Windows XP and Windows 98 SE [Dual Operating System]

[nick0219]

Hey how do i set up my harddrive. i have windows xp installed and i want to install windows 98 on the same drive. how do i do this so i can access any drive i want to? thanks for help

 

[tecknomage]

If you didn't partition your hard drive when you installed WinXP, you have a problem.

You have 2 options:

• Reinstall WinXP and partition the drive on this go around
• Use a 3rd-party partition utility

The best 3rd-party partition utility I've use is Partition Magic.

This utility has been a god-send. It can repartition (with format) a drive that already has software on it. It can resize partitions, again with data on the partition. Fix MBR.

It can copy a partition to another hard drive. This is the feature that allowed me to install a new hard drive and copy my original C: + D: to it and the new drive booted without a hitch.

Partition Magic is worth every penny

In your case, if you use Partition Magic or some other such utility:

1. Make a backup of your hard drive first
2. Optimize the hard drive
3. Now run the utility and pick a partition size and format it FAT32 (for Win98), new partition at the end of the original partition of course
4. Now run a Win98 install and select the new partition

 

[Elvandil]

In order to access all drives, you either need to install XP to a FAT32 formatted drive, or install NTFS drivers in 98 to access XP's NTFS drives.

An even better solution may be one of many emulators, some good ones of which are free. Virtual PC, Parallels Workstation, and VirtualBox are good, free ones and you could then run XP and 98 at the same time with no partitioning needed and very easy uninstallation if you change your mind or want to use a different operating system.

 

[nick0219]

thanks, i have partition majic. but one time when i used it for my desktop it erased my HD and i had to re-install windows and all my **** was gone!!. i was pissed

 

[Elvandil]

Try another partitioner. Anything is better than Partition Magic. Paragon Partition Manager, Acronis suite, and many others.

 

[nick0219]

ok so the first step i have to reformat my harddrive completly, correct.

then i install xp over again and use a partition software. then i seperate the HD's and i install windows 98 SE on one of them?

correct

 

[Elvandil]

You'll need to set up your partitions before installing anything. You would be better off formatting your partitions later, except for the one that you need to format for the installation.

So, set up your partitions, format one as FAT32, and install 98 to it.

Then, boot from your XP CD and install XP to another partition. Formatting is part of XP setup so do it from there (NTFS). XP setup will automatically detect the presence of 98 and set up a dual-boot menu for you.

After that, format any other partitions you may have from Disk Management within XP. If you want the partitions to be accessible from both 98 and XP, format them as FAT32.

 

[nick0219]

but...how do i install that program if i don't have an OS installed? ok see i have reformatted my FAT32 HD. and now its just says operating system not found?