Creating partitions use multiple OS

quiksan · July 8th, 2004, 02:07 PM

I have a formatted drive that I want to partition to run 98 & 2k Os.
Can I use Fdisk from the 98 bdisk to create them?
Anyone know a free software I can download and use?

Krawler · July 8th, 2004, 02:13 PM

Yes, you can use a Windows98 startup disk to create the partitons
and even format them.

You will have to install Windows 98 first on one partiton, and then
install 2K on the other. It will automatically see the Win98 partiton and
create the dual boot menu for you.

If you want to use NTFS with 2K, when you install 2K, it will give you
options to convert the Fat32 partiton to an NTFS.

quiksan · July 8th, 2004, 02:23 PM

How I go about using the fdisk to make these partitions?

jmichna · July 8th, 2004, 03:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by quiksan

How I go about using the fdisk to make these partitions?

Just do a google search on the terms 'fdisk+tutorial' and you'll get many, many hits.

Here's a couple of the better ones:
http://fdisk.radified.com/
http://www.pcabusers.net/fdisk.html

Here's a great guide on partitioning for multiboot systems:
http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/O...multiboot1.htm

FatalException · July 8th, 2004, 03:17 PM

Have you thought this through? Why install Windows 98 and Windows 2000? Is there a particular program that will run on Windows 98 that you know will not run on 2000? Remember - Win2000 is windows 5.00, Windows XP is windows 5.1 - they are based off of the same 5.0 NT kernel and use most of the same components. Since XP is the dominant operating system today (great for games, office apps, pretty much everything), you can expect the same performance, if not better from Windows 2000.

It just seems a little redundant to have 2000 and 98 on the same system. If you ask anyone on here, 2000 is a FAR superior OS to Windows 98. It's more stable, supports most of the new hardware available, etc.

Perhaps you could avoid all of this hassle with Win98 and 2000 dual booting if you just went with the better of the 2 operating systems.

Also remember if you dual boot, the majority of applications will need to be installed on the PC two times since they load their DLL's into the Windows system directories for 98 and 2000 in different locations. This means you'll be using up quite a bit of disk space just to have all of your programs on both OS's.

jmichna · July 8th, 2004, 04:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FatalException

Have you thought this through? Why install Windows 98 and Windows 2000? Is there a particular program that will run on Windows 98 that you know will not run on 2000? ...

It just seems a little redundant to have 2000 and 98 on the same system. If you ask anyone on here, 2000 is a FAR superior OS to Windows 98. It's more stable, supports most of the new hardware available, etc.

DOS games are easier to install and get working (especially sound issues) with W98; some DOS games just don't work under W2K/XP. Also, my kid has several older W95/W98 era games that will not work under XP (BSODs, memory issues). Some devices never had drivers released for W2K/XP, case in point the "Me2Cam" bundled kid's game/video camera won't work under W2K/XP. I'm sure there are lots more examples.

Also, there's no need to install every application under both OS'es. Quiksan may decide to use one OS for his business apps and whatever 32-bit games/programs he may use, and reserve the W98 OS specifically for DOS/W9x games. This approach would take up only a little more disk space than a single OS.

MDS · July 8th, 2004, 04:30 PM

why not just boot off win2k cd and make your partions and install win2k then format the second partion and install win98?

jmichna · July 8th, 2004, 04:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDS

why not just boot off win2k cd and make your partions and install win2k then format the second partion and install win98?

It can be done that way, but it's a harder, more round-about way in practice. W98 has no "awareness" of W2K/XP and will assume it's the sole OS. If W98 sees a newer version Windows OS installed, often it will just refuse to allow itself to install. W2K will understand when it sees the C: partition holding an existing W9x OS that it will be a multiboot system, and will create a boot.ini file that permits the user to select which OS is default, and allow them to select either one at boot up.

The BlackViper link http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/O...multiboot1.htm explains some of the reasons for the order the OCes are installed, plus he gives some reasons why multi-OS systems (like W98se/W2K) make sense.

Uncle Bob · July 8th, 2004, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MDS

why not just boot off win2k cd and make your partions and install win2k then format the second partion and install win98?

One reason is W98, it seems, MUST be on the C: drive. Un less some thing like Sys Commander is used.

Krawler · July 8th, 2004, 06:20 PM

Yes, Windows98 has no awareness of Windows XP.

When you install an operating system, it writes to the boot record on the hard disk. This tells the computer on which drive/partition the operating system
is loaded on.

If you have WindowsXP or Win2K installed, and then install Windows 98, the boot record is overwritten with just the information on which drive and partition Windows98 is written to and you have no dual boot menu. You have to repair WindowsXP or 2K to get the dual boot menu and it ain't ez.

If you have Windows98 installed and you install Xp or 2K, XP and 2K sees the 98 info written to the boot record and copies it to a different part of the record, writes it's own information and then incorporates the dual boot menu which will point to the correct area of the boot record to boot into either Windows XP/2K or Windows98 depending on what option you choose.

Hope this helps.