Can you run two os on same computer

**street dj** · January 9th, 2003, 01:02 AM

I was wondering can you run two OS 's on the same computer? and how big of a hard drive do you need to have if you can, maybe also some tips on how to do this.

Thanks for any help in advance.

**Xeroid** · January 9th, 2003, 01:05 AM

Yep.

I'm running 3 (Win98, WinXP, & Mandrake 9 Linux). Which OS's do you have in mind to run?

**davidamarkley** · January 9th, 2003, 01:08 AM

Well, that's quite a big area of discussion. Let's narrow it down a bit...

First of all, Yes, you can have more than one OS on a single computer. There is a guy who had 37 OSes on his pc!!

Are you wanting to have multiple OSes on your system?

If so, which OSes would you want to put on there?

Hard drive space needed is relative to which OSes you're wanting.

Let us know more details and we would be glad to help you!!

David

Welcome to TechIMO!

**originel** · January 9th, 2003, 01:10 AM

yeah it's no problem, i'm running 2 (xp and slack 8.1). as for how much space you will need it depends on the OS. i'ev found that for any *nix OS 4 gbs gives me plenty of room to do whatever i want and leave some breathing room, but windows takes much much more.

here's my setup:
18gb for windows
5gb for slack
15gb for my files

as for setting it up it depends on what the two OS's you want to install are. generally, though, it consists of installing the one with the bootloader you don't want first, then installing the second one, then modifying the bootloader of the second to boot both (often times the bootloader will even auto-configure itself).

**PresterJohn** · January 9th, 2003, 01:10 AM

if you mean run 2 different OS's simultaneously, the answer is yes. you basically run multiple instances of a virtual machine, all being hosted by one OS.

check out VMware (www.vmware.com)

i can run multiple sessions of linux, xp, win98, etc all under my 'master' os, w2k.

**street dj** · January 9th, 2003, 01:16 AM

I have windows 98 now and want to run xp also.

**Xeroid** · January 9th, 2003, 01:21 AM

You need a seperate partition for XP. Once you have set this up all you need to do is start the XP install and choose the partition you made for XP. A bootloader will be installed so that when you boot you will be presented with a menu where you can choose between 98 & XP.

Mike

EDIT: Take a look at this Microsoft link: HERE

**originel** · January 9th, 2003, 01:23 AM

oh now THAT's easy (relatively of course). first you need to backup all your data on your hard drive. i don't really remember win98's install very well...but if i remember right the hard drive configuration is minimal at best. you'll prolly want to use a bootdisk to set up your 98 partition with fdisk (or partition magic or something like that). as for how large you want each partition to be is a tough questions. basicall you need enough room for all the programs you will install (note: you can't resize partitions unless you have partition magic 8, and even then not always). so if you play games you will need a lot more than if you don't. i would recommend creating 3 partitions, one for each OS and then a "neutral" partition where you can throw files and such from either OS.

anyway, when you have your partitions setup (note: XP can do all the partitioning for itself), you need to install windows 98. after that is done install XP. xp will see the 98 install and automatically set your computer up to dual boot.

I'd also set up your third partition (if you choose to use one) after installing both OS's.

**street dj** · January 9th, 2003, 01:24 AM

How do I do that for I am new to this? And thanks for any help you can give.

**Xeroid** · January 9th, 2003, 01:28 AM

Originally posted by street dj
How do I do that for I am new to this? And thanks for any help you can give.

Are you asking about partitioning?

**originel** · January 9th, 2003, 01:29 AM

first of all...what programs are you going to run on each respective OS?

as for the specifics on how:

first create a startup disk in windows 98. restart your computer with the disk in the drive. when you get to the command prompt type "fdisk." when it asks if you want enable large disk support say yes. then it will present you with 4 options. first select the one that says "delete partition" and tell it to delete the only partition that will be on there. then go in and create a new one...but make sure that you set it to the correct size. then tell it to save and exit. (btw make sure everything is backed up...once you do this you'll loose everything on your hard drive).

then your set to install 98 and later XP

**street dj** · January 9th, 2003, 01:29 AM

I feel so dumb but Originel I really don't understand what I am suppose to do. I am trying to learn so I'm alittle slow on how to do certain things please forgive me.

**street dj** · January 9th, 2003, 01:31 AM

Originally posted by Xeroid

Are you asking about partitioning?

Yes do not know how..

**Xeroid** · January 9th, 2003, 01:33 AM

originel just posted some good instructions above. ^

How big is your hard disk?

**street dj** · January 9th, 2003, 01:33 AM

Do you have to have win 98 disk because it came on my computer and I don't have an original disk

**street dj** · January 9th, 2003, 01:35 AM

My hard disk is 11.9gb

**Xeroid** · January 9th, 2003, 01:40 AM

Originally posted by street dj
My hard disk is 11.9gb

How much free space do you have on your 11.9gb?

**street dj** · January 9th, 2003, 01:42 AM

I have 10gb free space

**originel** · January 9th, 2003, 01:46 AM

don't worry about it, everyone has to start somewhere.

i just had a thought: do you have partition magic 8? that would make things a lot easier.

if not there's a few steps to take:

first things first: backup all of your data!! i cannot stress this enough.

this article will tell you how to create a startup disk:
http://windows.about.com/library/howto/htbootdisk.htm

this article goes into using fdisk to format your hard drive:
http://pcsupport.about.com/library/w...tm?terms=fdisk you will want to enable fat32 support, and you will also need to delete your current partition, so use option 3. if i remember right it's fairly self explanatory. also you will want to do a custom partition size.

then on to installing windows 98. have you ever installed windows before? it can be daunting at first, but it's not really all that difficult.

EDIT:hmmm... if you don't have a win98 disk then the only way i can think of to keep your 98 install is to use partition magic to resize your partition. either that or install another hard drive.