Dual boot: Installing second copy of Win 2k

[JoanneW.]

I am attempting to install windows 2k on a hard drive in a machine that
has
already win 2k on the other drive. I want to do this so I can continue
using my existing
volume while I install the new win 2k on the other drive.

I formatted and partitioned the drive using the drive manufacturer's
setup floppy.

However when I attempt to install win 2k, win 2k setup says it needs to
install some
startup files on the old drive (the one that already has win 2k
installed) and that there is
no win 2k compatible partition on it. It directs me to go back to the
partition selection
screen and create a win 2k compatible partition on that drive.

Obviously, if I attempt to create a new partition from this screen I
will have to reformat
my existing win 2k drive, which I don t want to do.

Is there some way around this problem?

 

[ByTor]

I am attempting to install windows 2k on a hard drive in a machine that
has
already win 2k on the other drive. I want to do this so I can continue
using my existing
volume while I install the new win 2k on the other drive.

I formatted and partitioned the drive using the drive manufacturer's
setup floppy.

However when I attempt to install win 2k, win 2k setup says it needs to
install some
startup files on the old drive (the one that already has win 2k
installed) and that there is
no win 2k compatible partition on it. It directs me to go back to the
partition selection
screen and create a win 2k compatible partition on that drive.

Obviously, if I attempt to create a new partition from this screen I
will have to reformat
my existing win 2k drive, which I don t want to do.

Is there some way around this problem?

Technically "2" primary "active" partitions can not run at the same time
in windows. Basically what it wants to do is install a bootloader to run
the 2 OS's and these files will be placed on your main 2k(older)
In order to install Win2k to another harddrive it has to be a "logical"
drive because win2k's bootloader will not "hide" your second OS. In
order to do that successfully you need a "bootmanager" You may want to
read up on a good free one...XOSL.

http://www.onlythebestfreeware.com/program.asp?program_id=76

When the partitioning portion comes up you have to point it to your
other HD(new) and it will create what it has to(a logical partition)
Your manufacturer disk created a primary, a second OS on a seperate HD
cannot reside in a primary(unless as I stated you are using a good
bootmanager)......After you install the OS when you boot to your older
partition you "Will" see the other OS's drive in "my computer" so don't
screw with it...............


Good Luck!

 

[William W. Plummer]

I am attempting to install windows 2k on a hard drive in a machine that
has
already win 2k on the other drive. I want to do this so I can continue
using my existing
volume while I install the new win 2k on the other drive.

I formatted and partitioned the drive using the drive manufacturer's
setup floppy.

However when I attempt to install win 2k, win 2k setup says it needs to
install some
startup files on the old drive (the one that already has win 2k
installed) and that there is
no win 2k compatible partition on it. It directs me to go back to the
partition selection
screen and create a win 2k compatible partition on that drive.

Obviously, if I attempt to create a new partition from this screen I
will have to reformat
my existing win 2k drive, which I don t want to do.

Is there some way around this problem?

I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish, but I wanted a second copy
of Win2K just incase the main copy went bad somehow. This would let me at
least boot and dump my precious files out to a CDROM or a different hard
disk. So I just booted from the Win2K install disk(s), told it to install a
new copy (i.e., not to repair, not to exit). Instead of the default of
C:\WINNT , I told it C:\Win2K . It all goes fine. HOWEVER, you will have
different registries for the two installations and you need to be aware of
that. Look in Documents and Settings and you will see a second set of
profiles (all uses, Administrator, default, you, ...). BOOT.INI will be
automatically updated to let you select either system to bring up. I add
/basevideo to my "emergency" system so it doesn't require any fancy display
features that could prevent the system from coming up for rescue purposes.
I suppose you could put the second system in some other partition, but that
won't insulate you from a hard disk crash. Putting it on a different hard
drive makes sense however.

 

[JoanneW.]

Technically "2" primary "active" partitions can not run at the same time
in windows. Basically what it wants to do is install a bootloader to run
the 2 OS's and these files will be placed on your main 2k(older)
In order to install Win2k to another harddrive it has to be a "logical"
drive because win2k's bootloader will not "hide" your second OS. In
order to do that successfully you need a "bootmanager" You may want to
read up on a good free one...XOSL.

http://www.onlythebestfreeware.com/program.asp?program_id=76

When the partitioning portion comes up you have to point it to your
other HD(new) and it will create what it has to(a logical partition)
Your manufacturer disk created a primary, a second OS on a seperate HD
cannot reside in a primary(unless as I stated you are using a good
bootmanager)......After you install the OS when you boot to your older
partition you "Will" see the other OS's drive in "my computer" so don't
screw with it...............

Good Luck!

I had created two partitions in the 2nd drive with the manufacturer's disk.

I downloaded and tried to run XOSL but got an error message "Display
controller not supported!" during install.

Would creating a logical drive with FDisk or some other program work?

 

[Dave Patrick]

Easiest to delete any partitions created on the second drive then either
boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup disks. The set of four install
disks can be created from your Windows 2000 CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk
directory on the CD-Rom and execute makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe
(from 32 bit) and follow the prompts. Then install to the unallocated space
on drive1 (second drive)

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
Microsoft Certified Professional [Windows 2000]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect.


"JoanneW."wrote:
| I am attempting to install windows 2k on a hard drive in a machine that
| has
| already win 2k on the other drive. I want to do this so I can continue
| using my existing
| volume while I install the new win 2k on the other drive.
|
| I formatted and partitioned the drive using the drive manufacturer's
| setup floppy.
|
| However when I attempt to install win 2k, win 2k setup says it needs to
| install some
| startup files on the old drive (the one that already has win 2k
| installed) and that there is
| no win 2k compatible partition on it. It directs me to go back to the
| partition selection
| screen and create a win 2k compatible partition on that drive.
|
| Obviously, if I attempt to create a new partition from this screen I
| will have to reformat
| my existing win 2k drive, which I don t want to do.
|
| Is there some way around this problem?
|
|

 

[JoanneW.]

I'm not sure what you are trying to accomplish, but I wanted a second copy
of Win2K just incase the main copy went bad somehow. This would let me at
least boot and dump my precious files out to a CDROM or a different hard
disk. So I just booted from the Win2K install disk(s), told it to install a
new copy (i.e., not to repair, not to exit). Instead of the default of
C:\WINNT , I told it C:\Win2K . It all goes fine. HOWEVER, you will have
different registries for the two installations and you need to be aware of
that. Look in Documents and Settings and you will see a second set of
profiles (all uses, Administrator, default, you, ...). BOOT.INI will be
automatically updated to let you select either system to bring up. I add
/basevideo to my "emergency" system so it doesn't require any fancy display
features that could prevent the system from coming up for rescue purposes.
I suppose you could put the second system in some other partition, but that
won't insulate you from a hard disk crash. Putting it on a different hard
drive makes sense however.

I am trying to put a 2nd copy of win 2k on a different hard drive.
Like you mentioned, there are good reasons to create a dual boot of the same
operating system. I can keep my "old" system while I install the "new" one,
taking my time rather than trying to do it in a day. Perhaps I could switch off
every other year creating a new one on the other drive when the old one got
corrupted or slow.

 

[Jisha]

Hi Joanne,

With an already working Win2000 system, you have the advantage of not
needing to use the manufacturers disks or the Win2000 CD to set up the
drive. Simply boot the existing installation and set-up the drives in Disk
Management.
Right-Click MY Computer>> Manage>> Disk Management.
Right-Click on the new drive, shown in the lower pane, for various options.

Also...

I can keep my "old" system while I install the "new" one,
taking my time rather than trying to do it in a day. Perhaps I could switch off
every other year creating a new one on the other drive when the old one got
corrupted or slow.

My sense is you really don't need to dual-boot.

Seems more like you would benefit by installing your Hard-Drives into
removable cartridges .
(example : http://www.lianli.com/mobile_racks_pages/ATA-66_racks.htm )
With this, you can relatively easily swap-out hard-drives for maintenance,
back-ups, etc.
(some, not all, are hot-swappable)
Then use a product like Norton Ghost to clone your existing system drive...
if it's running well enough to keep.

Alternatively, swap out the existing/new system drive depending on whether
you're working on setting up the new installation or simply using the
computer for work or play.

This would allow you to keep the 2 OS installations from becoming
intertwined (Dual-boot scenario) and still provide the convenience of
booting to different installations until you're ready to commit to using the
new installation. Then, you can convert the existing system drive to a
Back-up installation drive, by cloning the new installation over the old.

If you decide to go with a new, independent installation, I would strongly
recommend that you separate your important data files onto a separate hard
drive.

Reply for further info, if interested.

Chris

 

[JoanneW.]

Easiest to delete any partitions created on the second drive

Delete with what program? Win 2k setup still asks to install some files on a win
2k compatible partition in the first drive and indicates that there is no such
partition existing.

then either
boot the Windows 2000 install CD-Rom or setup disks. The set of four install
disks can be created from your Windows 2000 CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk
directory on the CD-Rom and execute makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe
(from 32 bit) and follow the prompts. Then install to the unallocated space
on drive1 (second drive)

--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
Microsoft Certified Professional [Windows 2000]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect.

"JoanneW."wrote:
| I am attempting to install windows 2k on a hard drive in a machine that
| has
| already win 2k on the other drive. I want to do this so I can continue
| using my existing
| volume while I install the new win 2k on the other drive.
|
| I formatted and partitioned the drive using the drive manufacturer's
| setup floppy.
|
| However when I attempt to install win 2k, win 2k setup says it needs to
| install some
| startup files on the old drive (the one that already has win 2k
| installed) and that there is
| no win 2k compatible partition on it. It directs me to go back to the
| partition selection
| screen and create a win 2k compatible partition on that drive.
|
| Obviously, if I attempt to create a new partition from this screen I
| will have to reformat
| my existing win 2k drive, which I don t want to do.
|
| Is there some way around this problem?
|
|

 

[Dave Patrick]

If I understand correctly you now have two drives installed with Windows
2000 currently installed to drive0. Now you wish to install a second
instance of Windows 2000 on drive1 If this is the case then the easiest
method is to start Windows 2000 and use Disk Management to delete all
partition information on drive1 then either boot the Windows 2000 install
CD-Rom or setup disks. The set of four install disks can be created from
your Windows 2000 CD-Rom; change to the \bootdisk directory on the CD-Rom
and execute makeboot.exe (from dos) or makebt32.exe (from 32 bit) and follow
the prompts. Then install to the unallocated space on drive1 (second drive)




--
Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft MVP [Windows NT/2000 Operating Systems]
Microsoft Certified Professional [Windows 2000]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect.


:
| Delete with what program? Win 2k setup still asks to install some files on
a win
| 2k compatible partition in the first drive and indicates that there is no
such
| partition existing.

 

[ByTor]

I had created two partitions in the 2nd drive with the manufacturer's disk.

I downloaded and tried to run XOSL but got an error message "Display
controller not supported!" during install.

Would creating a logical drive with FDisk or some other program work?

As Dave suggested wipe out the entire second drive. You can use Win2k's
computer management for this....Ctrl Panel/Administrative Tools/Computer
Management.....Under storage highlight "Disk Management." Delete all
partitions.....Leave the entire drive as "unallocated space." Boot the
Win2k setup CD.....IT has to put certain files on your first OS in order
for you to boot between the 2 OS's.....When it asks where you want to
install point it at the "unallocated space" on the second drive, it will
do what it has to and install.
Dual booting is tricky in itself, I myself have 4 OS's running on 1
Harddrive.....They are all primaries but I use "BootMagic" to boot
between all four...It successfully does this because it "Hides" the
primary status of the drives....As I stated earlier, you cannot have
more than 1 primary "active" partition running at the same time....Your
setup may be confusing itself because of the existing "primary" status
of the partition your Manuf disk created.....that's why you need to wipe
it out....Win2k's setup knows what it's doing......

Sorry to hear about XOSL, but it is a DOS sorta program and the screen
resolution may have to be lower to run it....But I'm not sure.

Good Luck!

 

[Gert B. Frob]

I am attempting to install windows 2k on a hard drive in a machine that
has
already win 2k on the other drive. I want to do this so I can continue
using my existing
volume while I install the new win 2k on the other drive.

I formatted and partitioned the drive using the drive manufacturer's
setup floppy.

However when I attempt to install win 2k, win 2k setup says it needs to
install some
startup files on the old drive (the one that already has win 2k
installed) and that there is
no win 2k compatible partition on it. It directs me to go back to the
partition selection
screen and create a win 2k compatible partition on that drive.

Obviously, if I attempt to create a new partition from this screen I
will have to reformat
my existing win 2k drive, which I don t want to do.

Is there some way around this problem?

Joanne,

I have always used Partition Magic and the included Boot Magic for cases
such as this. By installing Boot Magic to the existing W2k installation,
you can completely hide the existing partitions on your first hard disk on a
subsequent reboot. You can then install the new copy of W2k on the visible
second disk as you see fit. This is a $ solution, though.

http://www.symantec.com/partitionmagic/index.html

It would seem that ByTor's free boot manager has the same capability, but I
have no experience with it.

In any event, you should get the assistance of someone that knows these
things well, as programs such as Partition Magic can cause major problems if
used incorrectly. Please back up all of your important data prior to
proceeding.