Dual-boot of 98 & XP - problem with drive assignments...

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=?ISO-8859-1?Q?Phil_H=FChn?=

[Using XP-SP1, 98-OSR2]
Hi, I have the classic problem with drive assignments with a 98/XP
dual-boot system.
I have a new hard disk, partitioned into 2 drives: "1-OS" (C:) and
"1-Data" (D:). Because I'll mainly be using XP, I installed windows98 on
D:1-Data, then XP on C:1-OS.
Everything works great, dual-boot is the way I expect it.
However the problems started when I added a second hard drive,
partitioned into 2 drives: "2-OS" and 2-Data".
a) Under XP, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS, D:1-Data, E:2-OS, F:2-Data.
b) However when I choose to boot 98, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS,
D:2-OS, E:1-Data, F:2-Data. Therefore the drive that I originally
installed 98 on (D:1-Data) is now E: and of course 98 does not boot.
There are many configuration files for 98 that have D: in them, so since
the drive has now the E: assignment, 98 cannot find necessary files.
It seems once the XP bootloader has handed over control to DOS and the
98 startup sequence, I'm stuffed, because of the way drive letters are
assigned under DOS.

I have known about this drive letter assignment issue for many years but
thought I'd be able to work something out in this new setup. Currently
the only way I can start 98 is to turn off the computer and unplug the
second disk, then the system is as it was when 98 was installed on D:.
Obviously I want to avoid plugging/unplugging the second disk more than
is necessary.

I decided to try an autoexec/config.sys menu under DOS, so that after
selecting 98 from the XP boot loader I then get the DOS menu, and from
that I select an 'option-D' or 'option-E', i.e whether I want 98 to
start from D: or E:. I.e the idea being that if only one disk is plugged
in then I select option-D where 98 is on D: (original installation
config). If I select 'option-E' then this assumes that the second disk
is attached and 98 is on E:. So take a copy of all configuration files
that contain D: and create/use a version of then where D: has been
replaced with E:. The trouble with this second option is that there are
so many references to drive letters to change (autoexec, config.sys,
many windows files), and I haven't managed to get this going, the
changes are just too big.
I also used the SUBST command to try and help set up a D: <-> E: mapping
but this didn't help.
I've tried to find utilities to force the drive letter assignments under
98 to be the same as XP, but no luck - by the time DOS has booted it
seems too late.
I'm also wondering whether this drive letter assignment behaviour is
even enshrined in the way PC bios does (and has always) work, and the
different XP drive lettering is simply a clever XP tweak.


The only solution I currently have is to start with a freshly formatted
disk and put 98 on C: and XP on D:, but am concerned that I may start
having problems with XP. Also XP is the operating system I use most, so
would prefer that to be my main disk, and avoid any installation issues
with 'rogue' software.

If you got this far then thanks for reading! Any suggestions for solving
this problem are welcome...
Thanks in advance
(Please respond to microsoft.public.win98.disks.general)
 
HOW TO: Create a Multiple-Boot System in Windows XP
http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;306559&Product=winxp

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows XP - Shell/User

Be Smart! Protect your PC!
http://www.microsoft.com/security/protect/

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


| [Using XP-SP1, 98-OSR2]
| Hi, I have the classic problem with drive assignments with a 98/XP
| dual-boot system.
| I have a new hard disk, partitioned into 2 drives: "1-OS" (C:) and
| "1-Data" (D:). Because I'll mainly be using XP, I installed windows98 on
| D:1-Data, then XP on C:1-OS.
| Everything works great, dual-boot is the way I expect it.
| However the problems started when I added a second hard drive,
| partitioned into 2 drives: "2-OS" and 2-Data".
| a) Under XP, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS, D:1-Data, E:2-OS, F:2-Data.
| b) However when I choose to boot 98, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS,
| D:2-OS, E:1-Data, F:2-Data. Therefore the drive that I originally
| installed 98 on (D:1-Data) is now E: and of course 98 does not boot.
| There are many configuration files for 98 that have D: in them, so since
| the drive has now the E: assignment, 98 cannot find necessary files.
| It seems once the XP bootloader has handed over control to DOS and the
| 98 startup sequence, I'm stuffed, because of the way drive letters are
| assigned under DOS.
|
| I have known about this drive letter assignment issue for many years but
| thought I'd be able to work something out in this new setup. Currently
| the only way I can start 98 is to turn off the computer and unplug the
| second disk, then the system is as it was when 98 was installed on D:.
| Obviously I want to avoid plugging/unplugging the second disk more than
| is necessary.
|
| I decided to try an autoexec/config.sys menu under DOS, so that after
| selecting 98 from the XP boot loader I then get the DOS menu, and from
| that I select an 'option-D' or 'option-E', i.e whether I want 98 to
| start from D: or E:. I.e the idea being that if only one disk is plugged
| in then I select option-D where 98 is on D: (original installation
| config). If I select 'option-E' then this assumes that the second disk
| is attached and 98 is on E:. So take a copy of all configuration files
| that contain D: and create/use a version of then where D: has been
| replaced with E:. The trouble with this second option is that there are
| so many references to drive letters to change (autoexec, config.sys,
| many windows files), and I haven't managed to get this going, the
| changes are just too big.
| I also used the SUBST command to try and help set up a D: <-> E: mapping
| but this didn't help.
| I've tried to find utilities to force the drive letter assignments under
| 98 to be the same as XP, but no luck - by the time DOS has booted it
| seems too late.
| I'm also wondering whether this drive letter assignment behaviour is
| even enshrined in the way PC bios does (and has always) work, and the
| different XP drive lettering is simply a clever XP tweak.
|
|
| The only solution I currently have is to start with a freshly formatted
| disk and put 98 on C: and XP on D:, but am concerned that I may start
| having problems with XP. Also XP is the operating system I use most, so
| would prefer that to be my main disk, and avoid any installation issues
| with 'rogue' software.
|
| If you got this far then thanks for reading! Any suggestions for solving
| this problem are welcome...
| Thanks in advance
| (Please respond to microsoft.public.win98.disks.general)
 
I've never actually tried using Letter Assigner -
http://www.v72735.f2s.com/LetAssig/
but it might solve the problem.

Good luck.

Bob

[Using XP-SP1, 98-OSR2]
Hi, I have the classic problem with drive assignments with a 98/XP
dual-boot system.
I have a new hard disk, partitioned into 2 drives: "1-OS" (C:) and
"1-Data" (D:). Because I'll mainly be using XP, I installed windows98 on
D:1-Data, then XP on C:1-OS.
Everything works great, dual-boot is the way I expect it.
However the problems started when I added a second hard drive,
partitioned into 2 drives: "2-OS" and 2-Data".
a) Under XP, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS, D:1-Data, E:2-OS, F:2-Data.
b) However when I choose to boot 98, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS,
D:2-OS, E:1-Data, F:2-Data. Therefore the drive that I originally
installed 98 on (D:1-Data) is now E: and of course 98 does not boot.
There are many configuration files for 98 that have D: in them, so since
the drive has now the E: assignment, 98 cannot find necessary files.
It seems once the XP bootloader has handed over control to DOS and the
98 startup sequence, I'm stuffed, because of the way drive letters are
assigned under DOS.

I have known about this drive letter assignment issue for many years but
thought I'd be able to work something out in this new setup. Currently
the only way I can start 98 is to turn off the computer and unplug the
second disk, then the system is as it was when 98 was installed on D:.
Obviously I want to avoid plugging/unplugging the second disk more than
is necessary.

I decided to try an autoexec/config.sys menu under DOS, so that after
selecting 98 from the XP boot loader I then get the DOS menu, and from
that I select an 'option-D' or 'option-E', i.e whether I want 98 to
start from D: or E:. I.e the idea being that if only one disk is plugged
in then I select option-D where 98 is on D: (original installation
config). If I select 'option-E' then this assumes that the second disk
is attached and 98 is on E:. So take a copy of all configuration files
that contain D: and create/use a version of then where D: has been
replaced with E:. The trouble with this second option is that there are
so many references to drive letters to change (autoexec, config.sys,
many windows files), and I haven't managed to get this going, the
changes are just too big.
I also used the SUBST command to try and help set up a D: <-> E: mapping
but this didn't help.
I've tried to find utilities to force the drive letter assignments under
98 to be the same as XP, but no luck - by the time DOS has booted it
seems too late.
I'm also wondering whether this drive letter assignment behaviour is
even enshrined in the way PC bios does (and has always) work, and the
different XP drive lettering is simply a clever XP tweak.


The only solution I currently have is to start with a freshly formatted
disk and put 98 on C: and XP on D:, but am concerned that I may start
having problems with XP. Also XP is the operating system I use most, so
would prefer that to be my main disk, and avoid any installation issues
with 'rogue' software.

If you got this far then thanks for reading! Any suggestions for solving
this problem are welcome...
Thanks in advance
(Please respond to microsoft.public.win98.disks.general)
Click to expand...
 
Bob said:
I've never actually tried using Letter Assigner -
http://www.v72735.f2s.com/LetAssig/
but it might solve the problem.

Good luck.

Bob

[Using XP-SP1, 98-OSR2]
Hi, I have the classic problem with drive assignments with a 98/XP
dual-boot system.
I have a new hard disk, partitioned into 2 drives: "1-OS" (C:) and
"1-Data" (D:). Because I'll mainly be using XP, I installed windows98
on D:1-Data, then XP on C:1-OS.
Everything works great, dual-boot is the way I expect it.
However the problems started when I added a second hard drive,
partitioned into 2 drives: "2-OS" and 2-Data".
a) Under XP, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS, D:1-Data, E:2-OS,
F:2-Data.
b) However when I choose to boot 98, the drive assignments are:
C:1-OS, D:2-OS, E:1-Data, F:2-Data. Therefore the drive that I
originally installed 98 on (D:1-Data) is now E: and of course 98 does
not boot. There are many configuration files for 98 that have D: in
them, so since the drive has now the E: assignment, 98 cannot find
necessary files.
It seems once the XP bootloader has handed over control to DOS and the
98 startup sequence, I'm stuffed, because of the way drive letters are
assigned under DOS.

I have known about this drive letter assignment issue for many years
but thought I'd be able to work something out in this new setup.
Currently the only way I can start 98 is to turn off the computer and
unplug the second disk, then the system is as it was when 98 was
installed on D:.
Obviously I want to avoid plugging/unplugging the second disk more
than is necessary.

I decided to try an autoexec/config.sys menu under DOS, so that after
selecting 98 from the XP boot loader I then get the DOS menu, and from
that I select an 'option-D' or 'option-E', i.e whether I want 98 to
start from D: or E:. I.e the idea being that if only one disk is
plugged in then I select option-D where 98 is on D: (original
installation config). If I select 'option-E' then this assumes that
the second disk is attached and 98 is on E:. So take a copy of all
configuration files that contain D: and create/use a version of then
where D: has been replaced with E:. The trouble with this second
option is that there are so many references to drive letters to change
(autoexec, config.sys, many windows files), and I haven't managed to
get this going, the changes are just too big.
I also used the SUBST command to try and help set up a D: <-> E:
mapping but this didn't help.
I've tried to find utilities to force the drive letter assignments
under 98 to be the same as XP, but no luck - by the time DOS has
booted it seems too late.
I'm also wondering whether this drive letter assignment behaviour is
even enshrined in the way PC bios does (and has always) work, and the
different XP drive lettering is simply a clever XP tweak.


The only solution I currently have is to start with a freshly
formatted disk and put 98 on C: and XP on D:, but am concerned that I
may start having problems with XP. Also XP is the operating system I
use most, so would prefer that to be my main disk, and avoid any
installation issues with 'rogue' software.

If you got this far then thanks for reading! Any suggestions for
solving this problem are welcome...
Thanks in advance
(Please respond to microsoft.public.win98.disks.general)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Unfortunately I've already tried that and other than the fact that it
runs within 98 itself (so the system has to be up), I could't find a way
to alter the drive that 98 itself is on.
 
"1-Data" (D:). Because I'll mainly be using XP, I installed windows98 on
D:1-Data, then XP on C:1-OS.

There's your problem. Drive letter assignments will shift if you add a
second drive afterwards, by installing them both to c: you can avoid your
problem.

BTW, in case of XP you can change drive letter assignments (however avoid
this in case of the system drive) in 98 you can't. I'd distrust any 3rd
party tools that claim to be able to do so unless you enjoy walking on thin
ice.

Another (commercial) solution to your problem is included with Symantec
Partition Magic: Drive Mapper. Drive Mapper doesn't change drive letters, it
changes references pointing to drive letters. So if d: shifted to e: you can
use Drive Mapper to tell Windows and all apps that instead of looking at d:
they should be looking at e:.
 
98 should'nt see the XP partitions, if you're using NTFS on the XP
partitions 98 won't see the XP partitions and you should'nt have a problem,
unless it totally crucial that these drives be accessible whilst in 98.

NTFS is actually better suited for XP and should be used as the file system
if possible.


Phil Hühn said:
[Using XP-SP1, 98-OSR2]
Hi, I have the classic problem with drive assignments with a 98/XP
dual-boot system.
I have a new hard disk, partitioned into 2 drives: "1-OS" (C:) and
"1-Data" (D:). Because I'll mainly be using XP, I installed windows98 on
D:1-Data, then XP on C:1-OS.
Everything works great, dual-boot is the way I expect it.
However the problems started when I added a second hard drive,
partitioned into 2 drives: "2-OS" and 2-Data".
a) Under XP, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS, D:1-Data, E:2-OS, F:2-Data.
b) However when I choose to boot 98, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS,
D:2-OS, E:1-Data, F:2-Data. Therefore the drive that I originally
installed 98 on (D:1-Data) is now E: and of course 98 does not boot.
There are many configuration files for 98 that have D: in them, so since
the drive has now the E: assignment, 98 cannot find necessary files.
It seems once the XP bootloader has handed over control to DOS and the
98 startup sequence, I'm stuffed, because of the way drive letters are
assigned under DOS.

I have known about this drive letter assignment issue for many years but
thought I'd be able to work something out in this new setup. Currently
the only way I can start 98 is to turn off the computer and unplug the
second disk, then the system is as it was when 98 was installed on D:.
Obviously I want to avoid plugging/unplugging the second disk more than
is necessary.

I decided to try an autoexec/config.sys menu under DOS, so that after
selecting 98 from the XP boot loader I then get the DOS menu, and from
that I select an 'option-D' or 'option-E', i.e whether I want 98 to
start from D: or E:. I.e the idea being that if only one disk is plugged
in then I select option-D where 98 is on D: (original installation
config). If I select 'option-E' then this assumes that the second disk
is attached and 98 is on E:. So take a copy of all configuration files
that contain D: and create/use a version of then where D: has been
replaced with E:. The trouble with this second option is that there are
so many references to drive letters to change (autoexec, config.sys,
many windows files), and I haven't managed to get this going, the
changes are just too big.
I also used the SUBST command to try and help set up a D: <-> E: mapping
but this didn't help.
I've tried to find utilities to force the drive letter assignments under
98 to be the same as XP, but no luck - by the time DOS has booted it
seems too late.
I'm also wondering whether this drive letter assignment behaviour is
even enshrined in the way PC bios does (and has always) work, and the
different XP drive lettering is simply a clever XP tweak.


The only solution I currently have is to start with a freshly formatted
disk and put 98 on C: and XP on D:, but am concerned that I may start
having problems with XP. Also XP is the operating system I use most, so
would prefer that to be my main disk, and avoid any installation issues
with 'rogue' software.

If you got this far then thanks for reading! Any suggestions for solving
this problem are welcome...
Thanks in advance
(Please respond to microsoft.public.win98.disks.general)
Click to expand...
 
Joep said:
"1-Data" (D:). Because I'll mainly be using XP, I installed windows98 on
D:1-Data, then XP on C:1-OS.

There's your problem. Drive letter assignments will shift if you add a
second drive afterwards,
Click to expand...
Yes I KNOW that
by installing them both to c: you can avoid your
problem.
Click to expand...
microsloth advise against two systems on one drive, and this is a rare
case where I'll heed their warning, such is the nature of their systems
BTW, in case of XP you can change drive letter assignments (however avoid
this in case of the system drive)
Click to expand...
(Well then there's no point)
in 98 you can't. I'd distrust any 3rd
party tools that claim to be able to do so unless you enjoy walking on thin
ice.

Another (commercial) solution to your problem is included with Symantec
Partition Magic: Drive Mapper. Drive Mapper doesn't change drive letters, it
changes references pointing to drive letters. So if d: shifted to e: you can
use Drive Mapper to tell Windows and all apps that instead of looking at d:
they should be looking at e:.
Click to expand...
Thanks, maybe I have to resort to using P.M.
 
Telos said:
98 should'nt see the XP partitions, if you're using NTFS on the XP
partitions 98 won't see the XP partitions and you should'nt have a problem,
unless it totally crucial that these drives be accessible whilst in 98.
Click to expand...
Yes, I use common applications & data from 98 and XP, hence a need for
FAT32. Also although I haven't tried it, even if (when the second HD is
attached) '2-OS' was NTFS and DOS/98 couldn't read it, I wonder whether
'1-Data' would change from D: to E: .....
NTFS is actually better suited for XP and should be used as the file system
if possible.


[Using XP-SP1, 98-OSR2]
Hi, I have the classic problem with drive assignments with a 98/XP
dual-boot system.
I have a new hard disk, partitioned into 2 drives: "1-OS" (C:) and
"1-Data" (D:). Because I'll mainly be using XP, I installed windows98 on
D:1-Data, then XP on C:1-OS.
Everything works great, dual-boot is the way I expect it.
However the problems started when I added a second hard drive,
partitioned into 2 drives: "2-OS" and 2-Data".
a) Under XP, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS, D:1-Data, E:2-OS,
F:2-Data.

b) However when I choose to boot 98, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS,
D:2-OS, E:1-Data, F:2-Data. Therefore the drive that I originally
installed 98 on (D:1-Data) is now E: and of course 98 does not boot.
There are many configuration files for 98 that have D: in them, so since
the drive has now the E: assignment, 98 cannot find necessary files.
It seems once the XP bootloader has handed over control to DOS and the
98 startup sequence, I'm stuffed, because of the way drive letters are
assigned under DOS.

I have known about this drive letter assignment issue for many years but
thought I'd be able to work something out in this new setup. Currently
the only way I can start 98 is to turn off the computer and unplug the
second disk, then the system is as it was when 98 was installed on D:.
Obviously I want to avoid plugging/unplugging the second disk more than
is necessary.

I decided to try an autoexec/config.sys menu under DOS, so that after
selecting 98 from the XP boot loader I then get the DOS menu, and from
that I select an 'option-D' or 'option-E', i.e whether I want 98 to
start from D: or E:. I.e the idea being that if only one disk is plugged
in then I select option-D where 98 is on D: (original installation
config). If I select 'option-E' then this assumes that the second disk
is attached and 98 is on E:. So take a copy of all configuration files
that contain D: and create/use a version of then where D: has been
replaced with E:. The trouble with this second option is that there are
so many references to drive letters to change (autoexec, config.sys,
many windows files), and I haven't managed to get this going, the
changes are just too big.
I also used the SUBST command to try and help set up a D: <-> E: mapping
but this didn't help.
I've tried to find utilities to force the drive letter assignments under
98 to be the same as XP, but no luck - by the time DOS has booted it
seems too late.
I'm also wondering whether this drive letter assignment behaviour is
even enshrined in the way PC bios does (and has always) work, and the
different XP drive lettering is simply a clever XP tweak.


The only solution I currently have is to start with a freshly formatted
disk and put 98 on C: and XP on D:, but am concerned that I may start
having problems with XP. Also XP is the operating system I use most, so
would prefer that to be my main disk, and avoid any installation issues
with 'rogue' software.

If you got this far then thanks for reading! Any suggestions for solving
this problem are welcome...
Thanks in advance
(Please respond to microsoft.public.win98.disks.general)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
 
Telos said:
98 should'nt see the XP partitions, if you're using NTFS on the XP
partitions 98 won't see the XP partitions and you should'nt have a problem,
unless it totally crucial that these drives be accessible whilst in 98.
Click to expand...
Yes, I use common applications & data from 98 and XP, hence a need for
FAT32. Also although I haven't tried it, even if (when the second HD is
attached) '2-OS' was NTFS and DOS/98 couldn't read it, I wonder whether
'1-Data' would change from D: to E: .....
NTFS is actually better suited for XP and should be used as the file system
if possible.


[Using XP-SP1, 98-OSR2]
Hi, I have the classic problem with drive assignments with a 98/XP
dual-boot system.
I have a new hard disk, partitioned into 2 drives: "1-OS" (C:) and
"1-Data" (D:). Because I'll mainly be using XP, I installed windows98 on
D:1-Data, then XP on C:1-OS.
Everything works great, dual-boot is the way I expect it.
However the problems started when I added a second hard drive,
partitioned into 2 drives: "2-OS" and 2-Data".
a) Under XP, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS, D:1-Data, E:2-OS,
F:2-Data.

b) However when I choose to boot 98, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS,
D:2-OS, E:1-Data, F:2-Data. Therefore the drive that I originally
installed 98 on (D:1-Data) is now E: and of course 98 does not boot.
There are many configuration files for 98 that have D: in them, so since
the drive has now the E: assignment, 98 cannot find necessary files.
It seems once the XP bootloader has handed over control to DOS and the
98 startup sequence, I'm stuffed, because of the way drive letters are
assigned under DOS.

I have known about this drive letter assignment issue for many years but
thought I'd be able to work something out in this new setup. Currently
the only way I can start 98 is to turn off the computer and unplug the
second disk, then the system is as it was when 98 was installed on D:.
Obviously I want to avoid plugging/unplugging the second disk more than
is necessary.

I decided to try an autoexec/config.sys menu under DOS, so that after
selecting 98 from the XP boot loader I then get the DOS menu, and from
that I select an 'option-D' or 'option-E', i.e whether I want 98 to
start from D: or E:. I.e the idea being that if only one disk is plugged
in then I select option-D where 98 is on D: (original installation
config). If I select 'option-E' then this assumes that the second disk
is attached and 98 is on E:. So take a copy of all configuration files
that contain D: and create/use a version of then where D: has been
replaced with E:. The trouble with this second option is that there are
so many references to drive letters to change (autoexec, config.sys,
many windows files), and I haven't managed to get this going, the
changes are just too big.
I also used the SUBST command to try and help set up a D: <-> E: mapping
but this didn't help.
I've tried to find utilities to force the drive letter assignments under
98 to be the same as XP, but no luck - by the time DOS has booted it
seems too late.
I'm also wondering whether this drive letter assignment behaviour is
even enshrined in the way PC bios does (and has always) work, and the
different XP drive lettering is simply a clever XP tweak.


The only solution I currently have is to start with a freshly formatted
disk and put 98 on C: and XP on D:, but am concerned that I may start
having problems with XP. Also XP is the operating system I use most, so
would prefer that to be my main disk, and avoid any installation issues
with 'rogue' software.

If you got this far then thanks for reading! Any suggestions for solving
this problem are welcome...
Thanks in advance
(Please respond to microsoft.public.win98.disks.general)
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
Click to expand...
It may not be the solution you're looking for.........
but have you looked into a "drive switch"?
Beats unplugging, and replugging.........
http://www.dansdata.com/nicklock.htm


§kullywag©-
 
Re-build the second disk drive so that both partitions are logical drives
within the extended partition. Logical drives are assigned drive letters
sequentially in order or drive, so both the partitions on the second disk
will be lettered after the logical drive on the first disk.
--
Jeff Richards
MS MVP W95/W98
Phil Hühn said:
[Using XP-SP1, 98-OSR2]
Hi, I have the classic problem with drive assignments with a 98/XP
dual-boot system.
I have a new hard disk, partitioned into 2 drives: "1-OS" (C:) and
"1-Data" (D:). Because I'll mainly be using XP, I installed windows98 on
D:1-Data, then XP on C:1-OS.
Everything works great, dual-boot is the way I expect it.
However the problems started when I added a second hard drive,
partitioned into 2 drives: "2-OS" and 2-Data".
a) Under XP, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS, D:1-Data, E:2-OS, F:2-Data.
b) However when I choose to boot 98, the drive assignments are: C:1-OS,
D:2-OS, E:1-Data, F:2-Data. Therefore the drive that I originally
installed 98 on (D:1-Data) is now E: and of course 98 does not boot.
There are many configuration files for 98 that have D: in them, so since
the drive has now the E: assignment, 98 cannot find necessary files.
It seems once the XP bootloader has handed over control to DOS and the
98 startup sequence, I'm stuffed, because of the way drive letters are
assigned under DOS.

I have known about this drive letter assignment issue for many years but
thought I'd be able to work something out in this new setup. Currently
the only way I can start 98 is to turn off the computer and unplug the
second disk, then the system is as it was when 98 was installed on D:.
Obviously I want to avoid plugging/unplugging the second disk more than
is necessary.

I decided to try an autoexec/config.sys menu under DOS, so that after
selecting 98 from the XP boot loader I then get the DOS menu, and from
that I select an 'option-D' or 'option-E', i.e whether I want 98 to
start from D: or E:. I.e the idea being that if only one disk is plugged
in then I select option-D where 98 is on D: (original installation
config). If I select 'option-E' then this assumes that the second disk
is attached and 98 is on E:. So take a copy of all configuration files
that contain D: and create/use a version of then where D: has been
replaced with E:. The trouble with this second option is that there are
so many references to drive letters to change (autoexec, config.sys,
many windows files), and I haven't managed to get this going, the
changes are just too big.
I also used the SUBST command to try and help set up a D: <-> E: mapping
but this didn't help.
I've tried to find utilities to force the drive letter assignments under
98 to be the same as XP, but no luck - by the time DOS has booted it
seems too late.
I'm also wondering whether this drive letter assignment behaviour is
even enshrined in the way PC bios does (and has always) work, and the
different XP drive lettering is simply a clever XP tweak.


The only solution I currently have is to start with a freshly formatted
disk and put 98 on C: and XP on D:, but am concerned that I may start
having problems with XP. Also XP is the operating system I use most, so
would prefer that to be my main disk, and avoid any installation issues
with 'rogue' software.

If you got this far then thanks for reading! Any suggestions for solving
this problem are welcome...
Thanks in advance
(Please respond to microsoft.public.win98.disks.general)
Click to expand...
 
That is correct - logical partitions appear after all primary partitions
have been assigned letters. Unfortunately the second disk is older than
the first and I have 80GB data on it. I don't want to have to rebuild
either HD unless I have to (which may be the case :-( )
 
Partition Magic will let you convert the second hard drive to all
logical partions inside and exteneded partition.

If at all possible, you should back-up the data before making the
adjustment.

Bob
 
You could re-build from scratch or you could re-build using one of the
partition management utilities such as BootitNG or Partition Resizer.
 
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