New XP install keeping dual boot

[Guille]

Hi group,

I have 2 (physical) HD's:

1- WinMe
2- WinXP Home Ed.

As I never use Win Me (1st HD) I'd like to replace it with a new install of
WinXP.
I'd like to do a clean install (even formatting).
Would I be able to keep the dual boot so instead of giving me the options
WinME/WinXP it would give me WinXP/WinXP?
Can I have some help on that as I don't want to lose the dual boot?

Thanks so much!

Guille

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

You will retain dual boot, as you expect. Make certain you delete the
relevant partition on the desired drive. Then create a new partition and
format said partition (suggest NTFS of course).

You should be able to get into either copy of Windows XP when you are done.
Whether this is legal, or not, I will leave for others to discuss. I have no
moral problem with doing so myself!

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Guille]

But I believe the boot file is in the first drive (the one I want to
format).
Won't I get rid of the dual boot if I delete this file when formatting?

Thanks a lot!


Guille

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

It will recreate the necessary boot files on drive C: when you install the
new system. These files will then be used to get into both operating
systems. Remember to keep both system updated. Install a firewall and
antivirus on BOTH systems.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Guille]

Thanks, Crusty,

Shall I install from ME or boot from the CD?

Guille

 

[Crusty \(-: Old B@stard :-\)]

NO! NO! NO!

DO NOT install from ME.

Boot from the CD! Read each screen carefully and understand your choices
before you click on anything.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

Thanks, Crusty,

Shall I install from ME or boot from the CD?

Guille

It will recreate the necessary boot files on drive C: when you install the
new system. These files will then be used to get into both operating
systems. Remember to keep both system updated. Install a firewall and
antivirus on BOTH systems.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Guille]

Ok, Thanks a lot!

Guille

NO! NO! NO!

DO NOT install from ME.

Boot from the CD! Read each screen carefully and understand your choices
before you click on anything.

--
Regards:

Richard Urban

aka Crusty (-: Old B@stard

 

[Alex Nichol]

I have 2 (physical) HD's:

1- WinMe
2- WinXP Home Ed.

As I never use Win Me (1st HD) I'd like to replace it with a new install of
WinXP.
I'd like to do a clean install (even formatting).
Would I be able to keep the dual boot so instead of giving me the options
WinME/WinXP it would give me WinXP/WinXP?
Can I have some help on that as I don't want to lose the dual boot?

I would do this by starting with a clean install on that ME disk (which
is where the initial boot is), then when the install is complete, set up
the dual. Set BIOS to boot CD before HD, then boot the XP CD direct.
Enter Setup, and after the license agreement take New Install. When it
asks you to confirm where, hit ESC; select and delete the current (ME)
partition and make a new RAW one to be formatted at the next stage

The important point is the delete. Without that it will just go ahead
and make a new install over the top of the old one

Carry on and complete Setup. Once done and checked, boot the CD again.
This time reconstruct the Boot.ini file, by entering the R for recovery
instead of he Setup, and at the prompt give

ATTRIB -H -R -S C:\Boot.ini
BootCfg /Rebuild

This will search the disks for instances of Windows and make the new
dual boot file