:10 PM

WOW... Morb
quite an answer (although i didnt understand a thing)

anyway... here is a short answer.
1st, u should know that u have to install win 98 first and then install winXP for if u will install win XP and then 98, win98 will not recognize the winxp boot sectors and will overwrite them and u will have only win 98 to boot from (although xp is intalled).

what i think is best is to divide the HD to 3 partitions, 1st partition using fat32 for win98, the 2nd partition using ntfs (but if u will need to access files in winxp partition while loged on in win98 u will need to format the partition as fat32 as well) and the 3rd partition as ntfs for storage (but again, if u will need to access files in the storage partition while loged on with win98 then u will need to format the 3rd partition as fat32 as well).

good luck

hello45044 · 01-04-2005, 10:03 PM

Ok. I have a 40 gb hard drive. I want 1 pariton to be 35 gb, be NTFS, and have win XP installed. I want the other pariton to be 5 gb, be FAT32, and have win 98 installed. How would I do this? And how would I switch between OS's?

P.S. I have the update version of win XP, will this still work?

BlaBli · 01-05-2005, 11:08 AM

ok..
what u need to do is use partition magic (or any other kind of partitioning app) and divide your HD as u like and format the partitions as you like (ntfs and fat32)... u can use fdisk to do that if u dont have a boot cd and u have just simple dos disket.
anyway... after doing that install win98se on partition d first (dont worry, it will write the boot sector on partition c) and then u install win xp on partition c, this will recognize the win 98 installation and wont overwrite the bootsectors deleting win98 files.
while installing the setup program restart your computer once or twice, while rstarting dont touch the boot OS priority.

after the installation is finished you restart your computer and while the coputer starts you will c the black screen with 2 lines, win xp and microsoft windows (ms windows means win 98)... choose what os you wanna load and have fun.

cheers

Morb · 01-05-2005, 01:31 PM

Yes BlaBli,
your solution is very good, too

.(and much simpler to beginner to understand).

. And much more you don't need extra bootmanager soft.

It was good point to note that in my case I coudn't access data on XP system drive from 98. That was intended that way(that is because the data(d

drive and e: too is there of type FAT32. It acts like bridge between this too systems(like copying files to server in network by first user and copying from server to destination user from another comp by another user= shares don't needed on first user comp.(only mapped drives);-).

hello45044 · 01-05-2005, 10:18 PM

Do you have to format your hd before you devide it? Because I have a whole bunch of data on my hd that I dont want to lose. Is it possible to just add another pariton with data allerady on the drive, or will I have to back up all my data and reformat my drive before I do that?

01-03-2005, 10:29 PM	#1 (permalink)
hello45044 Silver Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 135	Multiple OS's Is It possible to have Win XP Pro and Win 98 SE on the same computer?

01-03-2005, 10:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
Cromewell Moderator Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Canada Age: 24 Posts: 10,085	yes it is but you can't have both on the same partition if you want to use NTFS, Win98 can't read NTFS. Using FAT32 should work fine. __________________ You know what the chain of command is? It's the chain I go get and beat you with 'til ya understand who's in ruttin' command here. I must plug a couple comics because they are good :D: www.ctrlaltdel-online.com www.userfriendly.org

01-04-2005, 11:43 AM	#5 (permalink)
Morb Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Slovakia Age: 25 Posts: 65	solution Yes it is. But Win XP is on NTFS partition and Win98 on FAT32 (AFAIK). When you want to have multiple systems on your computer, the best solution is boot manager. Your harddrive is logically divided into multiple partitions(logical disks(drives) as you can see in Explorer(My Computer)) or there is only one NTFS partition (default - after default Windows install without manual change to disk during installing XP(throug XP setup) or through third-party software like "Partition Magic" or simpler built-in fdisk(on bootable floppy drive for example)). Here is an example: You have 30GB harddisk. Default state is that your harddisk are clear, no partitions created. We decide to devide it to three logical drives "C:"(system drive(WINXP),partition type(NTFS),state(ACTIVE(bootable)); next drive "D:" is dedicated for data for ex.(type FAT32(if multiple systems installed it's good to make data drives to be of this type-is visible for WIN98 and WIN2000,XP,...;when you made it NTFS only WINXP will see it.),state of this drive is default after creation = NOT active="bootable"). The third partition can have same parameters as the second one. This drive is for backup-ing for.ex. OK, now we have 3 partitions with WINXP installed(on the first "C:"drive (partition)) and two another disks D: and E: for data (first partition of size 10GB and second and third of 5GB = 20GB total(10GB free on physical disk(for new installation of WIN 98)) Now we create new partition of type FAT32(Win 98)of 10GB size(all free space).Don't set this as active(active - means actually booting(you cant boot if there is not system). But if you want to install on it select this partition as ACTIVE(there can be only one partition ACTIVE at any moment). Restart your comp. and you will see message that no system found on disk(because there isn't :-). Change boot sequence to boot from CD drive as first drive to run Win98 setup and install 98's. Congratulation, now you have two systems on disk and on XP you see c: drive(XP), Dsystem drive of Win98-drive letters was changed- THIS DRIVE WILL BE NOT VISIBLE IF BOOTMANAGER IS USED) and E:drive(original "D:"-data) and F: drive(original-"E:").In Win98 you will see only your C:, plus D: and Esystem drive of XP will be not visible because WIN98 can't see partitions(drives)of NTFS type). Now you always boot to WIN98(because that partition is active). Now you have to run some type of BOOT MANAGER software. "BootEasy BootManager" is good. There is more bootmanager software. You install it by booting to dos from floppy(WINDOWS/DOS booting floppy) and run that software from other floppy(or on same floppy). This sofware do not require installation it change booting (hardisk MBR-"Master Boot Record",etc.). This software makes two important things(if allready set). You simply choose from menu which system to boot.(which partition will be marked and set as "ACTIVE" - THIS DOES bootmanager, it is one of it's purpose. The other one is that you can set which drive you can see in each state(booting XP or Win98). For example you can disable(make HIDE funkcion)on partition on which resides win98 if you are booted in XP - then you will see only C:,D:,E:.( as in win98 default). I don't tell you how exactly in boot software set this(it varyies). You will find it. But try it on testing version of computer ;-) for the first time. This is a little advanced configuration of PC and you can delete your system drive or corrupt partition by misstake. P.S. If you want to reinstall system or format system drive ALLWAYS remove bootmanager and set active that partition to which you want to boot from. I hope that you understand this and I recommend you to read more documentations about this. (This, what I wrote is a very good start - there are only few specialities :-) This is advanced thema so sorry for my "shit" english ;o) Morb

01-05-2005, 01:31 PM	#9 (permalink)
Morb Bronze Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Slovakia Age: 25 Posts: 65	;-) Yes BlaBli, your solution is very good, too .(and much simpler to beginner to understand). . And much more you don't need extra bootmanager soft. It was good point to note that in my case I coudn't access data on XP system drive from 98. That was intended that way(that is because the data(ddrive and e: too is there of type FAT32. It acts like bridge between this too systems(like copying files to server in network by first user and copying from server to destination user from another comp by another user= shares don't needed on first user comp.(only mapped drives);-).

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01-03-2005, 10:53 PM	#3 (permalink)
hello45044 Silver Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 135	can i have one pariton be NTFS and the other be FAT32?

01-04-2005, 01:10 PM	#6 (permalink)
BlaBli Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 99	WOW... Morb quite an answer (although i didnt understand a thing) anyway... here is a short answer. 1st, u should know that u have to install win 98 first and then install winXP for if u will install win XP and then 98, win98 will not recognize the winxp boot sectors and will overwrite them and u will have only win 98 to boot from (although xp is intalled). what i think is best is to divide the HD to 3 partitions, 1st partition using fat32 for win98, the 2nd partition using ntfs (but if u will need to access files in winxp partition while loged on in win98 u will need to format the partition as fat32 as well) and the 3rd partition as ntfs for storage (but again, if u will need to access files in the storage partition while loged on with win98 then u will need to format the 3rd partition as fat32 as well). good luck

01-04-2005, 10:03 PM	#7 (permalink)
hello45044 Silver Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 135	Ok. I have a 40 gb hard drive. I want 1 pariton to be 35 gb, be NTFS, and have win XP installed. I want the other pariton to be 5 gb, be FAT32, and have win 98 installed. How would I do this? And how would I switch between OS's? P.S. I have the update version of win XP, will this still work?

01-05-2005, 11:08 AM	#8 (permalink)
BlaBli Bronze Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Posts: 99	ok.. what u need to do is use partition magic (or any other kind of partitioning app) and divide your HD as u like and format the partitions as you like (ntfs and fat32)... u can use fdisk to do that if u dont have a boot cd and u have just simple dos disket. anyway... after doing that install win98se on partition d first (dont worry, it will write the boot sector on partition c) and then u install win xp on partition c, this will recognize the win 98 installation and wont overwrite the bootsectors deleting win98 files. while installing the setup program restart your computer once or twice, while rstarting dont touch the boot OS priority. after the installation is finished you restart your computer and while the coputer starts you will c the black screen with 2 lines, win xp and microsoft windows (ms windows means win 98)... choose what os you wanna load and have fun. cheers

01-05-2005, 10:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
hello45044 Silver Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 135	Do you have to format your hd before you devide it? Because I have a whole bunch of data on my hd that I dont want to lose. Is it possible to just add another pariton with data allerady on the drive, or will I have to back up all my data and reformat my drive before I do that?