Dual Boot WinME and WinXP

[Sunny]

A friend is getting a her PC upgraded (New 120Gb HD, Motherboard, CPU) and
needs to dual boot.
WinME is required to run a lot of software that WinXP will not handle
gracefully
The "shop" is reluctant to use third party partitioning software (Partition
Magic), but have said they will partition and install WinME and WinXP for
her.
If they use Win9x to FDISK to partition as she requires (All FAT32):
1. WinME - 20 Gb
2. WinXP - 30 Gb
3. Data - 70 Gb
Can WinME and WinXP be on "C" Drive (hidden from each other, like PM8 does)
?
(One of her 20 Gb hard drives will used as a second "D" drive)
What I have read, so far, indicates that not using third party partitioning
may result in :
C = WinME
E = WinXP
F = Data
D = 2nd Hard Drive (Backup/Data)
(If, C and E are not hidden from each other, using Windows Explorer could be
dangerous)

 

[peterk]

I used to dual boot and my setup was similar to what you are proposing.The
way to set it up is to install ME onto the C drive and then from within ME
install XP as a new installation onto the E partition of C.XP will detect ME
and setup the dual boot without seperate boot loader.XP will also overwrite
the MBR of the C drive so it can never be formatted or you will lose the
ability to boot at all without doing a repair installation.I also had 2
seperate partitons for ME and XP programs/data because what ever program you
need to run under both needs to be installed under both OS and if you ever
decide to just use XP its a lot easier to just format the ME program
partition.If you format C as fat32 and E as NTFS ME cannot see E but XP can
see all.
When you boot you will be given a choice of which OS to start with ..ME or
XP.Whichever one you use is the desktop you will see.If its ME you will see
only the ME desktop and its programs.....not the XP stuff unless you
deliberately go to the E drive and try to run XP program under
Explorer....but the ME cant see a NTFS drive.The same thing if you start
with XP..you will get the XP desktop and its programs BUT here you can see
the C drive.
hope this helps
peterk

 

[Sunny]

Thank you, your explanation does help.
I dual boot WinME/WinXP, however I used Partition Magic/Boot Magic.
(I can use Win Explorer with impunity as the two OS are on "C" and hidden
from each other)
I will have to advise her not to fiddle around in Explorer

 

[Richard Urban]

Fdisk will allow you to create 4 primary DOS partitions but it does not
allow you to hide one from the others, as Partition Magic will allow you to
do.

--
Regards,

Richard Urban

If you knew as much as you think you know,
You would realize that you don't know what you thought you knew!

 

[Pegasus \(MVP\)]

XOSL is another boot manager you could use. It lets you
install any OS on any drive, it lets you hide partitions
selectively, and it's free.

 

[ByTor]

A friend is getting a her PC upgraded (New 120Gb HD, Motherboard, CPU) and
needs to dual boot.
WinME is required to run a lot of software that WinXP will not handle
gracefully

What software is this??????????

The "shop" is reluctant to use third party partitioning software (Partition
Magic), but have said they will partition and install WinME and WinXP for
her.
If they use Win9x to FDISK to partition as she requires (All FAT32):
1. WinME - 20 Gb
2. WinXP - 30 Gb
3. Data - 70 Gb
Can WinME and WinXP be on "C" Drive (hidden from each other, like PM8 does)

No, not using Windozes useless management...........

(One of her 20 Gb hard drives will used as a second "D" drive)
What I have read, so far, indicates that not using third party partitioning
may result in :
C = WinME
E = WinXP
F = Data
D = 2nd Hard Drive (Backup/Data)
(If, C and E are not hidden from each other, using Windows Explorer could be
dangerous)

Correct....All OS PT's will be exposed...........

Why not do it for her yourself....You appear to know how to setup hidden
multiboots.....That shop is full of shit and is opening up a larger area
of more problems for your friend by formatting & installing that
way.............Charge her more now & than way more later to fix it if
she screws up the partitions...............

 

[Kelly]

Hi,

MVP's have been using it for years.

Bing - Boot It Next Generation
http://www.terabyteunlimited.com/

Added info if needed:

Installing Windows 98 or Me after Installing Windows XP
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_9x.htm

How to Install W2K to its own partition. Use a 98 Startup disk and run
WINNT.EXE from the I386 directory. After 2K is installed, boot with the XP
CD and at the Setup/Repair screen, choose Repair. In Recovery Console, use
the following commands:

1) FIXBOOT, answer Yes
2) CD \
3) ATTRIB -H NTLDR
4) ATTRIB -S NTLDR
5) ATTRIB -R NTLDR
6) ATTRIB -H NTDETECT.COM
7) ATTRIB -S NTDETEC.COM
8) ATTRIB -R NTDETECT.COM
9) COPY X:\I386\NTLDR C:\
10) COPY X:\I386\NTDETECT.COM C:\

In Steps 9 and 10, X is the letter of your CD-Rom drive.

How to Install W2K to its Own Partition after installing XP
http://www.dougknox.com/xp/tips/xp_repair_2k.htm

MS-KB: Cannot Start Windows XP After You Install Windows 2000
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/283433

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com

 

[Sunny]

Thank you Guys and Lady, things are much clearer now

Fdisk will allow you to create 4 primary DOS partitions but it does not
allow you to hide one from the others, as Partition Magic will allow you
to do.

 

[Kelly]

Most welcome, thanks for the feedback and hope all goes well for you. )

--

All the Best,
Kelly (MS-MVP)

Troubleshooting Windows XP
http://www.kellys-korner-xp.com