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Here: Home > Dual-Boot > Install any Win9x on XP/2K/NT (NTFS) system > Dual-Boot or Multi-Boot:Method #1: Use the same hard disk to install Win9x/Me on an NTFS system (XP/2K/NT)Reviewed: July 2005You can install Windows Me, 98SE, 98, 95 on a XP, 2K, NT PC that already uses only the NTFS file system. You can then select either Windows from a Boot Menu during boot up. No third-party boot utility is used here. The method described here (Method #1) uses a single hard disk though you must create a FAT or FAT32 partition after the NTFS partition. You can use free space (if any) at the end of the disk, or convert an unused/unessential NTFS partition. Otherwise you need a third-party partition utility to ceate the FAT/32 partition without loss of data. If you prefer to use a second hard disk please go to this page (Method #2). It's important to follow the instructions exactly as stated on this page. Summary of procedure: (Advanced users) A XP/2K (NTFS) + Win9x dual-boot must be based on the PC's system partition being a FAT/32 Primary partition (on the Primary Master). A Primary partition should be created after the NTFS partition. The new Primary is Formatted using FAT32 or FAT, and made Active. A Win9x is installed on this Active Primary FAT/32 partition. Then a new Windows XP/2K installation is aborted as soon as it has created a new XP/2K boot sector on that FAT/32 partition (plus placing its boot files, including Bootsect.dos, there). Finally, XP/2K's temporary (installation) Boot.ini on the Win9x partition is corrected to reflect the two fully installed Windows. Finished. End Result: When booted to Win9x, the NTFS partition(s) will be ignored. This means the Win9x partition will be the C: drive (as is normal). All Win9x software will function in the normal manner. The XP/2K NTFS partition(s) will not be visible. When booted to XP/2K, Windows XP will retain the original drive letter (usually C:) for its boot partition. All installed software will continue to run correctly. This is an advantage of creating a FAT/32 partition AFTER the NTFS partition(s). The Win9x partition (FAT/32) will be visible and will be allocated the next available drive letter (sometimes after the CD letter). This is not a problem as Win9x software will not be run from XP/2K. Failsafe! If, for some unknown reason, the procedure does not work, boot from the XP/2K installation CD. Press R (and then C for 2K) to enter the Recovery Console. Log on to the XP/2K installation. At the prompt, run fixboot C:, where C is the drive letter allocated to the (first) NTFS partition. Then run bootcfg /rebuild. You will also have a Rescue Boot Disk that will let you boot XP/2K. Notes • For some users the new FAT/32 (Win9x's) boot partition must begin before a certain physical distance from start of hard disk. This is 2 TB for Win98+ if the system fully supports INT13 Extensions (supported by all new PCs for some years). Otherwise, 8 GB for Win98/Me, or 2 GB for Win95. • On fast PC systems, some versions of Win95 may not install, or may install and then refuse to run. Read Win95b,c on Fast PCs for a possible fix. • Remember Win9x will not see an NTFS partition, so some drive letters can be different under different OSs. Label all partitions from under XP/2K for positive identification if you have many partitions. • If repartitioning, you must use a third-party utility or you will lose all data. [top of page] How to create a second Primary partition on an NTFS hard disk:One NTFS hard disk can be used but you need a FAT or FAT32 partition on that disk.Win9x/DOS cannot create a second PRIMARY partition (DOS does internally support multiple Primary partitions). However, the XP/2K's Disk Management program (in Administrative Tools > Computer Management) can be used to create the second Primary partition as it does support the creation of multiple primary partitions. Disk Management does not support repartitioning. Possible Options: 1. Unallocated free space at the end of the disk can be made a FAT/32 Primary using XP/2K's Disk Management. 2. An unnessary NTFS partition can be converted to a FAT/32 Primary using XP/2K's Disk Management. 3. THPC always repartitions with the PartitionMagic floppy disks, version 5.0+. 4. You can try a free partition utility to repartition - read Boot & Disk Utilities You can also use another hard disk - that's Method #2 - click here read about it. [top of page] Procedure: Install Win9x on XP/2K (NTFS) system (same disk)
• Delete the temporary $win_nt$.~ folders on the FAT/32 partition. (they're useless now). • If it was previously installed, uninstall the Recovery Console, and then reinstall it (recommended). • If rebooting for driver installation, be sure to select the correct OS from the Boot Menu! • Rename/delete the XP/2K boot files that still exist on the NTFS partition. Wait until you are sure you wish to continue with your new configuration in the long term. [top of page] Default Boot and Boot DelaySpecifying the Default Windows to Boot, and the Boot Menu delay (the Timeout):When you have established a dual-boot, you'll want to set which OS boots by default. You can set the default OS (and the timeout) via Control Panel.
[top of page] Dual-Boot Centre [top of page] * ALWAYS BACKUP FIRST * ALWAYS RECORD SETTINGS * ALWAYS MAKE ONE CHANGE AT A TIME TweakHomePC is at: www.thpc.info Copyright © LarryM 1998-2007 thpc@mail.com |
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