Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

Hello Hellas,

I have 2 HDs how do I set up my PC to boot from either? I have some very useful software that will only run from '98 so it would be good for me to do this.

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

You could setup a dual boot system (plenty out there on the web; google for dual boot xp 98), but that can be a bit of a hassle. Easiest (if you don't need to switch very often), is to simply go into the BIOS, and select the disk you want to boot from.

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

afaik you can only boot from a 'master' disk, not a 'slave', so to achieve what you want, you would have to partition your master disk, install the operating systems in the appropriate partition & configure the system so you can choose which one you boot from.

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

Thanks d! I'll do a google search and post my outcome!

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

yup i am with gaz on this one :)

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

If you install XP after 98 as a dualboot it re-writes the boot section of the primary drive so you can dual boot with an operating system on a second drive.

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

dammit i knew i would be wrong :(


good info though :)

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

didn't know that - thanks Paul :tu:

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

Most newer systems have an option to boot from HDD-0, HDD-1, HDD-2 and HDD-3, this covering all 4 IDE connection points, the probem is not booting, it's installing Windows 98 on any other drive but your Primary Master(IDE/HDD 0).

If for the sake of argument you have installed Win98 on a drive when it was primary master, then swapped it to be, say, secondary slave, then as long as the boot sequence in BIOS is changed to IDE/HDD 3 your computer should still boot from it.

Jon

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

will the software not run in compatibility mode on xp? or is it one of those stupid ones that refuses to do it like some versions of autocad?

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

When you have two OS/s, in this case 98/XP, don't you get a menu when you boot the PC asking what OS you want to go into?

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

You could get slide mounts for your hard drives and bay. Then you can shut down, change hard disk dead easy, then power up again. If the bios HD detection is set to auto then you don't need to do anything else.
The beauty of this is that if you ever get a second PC then you can just shove one of the drives in that and start using the o/s that's on it right away with the minimum of fuss.

OK its not ideal in every circumstance but its an another option. ;)

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

Hard drive caddys can be very useful :) Mine have fans to help cool the drives too:) Also allows you to have a reserve installation ready to run if anything happens to your primary drive :(

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

wouldnt the o/s get really pi$$ed off with the hardware change though :eek: :angel: :confused: , unless the pc was identical of course :)

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

I meant that if you were to eventually get another PC you'd then be able to have XP on one PC and win98 on the other PC (no need to swap hard drives around anymore) and ther would be no need for re-installs. Obviously there'd be an initial hardware detection when you first install the HD in the 2nd different PC but there'd be no messing about trying to make the dual boot system of drives o/s's back into independent bootable drives and all your data/apps are there ready.
Obviously it all falls down if you are needing to use the same data across both o/s (unless you network the PCs).

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

point noted :)

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

Normally the new OS you install sets up the boot.ini on the bootable drive, this gives you a menu to choose the OS you boot from. You can always edit this file too, but its normally hidden, uncheck the hide system files option in Windows Explorer options.

Here's my boot.ini, with a 3 second timeout to choose OS.

[boot loader]
timeout=3
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINNT="Microso ft Windows 2000 Professional" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(2)\WINNT="Microso ft Windows 2000 Server" /fastdetect
C:\="Microsoft Windows 98"

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

Setting up dual boot is very easy.

Win 98/ME both require to be on the C: drive but XP will happily sit on Z99 if you wanted.

You don't even need two HD's to set this up as you can simply repartition the drive so it has more than one partition btw.

To set up "Dual Boot" simply insert the XP cd while running Win 98 and when the install screen gives you the option select not to upgrade.

On the next screen go to the advanced options and confirm you want to nominate which partition is used for the XP install.

Later in the install process you will then be given the option to choose which partition to use and simply select D: or whatever drive you want from the list.

If you want to be able to "see" the data on the XP partition when you are running Win 98 you must remember to also specify that XP should leave the format of the drive unchanged. (ie still using Fat 32 not NTFS as Win98/ME can't read NTFS partitions)

On completion of the install you will see a new boot screen which gives the option of booting to either each time you reboot with the default being selected after 30 seconds.

You can change the default and the time delay for this boot screen in XP by going to the "System Properties" window Advanced tab and clicking on the "system startup system failure and debugging information" settings button.

One advantage of dual boot is that you will then have the ability to get the system running even if 98 or XP have crashed, but an added benefit is that the XP install will be completely "Clean" i.e. not linked to the original settings from the Win 98 registry.

A variation of this install is therefore to choose the "non-upgradeââ‚à ‚¬Ã‚ÂÂ� path, but specify to use the original C: partition for the install. This wont set up dual boot but will completely replace Win98 with a completely "clean" version of XP which IMHO is always the best option for XP.

Hope this has helped and please feel free to PM me if you have any questions or doubts about how to set this up.

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

My kids have a load of games that will only run under '98, but also I have an old copy of MATHCAD that is great under '98 but a definite no-no under XP

Re: Can I run XPH on one disk and Win 98SE on another?
 

The options are growing!!